As we neared the end of 2023, Rutherford Cross Consultant, Mollie Rogerson and Head of Operations, Cesca Christophersen set out to once again give back each week throughout December. This time round, colleagues from the wider Livingston James Group got involved in what was the biggest month of giving yet!
Kicking off this year once again it was time to put on the hats and scarfs and get outside for the Bethany Caring Christmas Tree Drive. With 145 trees to pass out on the day, the team chatted away while helping customers pick out their perfect tree for Christmas. Bethany Christian Trust sell Christmas Trees every year with every penny raised supporting homelessness across Scotland. If you would like to find out more about the work they carry out you can visit the Caring Christmas Trees website.
The following week we were through to Glasgow to support with Project Present. Run by our CEO, Jamie Livingston, and his wife, Chloe, the initiative aims to provide Christmas presents for children and young people in and around Glasgow who are unlikely to receive a gift on Christmas day. Our team spent the morning packing and organising gifts by location, in preparation for drop off. We were thrilled to support the donation of over 1,300 gifts to social services in Partick, Maryhill, Drumchapel and Kibble (Paisley)! A busy morning, but many hands made light work, and the gifts were sorted in record time!
Rolling up our sleeves, it was time to donate blood. Once again, the team at the Edinburgh Blood Donation Centre were great (and the juice and biscuits definitely helped!). The star of the day was Group Operations Assistant, Rachael Birkett who gave blood for the first time, saving up to 3 lives in the process!
Despite being one of the easiest ways to directly save lives, currently only around 92,000 people in Scotland donate each year. To find out more about donating blood, or to book a donation, visit Scot Blood’s website.
This year our Glasgow office got involved in the Season of Giving and donated to a local foodbank by hosting our first office Christmas Jumper Day. It was great seeing all the festive jumpers and there was a real boost in the Christmas Spirit in the office that day. The Glasgow team raised £120, and Consultants Harry Young and Jonathan Donnelly headed to the shops to stock up on all the essentials for the Glasgow Southeast Foodbank.
In Edinburgh, Mollie and Cesca took the lead on foodbank donations and raised an additional £90 to stock up on donations for North Leith Parish Church Foodbank. You can find out where your local foodbanks are on the Trussell Trust’s website.
After enjoying the festivities over December it is important to remember that not everyone is as fortunate, so finding small ways to help is always rewarding. Taking even as little as one hour to give back can positively impact the wider community.
If you would like to find out more about our community impact initiatives, visit our website or reach out to Mollie Rogerson at [email protected].
