This year, with the ongoing cost of living crisis, ERS has made the decision not to send cards and gifts to our clients. Instead, the equivalent money has been donated to various charities to support the vital work they are doing for our local community.
The charities were nominated and voted for by our employees, with all receiving a share of the funds. Here is some more information on these charities and the vital work they do:
East Dunbartonshire Foodbank
Serving the communities of Kirkintilloch, Milngavie, Lennoxtown and Bishopbriggs - only a stones throw away from our Glasgow office, the East Dunbartonshire Foodbank has been a vital source of support for local people during the cost of living crisis. With many of our staff based in these nearby towns, it was the most up-voted charity of the nominations. To learn more about the work they do and to make a donation, visit their website https://eastdunbartonshire.foodbank.org.uk/
Jags for Good
Run by Partick Thistle fans (of which there seems to be a few amongst our staff) Jags for Good is an initiative which supports social justice causes in the Jags' local community of Maryhill and across Glasgow. These include the Maryhill Integration Network and the Glasgow North West Foodbank. Learn more about the work these community-minded Jags fans do here bit.ly/3YUJUur
Kipawa Trust International
Kipawa Trust is a Scottish based charity which provides feeding programmes, health care and counselling services for children and their families living in poverty in Ruiru, Kenya. Learn more about the important work they do on their website https://www.kipawa.org.uk/
JDRF UK
Type 1 Diabetes is a condition which affects 400,000 people across the UK. It is caused by the body's immune system mistakenly attacking insulin producing cells in the pancreas, and requires daily insulin injection. JDRF aims to fund more research into this life changing condition and support people post-diagnosis. To learn more about Type 1 Diabetes and the work JDRF does, visit their website https://jdrf.org.uk/
Cash for Kids
Cash for Kids helps children affected by poverty, illness and neglect, as well as those with additional needs across the UK. They are a grant-giving organisation directing funding to local, grass-roots organisations based in affected communities. For more information on the grants and who they have supported so far, visit their website https://cashforkids.org.uk/
Shelter Scotland
Shelter aims to support people struggling with bad housing, housing insecurity and homelessness. With the cost-of-living crisis hitting communities hard on top of the existing housing crisis, more than ever this winter, families are struggling to keep a warm, safe roof over their heads. You can support Shelter to provide housing advice and temporary accommodation for struggling individuals and families across Scotland by visiting their website https://scotland.shelter.org.uk/
Tommy's
Tommy's is an pregnancy charity which aims to make the UK the safest place in the world to give birth. It supports parents through miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth, and also funds research into pregnancy issues and provides healthy pregnancy advice for mothers to be. You can learn more about the work they do and donate to their cause on their website https://www.tommys.org/
We'd like to thank our clients for their understanding and support during these unprecedented times, and also all our staff who nominated a charity and
took part in the vote.
And of course, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We look forward to working with you all again in 2023!