TL Dallas has donated £500 to a Shetland charity that supports people of all ages with a host of inclusive services.
Shetland Befriending Scheme helps vulnerable young people, adults and those affected by dementia with a blend of volunteer led support services and activities.
Ruth Newbold, from TL Dallas, which celebrated its 30th anniversary last year, said: “What’s great about the charity is it works with people of all ages and takes a collaborative approach to what it does – which is one of our firm’s core values.”
“We have been hugely impressed with the difference Shetland Befriending Scheme makes to local people and our donation will go towards the cost of the six activities sessions this year.”
Project co-ordinator, Mairi Jamieson from Shetland Befriending Scheme, said: “Our activity sessions give young people and adults a chance to meet other similar people with the support of their volunteer befriender. These can be activities such as a session on the climbing wall at the Clickimin, arts and crafts activities, baking, a Glansin Glass workshop, pottery painting at Aa Fired Up or a trip on Seabirds & Seal. We wouldn’t be able to fund these fun and inclusive trips without the generous support of businesses like TL Dallas, and we are ever so grateful to Ruth and the team.”
Shetland Befriending Scheme works with three core groups. The first are children aged seven to 15, providing them with a trained volunteer who works on a one-to-one basis to help with any self-confidence issues and inspire emotional growth. The befriending scheme also helps to develop a greater capacity to form and maintain positive relationships with others, promotes feelings of achievement and builds on their current skills, whilst encouraging them to take part in new activities.
It also works with people aged 16 or over who live on their own, are socially isolated or have experienced significant loss or change in their lives. It helps them to manage their own home and live independently, as well as encouraging them to make positive choices and develop a sense of purpose.
The charity also works with people who have dementia that often have very limited social contact with others. The charity’s volunteers are there to listen, understand and provide a safe outlet for people living with the disease to do the things that matter most to them.
The team at TL Dallas are big supporters of the local community making donations and organising fundraising events every year. In 2023 they organised a Gospel concert, which raised over £2,000. This amount was matched by TL Dallas and divided between Cancer Research, Mind Your Head, Alzheimer’s and the Teenage Cancer Trust.