Blood Bikes Scotland has been short-listed to become one of the latest recipients of funding from Scotmid’s Community Connect initiative – potentially being awarded £15,000 in order to expand their services into the Fife area.
Community Connect was initially trialled in the North of Scotland last year and enables Scotmid members to award good cause groups in their local area with funding of up to £15,000, generated via the sale of single use carrier bags.
Now launched in Scotmid’s East Member Region – encompassing Edinburgh, Fife and the Lothians – Blood Bikes Scotland are one of three good cause groups, who have been short-listed by a Scotmid member selection panel to receive a financial award of either £15,000, £7,500 or £2,500.
The other short-listed Good Cause Groups are Broxburn Family Centre and Prestonpans-based Harlawhill Day Care Centre.
Scotmid members collect votes by swiping their Community Connect card after every in-store purchase and then cast their votes for their preferred good cause group at Scotmid’s East Region Ordinary General Meeting at Murrayfield Stadium in October.
Based in South Queensferry, Blood Bikes Scotland provide a professional, free and urgent courier service to Lothian and Borders hospitals and trusts.
A small team of dedicated volunteers provide the service outside of normal office hours, removing the need for the NHS to use more expensive methods such as couriers – saving hospitals and health boards’ vast sums of money.
Blood Bikes Scotland deliver urgent medical supplies, blood samples, baby milk, medication or test samples to Accident and Emergency departments, wards and home addresses.
The Community Connect funding will go towards purchasing a new motorbike, which will enable the charity to expand the service they provide into the Fife area.
Blood Bikes Scotland Chairman John Baxter said: “It is great news that we have been short-listed for a Community Connect award – it is fantastic to be a part of such a brilliant initiative.
“Community Connect is all about helping people in the community and that is exactly the service we provide – so it all fits together well and complements each other.
“If we were to be successful and receive the top Community Connect award it would allow us to purchase a new bike and provide us with the opportunity to work with the Fife Health Board – expanding what we do into a wider area.
“We’re excited about Community Connect – getting short-listed has put a big smile on all our faces.”
Pictured are Brian Fraser and John Baxter of Blood Bikes Scotland