Family firm’s £10,000 gift to rescue team

A leading coated fabrics and horticultural company has donated £10,000 to support Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance’s nationwide life-saving work.

Family firm, Lows of Dundee, rounded off a successful business year with a charitable donation that chairman and CEO Murray Low said was their way of“giving something back” through an“outstanding charity”.

“We all know of the tremendous work that Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance does,”he said.“It is an outstanding service, saving and supporting thousands of lives, and it relies on charitable giving to keep it in the air for the benefit of all. Living at Longforgan, we see the air ambulance helicopter flying in and out of Ninewells Hospital at Dundee on a regular basis and you just never know when you, a loved one, a colleague or a friend might need their help.”

Murray runs the long-established business, which has bases at Dundee, Errol and Blackburn, with his wife Rosalind and three daughters.

“When we decided to donate to charity at the end of the financial year, we all agreed it should go to the air ambulance,” said Murray.“Hopefully this one-off donation will help make a difference.”

Nick Harvey, director of fundraising and communications with Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA), said the support from Lows of Dundee would save lives.

“We’re extremely grateful to the company and the Low family for thinking of SCAA during what has been a difficult time for many businesses,”he said.

“They can rest assured that their generosity will help save lives as we respond to emergencies involving serious illness and injury all across Scotland, 12 hours a day, 365 days a year.

“SCAA can only fly with the support of the public and donations such as this ensure we are there when we’re needed most.”

Explaining what the group does, Caroline said: “Buttons and Bows provides free baby food, nappies, baby essentials and baby equipment to families, with children in the 0-4 years age group, who are experiencing financial difficulties.

“All baby items are a mixture of new and pre-loved items. Many donations of baby clothes and baby items have been received from members of the local community and the group has also received donations from local businesses including Morrisons, Marks and Spencer and Tesco.

“Parents/ families are referred to the organisation by professionals who work with families and families can also self-refer.”

The new premises will allow the group to host sessions for parents.

Caroline added: “At the baby bank sessions parents/ families can come and get free nappies, baby food, toiletries and baby equipment such as baby bouncers, prams, pushchairs, cots etc.

“Depending on how busy we are (as our room is very full) if anyone is wanting clothing and toys we sometimes have to ask them to come back for them at the next baby bank session.

“We then put together their items for them and they collect them whenever is suitable for them. Professionals who have referred clients can also come and pick up their clients items and then they deliver them to their clients.

“At the sessions we also take donations of baby items.

“If we get a request for something we don’t have in stock at that moment, we do try to get that item from other sources.”

Any parent or family who lives within Perth and Kinross and is needing support from the project can attend the weekly sessions of the Buttons and Bows Baby Bank at Perth Business Centre Unit 9 at 28 Glasgow Road, Perth.

The sessions are delivered on Tuesdays 10am - noon and Wednesdays 9.30am - 11.30am. The group can be contacted on 07549046034, by emailing info@ perthbabybank.org or through a message to its Facebook page.