Buckie Lidl staff's amazing fund-raising feat for kids' charity
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A TEAM of staff from the Buckie Lidl store have walked a collective 400km to raise money for a children's charity.
Joined by colleagues from Lidl's in Elgin, a 17-strong group set out from the shop in the Moray capital to Buckie, a journey of some 25km.
The store to store trek has netted almost £3000 for NSPCC Scotland, which helps protect children from abuse and neglect, and has provided a lifeline, through its Childline service, for hundreds of children in Scotland through the coronavirus pandemic.
Laura Taylor, who has worked in the Buckie store for 13 years as a store assistant, was involved with organising the walks.
She said: “Because of Covid-19, it’s been quite a stressful year and I wanted to do something to lift the morale of the staff. I started the Buckie walking group, and as we partner with the NSPCC thought it could be a good idea to raise some money at the same time.”
The Buckie store raised funds through an in-store competition to win a hamper of deluxe goods, bucket collections, and a Facebook bonus ball.
Ms Taylor continued: “I am so proud of all the team, and there’s already talks of doing the same again next year. The NSPCC is a brilliant charity and we hope our contribution can help them continue to do the great work they do.
Her Elgin colleague Sean Adams, who has worked the Elgin store for five years as a customer assistant, added: “We all had such a laugh on our walk, and it was great to also be raising money for an amazing cause at the same time.
"It was a tough challenge, and was certainly hard at points, but we all felt a great sense of achievement after it was done.”
Since launching in 2017, Lidl’s partnership with the NSPCC has raised £3 million and the supermarket has pledged to further support their Childline service to the tune of £2 million over the next two years.
Lidl has supported the charity by partnering with suppliers to donate some of the proceeds of sales, as well as introducing the Rainbow Trail to support children’s mental and emotional health. This involved children sending in their drawings of rainbows, with some of the drawings being featured on billboards across the country.
Katie Bruce, Corporate Fundraising Manager for NSPCC Scotland, commented: “Well done to the teams in Elgin and Buckie on their amazing fundraising achievement.
"By completing this huge challenge and raising this total, these incredible Lidl colleagues have supported over 700 calls, emails and online chats from children, when they needed someone to talk to.
“Fundraising is a great way to help us to continue to support children, and if anyone would like to take on a challenge like this, or come up with a fundraising idea of their own, then we would love for them to get in touch.”
Ross Millar, Regional Director for Lidl, added: “We are delighted to be partners of the NSPCC throughout Scotland, and to hear the incredible work of Childline and their committed volunteers. It has been brilliant to see our dedicated staff step up to support young people, and a particularly huge well done to the staff at Elgin and Buckie stores coming up with a creative way to support children through Childline, at such a difficult time.”
To help raise funds for the charity, contact scotlandfundraising@nspcc.org.uk or visit https://www.nspcc.org.uk/support-us/events-fundraising/do-your-own-fundraising/
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