Richmond’s Hope have been shortlisted to receive a share of £25,000 as part of Scotmid’s Community Connect initiative which supports some of Scotland’s most valued community projects.
The Craigmillar charity are now asking for the support of the Edinburgh community to cast their votes to be in with a chance of receiving the top prize of £15,000. Carers of West Lothian and SANDS Lothians are also in the running for funds and alongside the top prize, two £5,000 investments will be made to the runners up.
Since Community Connect launched two years ago, 27 good cause groups have benefited from £230,000 funding. The funds come solely from the sale of single-use carrier bags and aim to help charities, community projects and good cause groups across Scotland to keep their doors open and continue the valuable work they do within communities.
In Scotmid’s East Member Region – encompassing Edinburgh, Fife and the Lothians – Carers of West Lothian are 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 Ordinary General Meeting which will be held at the Murrayfield Stadium on Monday 30th September.
John Brodie, Chief Executive of Scotmid, said: “We are passionate about supporting local causes which are close to the hearts and minds of our members, customers and staff and are thrilled to have such worthy causes nominated to receive our latest round of Community Connect funding. We know how much those who work for these charities go above and beyond every single day for the benefit of their service users and local communities and this should be celebrated.”
Richmond’s Hope supports bereaved children and young people aged four to 18 years old in Edinburgh and the Lothians. Using therapeutic play and specialist grief activities, the children are helped to express themselves and learn coping strategies with their emotional trauma. It is hoped that the Community Connect funding will be used to buy materials for the children’s support sessions (workbooks, memory boxes, arts & craft materials) and help towards staff salaries allowing more bereaved children to be helped.
Image (left to right): Kelley Scoular, office manager, Laura Macleod, bereavement support worker, Sonya Richardson, lead bereavement support worker, Ailsa hill bereavement support worker and Aislinn Wilson, bereavement support worker