Biscuit firm’s charity tops £1m in donations
Coach can’t wait to get her athletes back in the gym
A South Lanarkshire biscuit manufacturer has announced its charity initiative has reached the £1 million milestone.
Independently-owned Borders Biscuits, producer of the nation’s favourite Dark Chocolate Ginger, is committed to supporting notfor-profit organisations and good causes, donating 10 per cent of the company’s profits through its charity, Border Biscuits Community Support.
Border Biscuits Community Support has contributed to more than 170 not-for-profit organisations in Scotland including Archaeology Scotland, Rotary International and New Lanark Trust.
Founded in 2010, as well as donating funds, the charity sees company employees regularly volunteer with projects.
During the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic, the company donated more than 150,000 packets of biscuits to NHS hospitals, care homes and foodbanks across the UK.
John Cunningham, chief executive at Border Biscuits, said: “Our company has grown significantly over the last 10 years and our donations through Border Biscuits Community Support have grown with it.
“For our scale of business, we know that while we cannot change the world, we can make a real difference in our community.
“It is more than just money, it is about partnering with other organisations and giving practical guidance and time. It is a big idea – that a business can play a bigger role in their community.
“We have worked with over 170 organisations and groups delivering projects in sports, arts, leisure and recreation, heritage, events, learning and digital with the aim of helping people who are trying to make a difference.”
Within Border Biscuits’ local community, Lanark Community Development Trust, part of Scotland’s growing network of Development Trusts, and Discover Lanark Business Improvement
Group, continue to be key partners of Border Biscuits Community Support.
Sylvia Russell, chairperson of Lanark Community Development Trust added: “Border Biscuits has been an integral part of the Development Trust, with funding and expertise helping to regenerate the community since 2012. Funding has contributed to a wide-variety of initiatives over the years, including the creation of a digital platform to promote the town, regeneration of our High Street, Castlebank Park and Horticultural Centre development.”
A Rutherglen cheerleading coach has told of “the hardest year ever” for her group.
Claire Senior runs the SLS Cheer and Dance group on Cambuslang Road.
And. like so many organisations, all of their plans were thrown into chaos by Covid-19.
Fortunately, Claire managed to keep the group going thanks to Zoom, but she told the Reformer that it has not been easy.
She said: “This has been the hardest year ever for our coaches and athletes.
“Most of our athletes take part in classes multiple times a week and are down at our gym almost every day, so not being able to train properly has been a big change for our girls to adapt to.
“During the first few months we had to adapt quickly to be able to provide some sort of training, so we started to hold classes on Zoom. It’s not ideal for a sport that involves physical contact and taking part in stunting, but we did whatever we could to allow our girls to keep training and keep their fitness up.”
Despite some technical issues, the group managed to keep going and opened up again last autumn for a spell, with coaches following social distancing guidelines and wearing face masks.
However, the latest lockdown has forced the SLS girls back to Zoom, and Claire admitted that it has been tough.
She went on: “This has been such a struggle and difficult at times, but I am so thankful for my amazing team and staff for being so supportive throughout this time.
“It is clear how much they all love this team and I cannot wait to get back to normal and to see them all in person.”
In the meantime, the group are still keeping busy, having guest coaches from around the UK stop by to provide tips and training online. Claire is also looking forward to starting up baby gym classes in the future.
She added: “Our plan is to get straight back into training, working towards our future competitions, whenever they are allowed to go ahead.
“We are excited about just seeing all of our athletes back being able to enjoy doing what they love.
“We recently had so many people sign up to our new baby gym classes, with all four classes sold out within days and we have had to allocate more.
“This is an opportunity for new parents and babies/toddlers to come and use our gym facilities to have some fun with their little ones.
“Our gym is a great, safe environment for the little ones to explore and play on our equipment so that is something we are excited about starting.”
More information on SLS and their online classes can be found at www.facebook.com/ slscheeranddance.