Tag: Light Up Red

Landmarks to Light Up Red for Scottish Poppy Appeal

Armed Forces charity Poppyscotland is calling on businesses, tourist destinations and landmarks across the country to ‘Light Up Red’ to raise awareness of the 2025 Scottish Poppy Appeal.

From castles to council buildings, and schools to statues, the charity is urging some of Scotland’s most iconic buildings to show their support in the lead up to Remembrance Sunday on 9 November.

Last year, almost 200 destinations took part from Stornoway to Selkirk, including The Kelpies, Smeaton’s Bridge in Perth, Stornoway Town Hall and the University of Glasgow. The charity hopes to surpass this total in 2025.

Any building with external lighting can take part simply by adding red gel filters to its lights, joining this striking visual display of remembrance. Previous participants include castles, abbeys, war memorials, bridges, lighthouses, cranes and fountains.

The Scottish Poppy Appeal is Scotland’s biggest fundraising campaign, raising more than £2 million for the charity’s welfare work with veterans, serving personnel and their families.

Earlier this month, Scots chart-topper Cammy Barnes helped send 2.1 million poppies, handmade by veterans at Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory in Edinburgh, on their journey around the country ahead of the Scottish Poppy Appeal launch next week.

Richard Todd, National Poppy Appeal Manager (Scotland), said: “Light Up Red is always a fitting and poignant tribute to our Armed Forces community, and we know it means a lot to them to see this visible support for their contribution, past and present.

“We have had cathedrals, museums, bridges, racecourses, schools, churches, ships and even a telephone box join in. It is always wonderful to see so many Scottish landmarks lighting up red for the Poppy Appeal, and we have been delighted by how this idea has captured people’s imaginations.

“We are very grateful for the support of so many businesses and organisations.”

For more information about how to ‘Light Up Red’ for Poppyscotland and the 2025 Scottish Poppy Appeal, visit www.poppyscotland.org.uk/light-up-red or contact Clare Shaw at c.shaw@poppyscotland.org.uk.

Lothians to Light Up Red for 100 Years of the Poppy

This year marks 100 years of the Poppy as the national symbol of Remembrance, and to celebrate the important milestone, Poppyscotland are encouraging landmarks, tourist destinations and business properties across Edinburgh and the Lothians to ‘Light Up Red’.  

The charity is calling for mass involvement from schools, universities, council buildings, monuments, statues and other attractions during the period leading up to Remembrance Sunday from 22nd October to 14th November.

Any building with external lighting can take part simply by adding red gel filters to the flood or up-lights to help Poppyscotland commemorate the centenary of the Poppy. Previous participants include Edinburgh Castle and Edinburgh Airport. 

Three million Poppies, which are all handmade by veterans at the Lady Haig Poppy Factory in Edinburgh, began their journey to cities, towns and villages across the country last month, ahead of the 2021 Scottish Poppy Appeal. To celebrate the 100-year milestone, around half a million special-edition centenary Poppies have also been produced.  

The Scottish Poppy Appeal is the largest annual charity street collection in Scotland and raises more than £2 million each year. The money raised from the Poppy Appeal and year-round fundraising enables Poppyscotland to support members of the Armed Forces community in Scotland by providing services in advice, employment, housing, mental health, and mobility.  

With last year’s Scottish Poppy Appeal being badly impacted by the pandemic, the centenary of the Appeal takes on an even greater significance.

Gordon Michie, Head of Fundraising and Learning at Poppyscotland, said: “The last 18 months have been a very difficult time for us as a charity, and even more so for the Armed Forces community we support.

“The pandemic halted all our major fundraising events and we had to drastically change the way in which we reached out to the public for donations. Despite this we have still provided our vital, life-changing support uninterrupted throughout the pandemic.  

“The support of local businesses and national landmarks has been fantastic over many years, and we’re eager to hear from other locations that would like to join us in paying tribute to Scotland’s Armed Forces community. To see the country light up red during the Remembrance period will be even more poignant as, 100 years on, the Poppy Appeal remains as important now as it ever has been.”  

For more information about how to Light Up Red for Poppyscotland and the 2021 Scottish Poppy Appeal, visit www.poppyscotland.org.uk/light-up-red 

Edinbugh glows red for Scottish Poppy Appeal

This weekend, more than 120 Scottish landmarks will be glowing red in support of the Scottish Poppy Appeal – with more and more joining the national campaign each day.

Buildings large and small – from globally iconic castles to locally loved churches and schools – will ‘Light Up Red’ for Poppyscotland in a wonderfully modern display Remembrance. Continue reading Edinbugh glows red for Scottish Poppy Appeal

WWI CENTENARY – LIGHT UP RED FOR POPPYSCOTLAND AND SAY ‘THANK YOU’

Poppyscotland is looking to ‘Light Up Red’ the whole of Scotland this year in recognition of the First World War generation who served, sacrificed and changed our world forever. The charity is calling on mass involvement from schools, churches, council buildings, monuments, statues and landmarks to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War. Continue reading WWI CENTENARY – LIGHT UP RED FOR POPPYSCOTLAND AND SAY ‘THANK YOU’