Scotmid raises highest ever total for charity partner

The programme was delivered with Alzheimer Scotland as Scotmid’s lead charity partner, with Alzheimer’s Society supporting activity in England and Northern Ireland.

Over 12 months, colleagues, members and customers firmly backed the campaign, raising funds in communities across Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north of England.

From abseils and PJ days to Tough Mudders, runs and sponsored walks, teams delivered a packed calendar of fundraising activity.

Customers also supported the total at the till. In partnership with micro-donation charity, Pennies, shoppers in Scotmid and Semichem stores could add a 10p digital donation when paying by card, helping small contributions add up to a significant boost.

Throughout the partnership year, the campaign also helped bring Alzheimer Scotland’s brain health work into communities through Babs the Brain, the charity’s giant walk-through inflatable brain.

Named in honour of Dame Barbara Windsor, who died of Alzheimer’s disease in 2020, Babs visited Scotmid communities as part of the Big Brain Tour, offering people of all ages a memorable opportunity to learn about brain health.

Almost 20,000 people saw Babs on tour, with opportunities to learn how the brain works and the steps people can take to help protect their brain health and reduce their risk of dementia.

The partnership also reached schools, helping take brain health messages to younger audiences. Through Alzheimer Scotland’s STARS programme, 6,520 pupils received a STARS lesson in class and 5,014 pupils received a children’s handbook on brain health.

Henry Simmons, Alzheimer Scotland’s Chief Executive, said: “Alzheimer Scotland is incredibly grateful to Scotmid for choosing us to be their Charity Partner for the past year. We’d like to send a huge, heartfelt thank you to all the members, customers and colleagues involved in raising such an amazing amount of money to support our work.

“Together they have helped us to take our message out into communities across Scotland and the north of England, empowering people of all ages to protect their brain health, reduce their risk of dementia, and help make sure that nobody faces dementia alone.”

Karen Scott, Chief Executive Officer at Scotmid, added: “This is a proud moment for the Scotmid family and a wonderful result to celebrate. Achieving our highest-ever annual charity partnership total is a powerful reflection of our co-operative spirit, and of the kindness, energy and commitment shown by colleagues, members and customers across our Society.

“Together with Alzheimer Scotland, and with the support of Alzheimer’s Society in England and Northern Ireland, we have helped bring brain health messages into our communities, including to children and young people. This outstanding achievement shows what can be achieved when people come together behind a shared cause.”