Blantyre based charity The Haven, which provides support to people affected by a range of life limiting illnesses and to their family members and carers, 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, The Haven 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 1st October, 2019.
The other short-listed Good Cause Groups are Ronald McDonald House Glasgow and Strathcarron Hospice.
The Haven, Blantyre, offers a programme of support designed to help individuals cope with the physical, emotional and practical aspects of their own or a loved one’s illness, to enable them to face the future positively and with hope. The Haven is a welcoming, comfortable and calm place for clients to escape the stress and anxiety of living with a life limiting illness. It is hoped that the Community Connect funding will help to refurbish and revitalise rooms within the centre to meet increasing demand.
Lynsay Cooper, Haven Communications Officer said: “We are very grateful to Scotmid to be shortlisted in the Community Connect Awards, it means so much to us to be recognised in this way. With a guaranteed award of £5000, The Haven’s Community Connect campaign is well underway to help us reach our aspiration of being the winner of the top award of £15,000.
“This award will allow The Haven to continue to create a safe and welcoming environment for families affected by life limiting illness, creating a space for them to have time for themselves and work through their emotions, while facing the challenges of illness or bereavement.
“We look forward to engaging with Scotmid staff, customers, new and existing members and hope that they will join us on our journey to award success. Simply by shopping and allocating their votes to The Haven they can directly help families affected by life limiting illness in the Lanarkshire area.”
Image (left to right): Liz Renfrew, Bonnie Chapman, Marie McEwan, volunteers at The Haven.