Scotmid Launches Charity of the year Partnership with The Prince’s Trust Scotland
Scotmid Co-operative recently launched its 2011/12 charity
partnership of the year with youth charity, The Prince's Trust
Scotland, pledging to raise over £120, 000 for disadvantaged young
Scots. The partnership was formally launched at Clovenstone
Community Centre in Wester Hailes, Edinburgh where Scotmid staff
volunteered with Prince's Trust young people on a community project
to upgrade the centre's facilities for the local community.
Throughout 2011/12 staff in nearly 300 Scotmid, Semichem and The
Fragrance House stores across Scotland along with its Funeral and
head office staff, will be encouraged to fundraise for The Prince's
Trust through in-store activities, encouraging local communities to
get behind the initiative as well as through staff-hosted events
such as car washes, karaoke sessions and charity football
matches. In addition, staff will have the opportunity to
support young people directly by volunteering with the Trust on a
community project, delivering CV writing and interview skill
workshops or hosting a young person in-store on work
experience.
The Prince's Trust Scotland helps disadvantaged young people
aged 13-25 who are not in education, employment or training.
It provides a range of personal development and vocational training
programmes designed to support young people to overcome the
barriers to success and to develop their talents and move into
employment, education, training or volunteering.
Five volunteers from Scotmid and Semichem joined young people
completing The Prince's Trust's Team programme at Clovenstone
Community Centre. The volunteers and young people worked on
clearing the surrounding grounds of the community centre, removing
debris and overgrown bushes as well as planting new flower beds and
re-painting a mural. The community centre provides activities
for all ages in the Clovenstone area.
Commenting on the partnership, Scotmid Chief Executive John
Brodie said:
"Our new partnership with The Prince's Trust will be different
from the way we usually work with our charity of the year. Not only
do we aim to raise £120,000 we will also be encouraging our staff
to volunteer their time and expertise to help young people get back
into employment, education or training.
"Many of the youngsters that we will be helping face challenges
that would defeat most of us - homelessness, poverty, family
breakdown, ill-health and a lack of faith in themselves.
"We will also be offering support such as work placements during
the 12 week personal development programme organised by the
Prince's Trust for 16-25 year olds which will help them develop
their confidence, motivation and skills through teamwork in the
community."
Julie Campbell, Head of Fundraising at The Prince's Trust
Scotland added:
"We are delighted to have been nominated as Scotmid's
charity of the year for 2011/12. To have the support of an
organisation like Scotmid is a tremendous boost for The Prince's
Trust and the young people we work with.
"Scotmid's reach into communities throughout Scotland coupled
with the skills the staff will bring as volunteers, provides us
with an excellent opportunity this year and it is a partnership I
very much look forward to developing."
The Prince's Trust Scotland will support 5,000 young people this
coming year.