Scouts in Ukraine bean feast

Scouts from across Perth and Kinross have been working hard to lend a hand to the people of Ukraine by collecting tins of baked beans.

Following a successful collection earlier this year, they are on the hunt for tins once more and want to send on a bean mountain to help feed those who are fighting in the conflict.

Working with Tayside and Strathearn Help for Ukraine (TASH), a small group operating out of Errol Airfield send aid across to the country, and the beans will be shipped out to those in need.

The dedicated team have been working from the Morris Leslie Auctions site since the conflict broke out to provide food, clothing and toiletries to those in Ukraine and refugees arriving in Scotland.

Former military man Kenneth Simpson has been co-ordinating the immense volume of aid donations from across Tayside.

Speaking to The Courier back in August, he said: “The businesses and people of Tayside and beyond have been excellent but we are desperate for food, toiletries and medicine.

“The flow of donations has slowed right down to a trickle because everybody is feeling the pinch now with big energy bills, food prices have soared and Ukraine is now at the bottom of the headlines.

“As long as people keep donating and the hospitals and people in Ukraine keep asking, we will continue our work.

“The war is not over, it is continuing, the situation is worse now than before and we are desperate for donations.”

Now the group are relying on young people to get involved and help where they can.

With more than 1,000 young people, aged from four to 18, involved in Scouting across Perth and Kinross, they are a force to be reckoned with as they set about gathering as many tins as possible.

The 10th Perthshire is the largest Scout group in Perth and Kinross, with 250 young people attending each week.

Amanda Thomson, who is co-ordinating the collection, said: “We have Scouts in our group who have come from Ukraine because of the conflict.

“Our young people want to make a difference and help others who are less fortunate.

“We already have more than 400 tins of beans and hope to get many more.

“If you can donate, we will welcome your contribution.”

The resourceful team have partnered up with a

local business, Haddow Bathrooms and Kitchens, collecting the beans at their Kinnoull Causeway showroom.

Donations of tinned beans can be made to the group from Monday to Saturday, from 9am until 5pm.

TIN TEAM: Scouts from the 10th Perthshire with some of the beans they have collected.