Leading Scottish convenience retailer, Scotmid, is celebrating a landmark fundraising year after raising £474,474 through its annual national charity partnership – the Society’s highest-ever total for the programme.
The partnership was delivered with Alzheimer Scotland as Scotmid’s lead charity partner, with Alzheimer’s Society supporting activity in England and Northern Ireland.
Over 12 months, colleagues, members and customers across Scotmid, Lakes & Dales Co-op, Semichem, Scotmid Funerals and Fosters Funeral Directors got firmly behind the campaign, raising funds in communities across Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north of England. From abseils and PJ days to Tough Mudders, runs and sponsored walks, teams delivered a packed calendar of fundraising activity, helping Scotmid reach its highest-ever charity partnership total.
Customers also supported the total at the till. Through Scotmid’s partnership with micro-donation charity, Pennies, shoppers in Scotmid and Semichem stores could add a 10p digital donation when paying by card, helping small everyday contributions add up to a significant boost.
Throughout the partnership year, the campaign also helped bring Alzheimer Scotland’s brain health work into communities through Babs the Brain, the charity’s giant walk-through inflatable brain. Named in honour of Dame Barbara Windsor, who died of Alzheimer’s disease in 2020, Babs visited Scotmid communities as part of the Big Brain Tour, offering people of all ages a memorable opportunity to learn about brain health.
Almost 20,000 people saw Babs on tour, with opportunities to learn how the brain works and the steps people can take to help protect their brain health and reduce their risk of dementia.
The partnership also reached schools, helping take brain health messages to younger audiences. Through Alzheimer Scotland’s STARS programme, 6,520 pupils received a STARS lesson in class and 5,014 pupils received a children’s handbook on brain health. Funds raised in England and Northern Ireland will support Alzheimer’s Society’s work with people affected by dementia in those communities.
Henry Simmons, Alzheimer Scotland’s Chief Executive, said:
“Alzheimer Scotland is incredibly grateful to Scotmid for choosing us to be their Charity Partner for the past year. We’d like to send a huge, heartfelt thank you to all the members, customers and colleagues involved in raising such an amazing amount of money to support our work.
“Together they have helped us to take our message out into communities across Scotland and the north of England, empowering people of all ages to protect their brain health, reduce their risk of dementia, and help make sure that nobody faces dementia alone.
“At the heart of the partnership was our Big Brain Tour and our giant inflatable brain Babs. This unique initiative has been a huge success in reaching so many people. It’s helped to make conversations about brain health accessible and engaging, while sharing practical ways people can look after their brain at any age.
“We cannot thank Scotmid enough for making this vital work possible and for helping to leave a lasting legacy of healthier habits, stronger connections, and better awareness of dementia prevention.”
Karen Scott, chief executive officer at Scotmid, said: “This is a proud moment for the Scotmid family and a wonderful result to celebrate. Achieving our highest-ever annual charity partnership total is a powerful reflection of our co-operative spirit, and of the kindness, energy and commitment shown by colleagues, members and customers across our Society.
“From fundraising challenges and community events to customers adding 10p at the till, this total has been built through thousands of individual acts of support – each one helping to make a bigger collective difference.
“What makes this partnership especially meaningful is that it has gone beyond fundraising. Together with Alzheimer Scotland, and with the support of Alzheimer’s Society in England and Northern Ireland, we have helped bring brain health messages into our communities, including to children and young people through the school’s activity.
“I want to thank everyone who got behind the partnership. This outstanding achievement shows what can be achieved when people come together behind a shared cause.”
The total adds to Scotmid’s wider fundraising legacy and reinforces its long-standing commitment to supporting causes that are important to its members, customers and communities.
