Across the country, charities and social enterprises have been using the Scotland Loves Local Gift Card as a means to support those most in need. From supporting young carers, to providing families with greater choice in how they receive support, organisations across the country have used the gift card as an innovative solution for providing help to those who need it in a dignified and flexible way.
Renfrewshire Carers
Renfrewshire Carers Centre, based in Paisley, provides vital support to unpaid carers across the region. Through counselling, advocacy, peer support, training, and short breaks, the charity aims to improve quality of life and empower carers to sustain their caring role.
In 2022 the charity decided to use the Scotland Loves Local Renfrewshire Gift Card to help carers enjoy much-needed down time during the Christmas period.
Recognising that many carers face financial pressures, the charity launched a simple but powerful initiative called “The Big Night In or The Big Night Out.”
The idea was to give Carers the freedom to choose from a local meal out, or an evening at home with food and treats from local shops, all paid for with the Scotland Loves Local Renfrewshire Gift Card.
The charity stated that flexibility and locality were key factors for choosing the gift card to support young carers, rather than one of the larger retail alternatives.
These small but meaningful experiences provided not just a break for Carers, but also a boost for local businesses and locking spend into the local economy.
Moray School Bank
Moray School Bank is a charity dedicated to ensuring every child in Moray has access to essential school clothing and basic household items. In 2023, the charity found an innovative way to support local families whilst strengthening the local economy by adopting the Scotland Loves Local Moray Gift Card.
Debi Weir, Development Manager at Moray School Bank, explains:
“We started encouraging people to donate any leftover balance on their Moray Gift Card to us, even just £1 or £2. Every small amount adds up and helps us buy school uniforms and essentials for local families who need it most.”
The charity placed Moray Gift Card Collection Points across the community, with some accepting donated clothing and others accepting unused or partially used gift cards.
Previously, Moray Food Bank distributed single-store vouchers for the major supermarkets to help families buy food or essentials, but the organisation made the decision to swap to the Scotland Loves Local Moray Gift Card to give families more choice and fewer restrictions on where they could spend.
“Choice and dignity go hand in hand,” said Debi. “When you’re struggling, it’s crushing to be told where you can or can’t shop. With the Moray Gift Card, families have the freedom to choose what’s right for them.”
“Some kids might only eat certain foods, so a pre-packed food hamper might not help. The Moray Gift Card lets families choose exactly what works for them.”
Grampian Opportunities
Inverurie based Grampian Opportunities (GO) aims to promote employability, develop enterprise and open up opportunities for people with disabilities.
Many of GO’s service users face significant barriers, including physical disabilities, homelessness, and the ongoing impacts of the cost-of-living crisis. The charity sought a practical way to provide immediate support that would offer choice to individuals and encourage a greater sense of community.
When additional funding became available, GO chose to distribute Scotland Loves Local Aberdeenshire Gift Cards to those facing financial difficulties and/or social isolation.
The cards were then distributed to service users facing financial hardship or social isolation, and were used for:
- Enabling participants and volunteers from the Listening Ear project to enjoy outings—like a coffee and cake at a local café
- Offering those in crisis a way to purchase essentials or small luxuries without stigma
- Encouraging service users to explore new local businesses, providing a local economic boost
Project Co-ordinator Lynn Esslemont described why the organisation decided to use the Scotland Loves Local Aberdeenshire Gift Card as a means of support:
“With a gift card in their hand, they have the means to have that little treat. Giving the Aberdeenshire Gift Card offers choice, so we’re not dictating which café or shop they go to.”
