All three have a connection to us. We've supported Strathcarron Hospice through staff fundraising for several years, while last year's Employee Survey raised £2,793 for the Provost's Christmas Appeal, helping local families at Christmas.

This year, we're widening that support to include ANDYSMANCLUB. The charity provides free peer-to-peer mental health support for men and we hope to be working directly with them later this year to highlight the support on offer locally.  

So, if you haven't completed the survey yet, it only takes a few minutes and is completely anonymous. At the end, simply choose which of the three charities should receive your £1 donation.

The survey closes on Wednesday 30 September.

Strathcarron Hospice

Each year, Strathcarron Hospice supports around 1,380 people living with and dying from a serious, often incurable illnesses, as well as their families and carers.

Its work goes well beyond the hospice itself, with around 80% of patients cared for out with the hospice building across Forth Valley, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth. Its teams provide specialist care alongside practical and emotional support, helping people live as well as possible with their illness.

Strathcarron's services are free to those who need them. With around a third of its costs covered by government funding, it relies heavily on fundraising and donations to continue its work.

ANDYSMANCLUB

ANDYSMANCLUB offers free peer-to-peer support groups for men aged 18 and over, providing a place to talk about whatever is going on in their lives. With groups in Grangemouth, Stenhousemuir, Bo’ness and Hallglen, there’s no referral or appointment needed and you don’t need to be in crisis to attend.

ANDYSMANCLUB takes its name from Andrew Roberts, a man who sadly took his own life aged 23 in early 2016. What started with nine men meeting in a small room has since grown into a network of groups across the UK, helping to challenge the stigma around men’s mental health and encourage men to talk.

Groups meet every Monday at 7pm and are free to attend. They’re run by trained volunteers, many of whom first came to ANDYSMANCLUB for support themselves.

Provost's Christmas Appeal

The Provost's Christmas Appeal supports local families who may be struggling with the additional costs that come with Christmas. For many of us, Christmas means family, food and presents, but when money is already tight, those extra costs can bring real worry and stress.

Every year, the Appeal raises money to provide gift cards for families who need a little extra help. These are distributed discreetly through Social Work teams and can help with the cost of food and presents.

It's practical support that can ease some of the pressure on families and help make Christmas that little bit more special.