Deloitte pledges support to Scottish children’s charities

Deloitte has announced its support for three Scottish children’s charities as part of its UK-wide One Million Futures strategy.

Marking International Children’s Day today, the firm’s Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen offices are working closely with local charities to develop plans which will see them provide pro bono support over the next three years, helping these organisations to improve their services and, in turn, support young people into education and employment.

In addition, the offices are providing support to the charities through both fundraising and volunteering activity.

Deloitte’s Aberdeen office is partnering with well-known local charity, Befriend a Child. A team from the firm is currently working with the charity to develop an impact report, as well as a tool which will enable it to more accurately capture data relating to the children it works with going forward. Combined, they will help to articulate the charity’s economic impact and better support applications for funding, allowing Befriend a Child to provide extra help to children across Aberdeen.

In Glasgow, the firm is working in partnership with Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity to support the patients at Skye House, an adolescent psychiatric unit based at Stobhill Hospital. A new programme is currently being created to develop skills for life, learning and work for the patients at Skye House. The programme will consist of financial awareness, independent living and employability tutorials, one-to-one mentoring and the design of a multi-purpose room.

Meanwhile, Scotland’s national children’s charity, Children 1st, is partnering with Deloitte’s Edinburgh office. The business advisory firm recently hosted Children 1st at its new Greenhouse, delivering a collaborative session which has resulted in agreement to help the charity develop its five-year strategy. Work following this session will be rolled out in the months ahead.

Richard Stewart, head of marketing, fundraising and external affairs at Befriend a Child, said: “With 16 per cent of children living in poverty in Aberdeen, and 9 per cent in Aberdeenshire, coupled with a marked reduction in the availability of funding which puts a squeeze on all third sector organisations, we’re getting more referrals and our waiting list continues to grow on a daily basis. We simply do not have enough funding to support every child that needs our help.

“Through the creation of an impact report with Deloitte, we hope to demonstrate and articulate the real impact we make in transforming young local lives. This will give us a better chance of securing a greater level of funding to make a lasting difference in our community, permitting the children of Aberdeen and beyond a brighter future. Without Deloitte’s support we would not have been able to fund this piece of work.”

Kirsten Sinclair, director of fundraising at Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Deloitte for their support. It’s so important that the young people treated at Skye House not only receive the best possible medical care, but that they also receive the help they need to thrive outside the four walls of the hospital. Mental health conditions should not prevent children from identifying their passions and strengths, and this project will be extremely beneficial for our young patients.”

Ashley Sharp, senior corporate fundraiser at Children 1st, added: “Through utilising the skills offered by Deloitte, we will be able to put together an effective five-year plan, allowing us to maximise our ability to help each child. In the next five years, we will look to make sure that every resource is pulled together in the best possible structure, allowing us to help more children.”

Deloitte’s five-year One Million Futures initiative sees the firm work with 45 charities, schools, and social enterprises, as part of a UK-wide objective to improve skills and develop leaders, with the overall aim of improving the lives of one million people.

Steve Williams, senior partner for Deloitte in Scotland and Northern Ireland, said: “We are proud to support all three of these charities, which undertake life-changing work every day. Each of them was selected for their ability to make a real and lasting positive impact on the children they work with and we look forward to supporting them in the years ahead.

“Our One Million Futures strategy aims to help children and young adults, regardless of their background and the adversity they have faced in their lives, to go on and fulfil their potential. We believe a person’s background shouldn’t dictate their future and this strategy will help us to focus on creating more opportunities around jobs, skills, and training to the benefit of everyone involved.”