Barrack Trust donates £52,000 to Scottish charities

The Barrack Charitable Trust is stepping up to support 25 charitable organisations across Scotland with a generous donation of £52,000 in its latest round of contributions for 2024. Among the major recipients is Maggie’s Aberdeen, a charity dedicated to providing vital support to individuals and families affected by cancer. This time around, Maggie’s Aberdeen has been granted £5,000 to help fund the important role of a clinical psychologist, who will offer much-needed individual and group support to those living with cancer and their loved ones.

During a recent presentation, James Barrack, chairman of the trust, handed a cheque to Vera Schroeter, the centre head of Maggie’s Aberdeen. Expressing her gratitude, Vera stated, “We are incredibly thankful to The Barrack Charitable Trust for their donation. The majority of our funding comes from voluntary contributions, so we rely on donors to offer free expert psychological support to individuals battling cancer. This support is especially crucial now, given the urgent and widespread need for cancer assistance in the UK.”

Continuing on, Vera highlighted, “At Maggie’s, we understand that three out of five individuals find the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis more challenging than the physical aspects. Therefore, our support programs are designed to deliver top-quality psychological care promptly, without any waiting lists.

“We also acknowledge that individuals with cancer, as well as their families and friends, may require support beyond medical treatment. A diagnosis can have a lasting impact on relationships, confidence, and overall mental well-being. Thanks to generous supporters like The Barrack Charitable Trust, we can be there for individuals during what may be the most challenging period of their lives.”

James Barrack expressed his pride in contributing to such a critical cause, stating, “Supporting the funding of a clinical psychologist at Maggie’s Aberdeen is a significant step towards ensuring comprehensive care for cancer patients. By addressing both their physical and mental health needs, we aim to make a substantial impact on their overall well-being and recovery journey.”

Aside from Maggie’s Aberdeen, numerous other charities in Scotland are benefiting from The Barrack Charitable Trust’s support. Edinburgh Sick Kids, Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company from Erskine, and Harbour Ayrshire are just a few of the recipients. Edinburgh Sick Kids, for instance, has received £2,500 to aid the Emergency Family Fund, which provides immediate support to children and families facing crises during hospital stays.

Victoria Buchanan, representing Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, stated, “The Emergency Family Fund by Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity offers timely help to children and families in crisis during hospital stays. The fund supports families from across Edinburgh and Scotland, ensuring they can afford food, necessary clothing and equipment, and transportation to and from the hospital when they have no other means. We rely on donations to sustain this vital fund and are immensely thankful to The Barrack Charitable Trust for their generous assistance.”

Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company, located in Erskine, Renfrewshire, is another noteworthy recipient. This award-winning social enterprise focuses on producing signs while providing employment, training, and support to military veterans and individuals with disabilities and health conditions. The trust has allocated £5,000 towards the operating expenses of the accredited training centre project, which facilitates lifeworks employability courses for veterans.

Robert Lappin, the assistant director of SBMC, expressed his gratitude by saying, “I extend my thanks to The Barrack Charitable Trust for their generous donation towards the operations of our Accredited Training Centre. Glasgow Caledonian University has identified numerous positive outcomes for participants of our training programme, and we eagerly anticipate sharing the evaluation findings this summer.

“This donation holds significant value for us as it enables us to support veterans and other beneficiaries in obtaining the qualifications they have diligently worked towards. It also allows us to enhance our training programs and qualification offerings. Thank you for choosing to support Scotland’s Bravest.”

Finally, Harbour Ayrshire, a charity focusing on community regeneration in Ayrshire, received £1,500 to contribute to their Men’s Only Time project, designed to assist men struggling with addiction.

Andrew Downie, funding officer, remarked, “Harbour Ayrshire plays a vital role in addressing addiction and its underlying issues within the Ayrshire community, particularly among vulnerable individuals from deprived backgrounds. With the backing of The Barrack Charitable Trust, we can sustain and expand our MOT programme (men’s only time), which brings together men in need of support to address their challenges. Both our charity and beneficiaries deeply appreciate this invaluable support.”