Latest news with #ScottishBuildingSocietyFoundation
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- General
- Glasgow Times
Bridgeton Community Learning Campus secures fresh funding
The Bridgeton Community Learning Campus (BCLC) received a grant from the Scottish Building Society Foundation, which will be used to upgrade its heating system. The improvements will support the centre's ability to offer free and low-cost activities to residents in the east end throughout the year. The centre delivers a wide array of activities, including fitness sessions (Image: Supplied) Lesley Ward, centre manager at BCLC, said: "As an anchor organisation, we serve Bridgeton with education, wellbeing, and a social connection for those who need it most. "We see every day how vital this space is for local people. Read more: Popular chippy unveils new creation dubbed the 'Glaswegian doughnut' "Whether it is older adults battling isolation or young families seeking support, our aim is simple – to provide opportunities that help people feel included, supported and empowered to thrive. "It's brilliant to receive funding from the foundation which will help us improve energy efficiency at our centre, ensuring we can provide comfortable and welcoming service throughout the year for all who attend." Established in 2006, BCLC has become a vital part of the Bridgeton community, offering inclusive classes and services for all ages and abilities. The centre delivers a wide array of activities, including fitness sessions such as karate, clubbercise, and chair yoga, as well as arts and crafts. It also offers educational programmes, including ICT training and English for speakers of other languages courses. The campus regularly holds community events, including an annual gala day, monthly meals, tea dances, and a community garden open to all residents. Paul Denton, chief executive of the Scottish Building Society, said: "We are thrilled to support BCLC and help it sustain a rich programme of activity which benefits everyone in Bridgeton. "BCLC is a pillar of the local community and showcases everything about the type of organisations our foundation aims to back. "As a mutual organisation rooted in community values, we recognise the transformative power of local initiatives in strengthening resilience, connection and opportunity." The Scottish Building Society Foundation, launched in May 2023, awards grants of up to £5,000 to community groups across Scotland. To date, it has distributed more than £155,000 to over 40 charities, with a recent funding round totalling nearly £30,000.
Scotsman
06-08-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
Aberdeen First Responders revives life-saving kit with help from Scottish Building Society Foundation
The Scottish Building Society Foundation is supporting Aberdeen First Responders to save lives across North East Scotland with new and vital defibrillator equipment. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Foundation has awarded £5,000 to Aberdeen First Responders, providing the volunteer-led group with funds to upgrade its community defibrillators and essential life-saving equipment. Working closely with the Scottish Ambulance Service, the community group provides essential first-contact emergency assistance to those in need across the city and the surrounding areas. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Throughout 2024, the community group volunteered over 4,200 hours collectively, arriving first on the scene at more than 700 incidents, supporting patients to overcome a range of health emergencies including cardiac arrests, heart attacks, strokes, and seizures. Aberdeen First Responders team with new defibrillators For people suffering a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital environment every second is vital and a defibrillator can increase the chance of survival by 70% if used within the first few minutes. Across Scotland, between 1st April 2023 and 31st March 2024, there were 3,752 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) where resuscitation was attempted, representing an incidence rate of 683 OHCA per million people across the country. Founded in 2018, Aberdeen First Responders' primary goal is to arrive at incidents as quickly as possible and help stabilise patients in the crucial minutes before an ambulance arrives, helping to alleviate pressure on emergency services. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Recognising the lifesaving role it plays, the group sought funding to upgrade key equipment that had reached the end of its lifespan. The funding has helped cover the cost of new defibrillator units, replacement pads, batteries, and maintenance equipment. The devices are located in public areas and also carried by responders, meaning they are available 24/7 for emergencies across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. Aberdeen First Responders Chairman, Andy Bruce, said: 'Our volunteers give up their time to respond to life-threatening emergencies, often being the first on the scene. Having the right equipment and making sure it's reliable is absolutely critical.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The initiative to regenerate its defibrillators was led by Aberdeen First Responder Ewan Pow, who was recently named the First Aid Hero of the Year at the St Andrew's First Aid Scottish First Aid Awards in April. Ewan won the First Aid Hero of the Year award on his first solo call as a volunteer responder, where a routine house visit saw a low-risk patient collapse suddenly and go into cardiac arrest during assessment. Ewan called for backup, guided the patient's daughter to carry out CPR, and used a defibrillator to revive the man, keeping him stable until paramedics arrived 11 minutes later. He said: 'I've seen first-hand how early defibrillation can be the difference between life and death. With the support from the Scottish Building Society Foundation, we're now able to refresh key pieces of kit, giving our team greater confidence to act quickly and help those in urgent need. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It's an investment that will have a real and lasting impact in our local community.' Paul Denton, Chief Executive of Scottish Building Society, said: 'We're proud to support Aberdeen First Responders and the critical work they do. Their team is made up entirely of volunteers, yet they provide an essential service that has already saved countless lives and will continue to do so. 'As a mutual organisation, we are committed to strengthening communities across Scotland and initiatives such as Aberdeen First Responders is exactly why we set up the Foundation – to support the incredible work happening on the ground to tackle issues such as health, isolation, and community safety. 'We look forward to supporting them further, empowering them to continue to make a positive difference, and we are proud to be part of their journey.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Launched in May 2023, The Foundation awards grants of up to £5,000 to charities and positive causes in local communities with a view to making a life-changing impact across the country. It recently closed its fifth round of funding, seeing almost £30,000 donated to local charities and good causes across the country. Since it launched, The Foundation has awarded grants to more than 40 charities across the country, allocating over £155,000 to date.
Glasgow Times
05-06-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow community campus receives boost of up to £5,000
Bridgeton Community Learning Campus is one of eight charities and good causes in Scotland to receive a funding boost from the Scottish Building Society Foundation. The foundation provides individual grants of £5,000 to support charities' work in their communities. Read more: Primary school to gain new classrooms following £500k investment Bridgeton Community Learning Campus was awarded funding to "further its work supporting local businesses and organisations based in Bridgeton". As well as the Bridgeton-based charity, grants were awarded to Very Inclusive Play Club, Forth Canoe Club, Ochil Trail Association, The Birks Cinema Trust, Works+, Trossachs Tigers Hockey Club, and Duntocher Village Hall, who all received donations to support their initiatives in their community. Paul Denton, chief executive officer of the Scottish Building Society, said: "As we welcome members to our AGM this year, it feels fitting to celebrate the incredible work charities do in their local communities, and we are proud to support their efforts through this next round of funding. "All the charities and community organisations who have been successful in their applications have a fantastic cause and we look forward to seeing their positive work go further as a result of the funding they have received. "By investing in good causes, we are building stronger communities." The Scottish Building Society Foundation was established in May 2023 in partnership with Foundation Scotland. Since then, it has provided more than £150,000 shared among 43 charities. The latest funding round coincides with a successful year for the world's oldest remaining building society. In April, the society revealed a 17 per cent increase in total assets over the last 12 months. The society's assets have doubled since 2020 to £866.5 million, while its mortgage portfolio grew by 7 per cent and retail savings balances rose by 20 per cent. Additionally, for the fifth consecutive time, the Scottish Building Society was recognised as the 'Best Building Society' at the 2024 Scottish Mortgage Awards. Read more: 'I couldn't recommend it highly enough': Care facility earns high praise Mr Denton also received the 'Lifetime Achievement' award during the ceremony. He said: "Over the past 12 months, we've seen strong results driven by our commitment to the communities we serve, building loyalty and trust with our members to provide them with the services they need. "As a mutual, we make decisions exclusively for the benefit of our members, not shareholders, and today, that feels more important than ever. "That's why we continue to invest in relationship centres, passbook savings accounts, and a personal approach, while at the same time developing our digital tools to give members secure, convenient access to their accounts." More information on the society's efforts can be found on the Scottish Building Society Foundation's website.
