Scotmid Co-operative’s rallying call to raise funds for one-year charity partner Childline has prompted a phenomenal response with £136,000 already reached at the half-way stage.
Fundraising activity from across Scotmid Co-operative’s staff, members and customers, including Scotmid, Semichem, Lakes & Dales and Scotmid Co-operative Funerals, has been relentless over the opening six months.
Now several upcoming events, including a sponsored skydive, a cycle ride, a triathlon and a ski challenge, are set to take place over the next few months.
Activities that have already raised funds for Childline have included getting sponsored to participate in Broughty Ferry’s New Year’s Dook, in-store raffles for Christmas hampers and also the sale of festive air fresheners.
Plus pupils from Gallowhill Primary School in Renfrewshire, who visited Childline’s headquarters in Glasgow to celebrate reaching the fundraising milestone, produced and sold an anti-bullying comic book that contributed over £1,000 the total.
Gallowhill Primary teacher Melissa Hollywood said: “The children saw first-hand the valuable service provided by Childline during our recent visit to the headquarters.
“We are so grateful to Scotmid for kindly purchasing 100 copies of our Support Me books.
“Their purchase has allowed us to raise well over our fundraising target for Childline, which was £1,000!
“It is fantastic to see our efforts have helped Scotmid to reach the £136,000 mark because Childline is such a worthy cause.”
Childline is currently six months into its year-long charity partnership with Scotmid Co-operative.
The aim of the partnership is to raise £300,000, which will allow Childline to answer around 75,000 calls, emails and online messages from children and young people who need someone to listen to them.
Elaine Chalmers, head of Childline for Scotland, said: “Scotmid have done amazingly well in their fundraising efforts. This money will go towards helping and supporting more children and answering more contacts.
“Childline can be the first step for a child or young person to get their lives back on track. Childline is there 24 hours a day, 7 days a week ready to help a child by either telephone call, or email.
“We are really looking forward to achieving amazing things this year, and creating more awareness of the service with the help of the motivated Scotmid staff.”
John Brodie, Chief Executive of Scotmid Co-operative, said: “Congratulations to everyone, who has been involved in this first key stage of our fundraising drive for Childline.
“Once again our fundraising has been a real team effort involving staff, members and customers all going the extra mile to raise funds for an incredibly worthwhile charity.
“At this point, we are on track to beat the £300,000 target we set back in September which will make a huge difference to Childline and ultimately help young people.”