Strathcarron Hospice which supports people across the Forth Valley and North Lanarkshire, has been short-listed to become one of the latest recipients of funding from Scotmid Co-operative’s popular Community Connect initiative – potentially being awarded £15,000 in order to help strengthen the service the charity provides.
Community Connect was launched in 2017 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.
In Scotmid’s West Member Region, Strathcarron Hospice is one of three good cause groups, who have been short-listed by a Scotmid member selection panel to receive a financial award. Scotmid members will decide on how the pot of £25,000 is awarded. The group with the most votes will receive £15,000 and the two runners-up will each receive £5,000. Scotmid members can cast their votes in store from the 8th – 22nd September or attend the OGM which will be held at the Bellshill Doubletree by Hilton on 1 October, 2019.
The other short-listed Good Cause Groups are Ronald McDonald House Glasgow and The Haven Blantyre.
Based in Denny, Strathcarron Hospice provides specialist palliative care and expert end of life care for the people of Forth Valley, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth. They care for people with illnesses that cannot be cured including cancer, lung, heart or kidney failure and a range of non-malignant and neurological diseases. They are also actively involved in research and education in palliative care and we promote and influence the delivery of palliative care locally and beyond.
Scotmid members are encouraged to support the good cause group by swiping their Community Connect card after every in-store purchase and then cast their votes for their preferred charity either in-store or at Scotmid’s West Region Ordinary General Meeting.
Jackie Johnston, Fundraising Manager at Strathcarron Hospice, said: “All of us, in particular the Clinical Nurse Specialists, are thrilled to be shortlisted for a Community Connect award and we are keeping all fingers crossed!
“If we are fortunate enough to be successful and receive the £15,000 funding then that will go towards new IT technology so that Clinical Nurse Specialists can access and update patient information in real-time when they are caring for people in their own homes
“Home visits to patients in their own homes is a critical service provided by the Hospice and is very often the first point of contact following a referral from another healthcare professional, such as a GP. The level of specialist care provided by the Clinical Nurse Specialists is a constant but what has changed remarkably over the past few years is the technology to support the role and the demand on the service. By having appropriate technology it will mean less time spent on recording patient notes back at the Hospice and more time out in the community where it matters most.”
Image (left to right): Tina MacGlynn and Vicky Gardiner, nurses at Strathcarron Hospice