Banking on support
When kind-hearted Wishaw grandpa Bill Hamilton invited his friends to celebrate his 70th birthday, he made only one wish when he blew out the candles on his birthday cake.
Rather than receive presents, he wanted all his guests to donate to Baby Bank Scotland - a Carluke-base charity that redistributes pre-loved baby essentials and children’s items to those experiencing financial hardship.
And last week, grandfather of five Bill and wife Louise went to the Baby Bank centre in Carluke’s Clyde Street to hand over a cheque for a whopping £1070.
Bill, of St Kilda Way, Cambusnethan, held his birthday celebrations at Houldsworth Bowling Club along with 115 close friends and relatives.
“My wife and I decided that, rather than go for a big national charity, we would look at the smaller, local ones,” explained Bill.
“We decided Baby Bank Scotland was as good a charity as any to help the younger kids in the community and parents who do not have a lot.”
Bill was hoping to raise around £ 500 at his birthday party.
And he was thrilled to be able to hand over more than double his target to Baby Bank Scotland’s Jillian Thompson.
Baby Bank Scotland was founded in 2015 and, in its first year, helped in the region of 1,500 families who were referred to them for assistance through various professional agencies, including health visitors, social workers and Women’s Aid.
Thanking Bill and his guests for their donation, trustee Jillian said: “It is a fantastic total. “We are absolutely over the moon.” The cash will be used to buy items that are not donated, such as mattresses for babies’ cots, nappies and wipes.
Because Baby Bank Scotland receives no funding, it will also help to cover overheads such as rent for the project’s premises.
It relies on donations from people like Bill and his friends and from fundraising initiatives such as bag packing.
Last year, Baby Bank Scotland helped 245 families, 161 adults and 510 children.
Its Christmas toy appeal made a festive wish come true for 1500 children.
These included children who were brought to their attention through block referrals from the coucnil’s social work department.