Dragonfly celebrate a global day of giving

On Tuesday 29 November 2022, we proudly joined the #givingtuesday initiative from our campfire at Dfly HQ!

Giving Tuesday is all about celebrating the different ways people and companies support charities.

As a big hearted agency, this year we have already given some amazing money and time to charities in the UK and SA, including our monthly Giving Back initiative in South Africa where we donate to a different cause each month, and have been doing so since 2021; participated in multiple KindessByPost exchanges; hosted a Macmillan coffee morning where we raised a superb £130; sponsored Isla our MD as she hiked up Ben Nevis in the dark for MND Scotland; and we have volunteered our time cleaning and sorting projects ranging from gardens to store cupboards at Ronald McDonald house in Edinburgh.

Before we end the year, we gifted each of our amazing Dragonfly’s £500 to donate to a charity or good cause that is close to their hearts, and the chat around the campfire was more than any of us expected. Get the tissues at the ready and we hope you enjoy reading who our benefactors are:

Roots Food Bank 

Roots Food Bank is an independent food bank based in Bonnybridge. Gary was particularly drawn to this local charity who helps some of the most deprived people in the area.

Ronald McDonald House

Ronald McDonald House  provide free ‘home away from home’ accommodation to families with seriously ill children in hospital. We have loved getting to know the Edinburgh house this year and are delighted to donate £250 which will provide 10 nights of accommodation to one family this Christmas.

Fresh Start

Fresh Start are helping people on their journey from homelessness, one step at time. Sally was drawn to the amazing work they do when she was recently donating to a local food bank. This donation means they will be able to buy some new appliances and white goods to people moving on from homelessness. 

Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home 

Pets are for life, not just for Christmas. The Edinburgh Dog and Cat home strive to make sure every pet has a loving home it deserves. Cate was passionate her donation went here this year so they can help feed the animals this winter.

The Yard 

The Yard creates beautiful havens for play for disabled children, but even more than that, opportunities for fun, friendship and community building.

The WellSpring 

Jen’s family have been giving not only their time but their home to this amazing homeless charity for many years, and now we can give back by donating £500 which will give 100 Christmas meals to families with children; vulnerable, lonely and elderly people; and the homeless on the streets of Stockport

RSPCA 

Nicky said “I love animals and any cruelty to animals really upsets me. The RSPCA do a fabulous job, we call them as the 4th emergency service forgetting they are a charity. They are often over looked with so many well deserved and well publicised causes.”

My Name’5 Doddie Foundation 

Rugby legend Doddie Weird sadly passed away this week after a fierce fight with MND, so it was very fitting we should celebrate his life with a donation to the foundation he started. My Name’5 Doddie Foundation is absolutely committed to a vision of a world free of MND, leaving no stone unturned in their relentless pursuit of this goal.

NSPCC
The NSPCC is the UK’s leading children’s charity, who have been looking out for children for over 130 years. NSPCC will be opening a new hub in Edinburgh in 2023 and we hope our donation can go directly to this wonderful initiative.

Marie Curie Hospice Edinburgh
Cara’s family have been touched by the help from the amazing staff at Edinburgh’s Marie Curie Hospice. She read out a beautiful explanation of all the ways they have supported her family, as written by her Gran. We are so pleased to be donating to this cause.

Foster Children of West Lothian
Clare shared with us a wonderful story of a dear friend who has given so much love and service to helping foster children in West Lothian. We hope this donation helps lots more children this Christmas.

Hundreds of Promises, for Sophia
A charity close to Vicky’s heart, Hundreds of Promises, for Sophia is following young Sophia’s adventures and battles with the incredibly cruel & incurable condition of Sanfilippo Syndrome.

Shared Hope
Shared Hope seeks to meet the needs of those in extreme poverty and attempt in all they do to promote independence and sustainability. To this end they seek to be a conduit between those who have a heart to give financially and those who have a heart to serve within the communities where they live.

CHAS
This amazing charity haven’t just been a client of ours, but an all-round inspiration from the amazing care and services they offer families. Working with them first hand we hear from the families how the team at CHAS are real life angels.

Ryedale Special Families
Supporting families who have children and young adults with disabilities, illness and additional needs, throughout the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire. Ellie shared with us how they have been instrumental in supporting her family and we are pleased to be able to give something back to them with our donation.

The Rock Trust
Scotland’s youth homelessness charity, The Rock Trust are supporting young people who have left home with shelter, food and sleep. Their aim is to help every young person affected by homelessness

Zarach
As Rich put it you are only as good as your last pay cheque. He wanted to support Zarach who are a charity committed to helping children and families who are living in poverty crisis. Rich said ‘you don’t know how privileged you are to have a pillow on a bed at night, when there are many who don’t’

St George’s Crypt
Leeds based St George’s Crypt are a charity offering hope to the homeless, vulnerable and those suffering from addictions 365 days a year.

Gift of the Givers
South African based Gift of the Givers offer fast and active disaster response. Natalie shared with us the amazing work they do from school response services to counselling for those affected by disasters.

Make 2nds Count
Make 2nds Count gives hope to those affected by secondary breast cancer. They offer research, support, and education. Jaclyn shared with us the heart-breaking story of her best friend who sadly passed away from Breast Cancer in 2020. We hope our donation of £500 helps future families by raising awareness and funding medical research.

Phinda Mzala
South African community dance group Phinda Mzala want to become one of the integral leading Arts & Culture in Africa whilst appreciating and maintaining a diversity of culture. Our donation will help support this.

Carthorse Protection
The Cart Horse Protection Association is a Cape Town based non-profit animal welfare organisation with the mission of promoting the welfare of working horses and donkeys in the Western Cape through service provision, legislation, education, and training. Moyra drives past these donkeys each day and asked that we pledge her donation towards supporting them.

Yorkhill Children’s Hospital
A charity that is very close to Chloe’s heart as they supported her nephew and family when he was born with a heart condition. Eleven years on these amazing nurses are now part of Chloe’s family and she’ll be taking her donation along in person with some chocolate treats to share.

Hopefully you’ll see that together we are doing our part to help make a world of difference to some amazing charities and good causes.