Customers of McDonald’s fast food outlets in the north and north-east have raised £40,000 for the Archie Foundation’s child bereavement service.
The donation has come from the “bag tax” – a 10p surcharge for each single-use carrier bag purchased with meals.
Under legislation introduced in 2014, the money belongs to businesses charging it.
But the Scottish Government is keen to see as much as possible going to good causes.
£100,000-plus donated this year
Nine branches of McDonald’s run by franchise-holder Craig Duncan have together raised more than £100,000 for worthy causes this year.
The restaurants include three sites in Aberdeen (Union Street, Kittybrewster and Garthdee), two in Inverness (High Street and Inshes Retail Park) and one each in Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Elgin and Fort William.
The £40,000 for the Archie Foundation is the biggest single donation from the fast food portfolio.
It has been ringfenced to fund three years of the Archie Child Bereavement Service in the north, following the expansion of this part of the charity’s work to the Highlands earlier this year.
The Archie Foundation provides healthcare and bereavement support for children and their families across the north and north-east.
It works in partnership with the NHS and other child development professionals, including but not limited to those working in the education and social work sectors.
The charity described the donation by Mr Duncan on behalf of his businesses as “life changing”.
Archie Foundation ‘very grateful’
It will allow the Archie Foundation to offer free support to children dealing with the death of a loved one, from providing books to carefully tailored support for families.
Paula Cormack, chief executive, told The Press and Journal it was a “fantastic” gesture for which the charity was “very grateful”.
As well as helping bereaved children it will further raise the group’s profile, she added.
Ms Cormack said a lot of groundwork went into expanding the child bereavement support.
The charity had seen a steady stream of referrals since the service launched in the north, she added.
‘Donation life-changing for children and families’
Mary Nimmo, trustee and chairwoman of the foundation’s Highland fundraising board, and also senior partner at Inverness-based Munro & Noble Solicitors, said: “During these very difficult times, following the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis, I was absolutely stunned by the generosity of Craig Duncan.
“I actually thought Craig said 40 pounds, not 40 thousand pounds.
“A donation such as this is life-changing for many of the children and their families here in the Highlands and Islands.
“This donation has gone, in its entirety, towards funding three years of the Highland Archie Child bereavement service.”
Mr Duncan said: “I have supported the Archie Foundation since the start of my McDonald’s journey.
“I’m delighted to be able to make a difference to children in the Highlands who are going through unimaginably difficult times.
“While we are required to charge customers for disposable bags, it’s important that people know we have decided to give every single penny of that money to charity.”
Conversation