Charities await SPL funding vote

Oct 22 2012

Voting has opened for the Scottish Premier League's fundraising weekend, which will see one charity benefit from collections at six football games in December.

Supporters are being given the opportunity to choose the cause they wish to receive donations collected at matches during the Weatherseal Charity Weekend, which takes place on December 8 and 9.

The shortlisted nominees are: Shelter Scotland, Scottish Women's Aid, Children's Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS), Samaritans Scotland and Alzheimer Scotland's Football Memories project.

Graeme Brown, director of housing and homelessness charity Shelter Scotland, said: "We are delighted to be one of the charities chosen to be involved in this exciting fundraising initiative. You may not see Scotland's homeless children on the street.

"Isolated and ignored, they're hidden away in temporary accommodation. And every day our helpline hears more stories of cockroaches, health problems, bad landlords and bitter cold. It's a disgrace."

CHAS events fundraiser Criona Knight said: "Football fans always show their mettle for their team, and we want to turn that spirit into votes for CHAS, Scotland's only children's hospice charity.

Tanya Rhodes, spokeswoman for Scottish Women's Aid, said: "We are delighted to have been shortlisted and call upon all Scotland's football fans to join us in blowing the whistle on domestic abuse. Domestic abuse has a huge effect throughout families and communities, and everyone can play their part in making it stop."

Andrew Sim, Samaritans executive director for Scotland, said: "We see it as a great opportunity to highlight the links between physical activity and mental wellbeing and to tell people about our service and the great work of Samaritans volunteers across Scotland."

Football Memories is a partnership between Alzheimer Scotland and the Scottish Football Museum at Hampden Park. It said there are more than 84,000 people in Scotland with dementia, the equivalent of every spectator on an average Scottish football weekend.

Voting closes next Sunday and the winning charity will be announced on November 12.