End of era for charity

Dundee’s Unicef group set to stop after 44 years

DUNDEE’s Unicef group has announced it is winding down after 44 years.

Grace Henderson, who has chaired the Dundee and District branch of Unicef since 1983, told the Tele that most of the committee members had resigned due to their age and that no “young blood” had stepped up in their stead.

Speaking from her home in the West End, Grace said she was sad about ending the group — but added she was happy it had raised more than £100,000 to help vulnerable children all over the world.

She added: “There are only six of us left on the committee and fundraising in general is getting very difficult.

“There are so many good causes out there now and coffee mornings seem to be a bit old hat. We’ve raised more than £100,000, which has all gone to the Unicef general fund in London.”

Following its launch in 1973, the Dundee and District branch established itself as a popular charitable cause, regularly holding coffee mornings, garden parties and events with local partners such as Dundee College.

Grace added: “We reckon that people are still interested but they are a lot busier these days.

“There’s a lot of young mothers working jobs who feel they have to be home with the children at night, rather than coming out to things like this.

“I am sad to be winding down the group. I put it off for a while because I didn’t want my name to be attached to its winding-up, but no one was willing to take it over.

“Other Unicef groups around the country have been going the same way but it has been really enjoyable.

“You’re best to go out on a high rather than think ‘oh, not this again’.

“I’ve had a lot of happy times. You still see the pictures on the TV of children suffering and it never seems to be coming to an end — but we know we have helped.”

The group will formally wind up at a special lunch event with Unicef UK staff next month. Our

Grace Henderson has chaired the city branch of Unicef since 1983.