One of the first tasks for Turning Point Scotland’s new Chief Executive, Neil Richardson, was having the pleasure of picking up a cheque for £3,000 thanks to the Hospital Saturday Fund. 

28 Scottish charities received donations from the Hospital Saturday Fund at a special reception hosted at Glasgow City Chambers. In total, £85,000 was donated to the charities at the event, which was hosted by The Rt Hon Lord Provost of Glasgow, Councillor Sadie Docherty, represented on the evening by Bailie Marie Garrity and the Lord Dean of Guild.

Neil said: “I am delighted and honoured the Hospital Saturday Fund is supporting our work. It will go towards a new project Sport Connects created by our TPS Connects volunteers, the membership scheme for people we support. Sport is an ideal way for them to have a healthier lifestyle, for both physical and mental well-being, which assists them in their recovery and gives them social opportunities. Thanks to the money from the Hospital Saturday Fund, we are able to fund TPS Sport Connects for a significant period into the future.”

Speaking at the reception, Bailie Marie Garrity celebrated the extraordinary work of all the charities receiving donations from the Hospital Saturday Fund. The Lord Provost of Glasgow, Councillor Sadie Docherty, had nominated Beatson Cancer Charity as her chosen charity for the event, and this donation from HSF will support the launch a valuable new project to offer befriending services to isolated patients as they go through complex and debilitating cancer treatments.

Paul Jackson, Chief Executive of the Hospital Saturday Fund said: “We are delighted to continue the tradition of supporting many wide-ranging charities in Scotland, many of which are less well-known. The Hospital Saturday Fund is honoured to support the efforts of such deserving charities and help in some way towards the exceptional, tireless work that they do in making such a huge and positive difference to people’s lives.”

In 2017 the Hospital Saturday Fund will give £1 million in donations and grants to medical charities for care and research, hospices and hospitals across the UK and Ireland. Assistance will also be given to individuals whose illness or disability has caused financial difficulties.