£20k PPE boost for hospice
Strathcarron supported by Rotary Foundation grant
The Rotary Clubs of Bridge of Allan and Dunblane, Alloa, Stirling, and Carse of Stirling were awarded a £ 20,000 Rotary Foundation District grant to support Strathcarron Hospice in the purchase of PPE.
The grant will provide Strathcarron with the necessary PPE ( personal protection equipment) to help protect against Covid-19 for an initial period of six months.
In early March St rathcar ron, which provides palliative care for the community of Forth Valley, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, recognised the urgent need to procure this additional PPE to ensure the safety of its patients and staff.
Because of the lockdown across the UK, however, virtually all the hospice’s usual sources of fundraising events and activities had to be cancelled, creating severe pressure on its available resources to meet these new demands.
The Rotary Club of Bridge of Allan and Dunblane, a regular contributor of funds to the hospice, recognised the significant difficulties it was facing.
In response, a project team, led by Rotarian Audrey Cooper, was quick to approach the Rotary Foundation for help. In 2018 the worldwide Rotary Foundation gave grants of more than £ 68 million to support a variety of charitable purposes throughout the world, so it was not surprising that the foundation made available funds to provide much needed PPE and other related medical supplies.
One option offered by the foundation is district grants of up to £20,000 to fund the necessary PPE for organisations such as the hospice.
District Grants do, however, require applicants to contribute 35 per cent of the sum requested – in this case a contribution of £7,000.
To raise this amount, the Bridge of Allan and Dunblane Club proposed a collaboration of local Rotary clubs.
When approached, the presidents of the clubs of Alloa, Stirling, and Carse of Stirling were quick to respond positively and, in light of their support, a successful application for the grant was made to Rotary Foundation, allowing Strathcarron to acquire the much-needed PPE.
St rathcar ron chief executive Irene Mckie said: “This grant makes a huge difference, particularly when so many of our fundraising events cannot take place and we are facing significant extra costs as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The fact that the Rotary grant money will cover a large proportion of these additional costs will ensure our specialist palliative care services to the communities we serve are maintained as much as possible.
“Thank you for this amazing support.”
This grant makes a huge difference Irene Mckie