The Archie Foundation has formed a new partnership with Change Centre Dundee, Street Soccer Scotland's flagship community hub, to reach more children and families across Tayside.
As part of the partnership, Archie's Tayside team has moved into a new office at the hub.
The move marks an exciting new chapter for the children’s charity in the region as demand for its services continues to increase and its team expands.
Archie’s Tayside team consists of two full-time and three part-time staff members, with Beatrice Healy recently joining the team as fundraising and engagement officer.
The charity is also now recruiting a third bereavement support worker in response to a rise in referrals for support for children experiencing a bereavement or a loved one receiving palliative care.
The Change Centre brings together statutory and third sector organisations under one roof, allowing Archie to grow connections with the community and identify more support pathways for local children and families.
The children’s charity, which supports babies, children and families during a hospital stay or bereavement, was previously based in legal firm Thorntons’ office in Dundee city centre.
However, due to the business moving premises, Archie appealed to local businesses for a new community base.
Rebecca Duncan, business development and fundraising manager for Archie in Tayside, said:“We are incredibly grateful to the Change Centre for providing us with office space within its facility. This is an exciting opportunity for us to form a collaboration between both charities whose values and missions closely align.
“The Change Centre is also located close to Tayside Children’s Hospital, enabling us to continue working closely with NHS staff and volunteers to help make the hospital a more welcoming and comforting space, while providing room for our growing team.”
The charity will retain use of its office at Ninewells Hospital, which is home to Tayside Children’s Hospital, enabling the fundraising and bereavement teams to manage operations both in a healthcare setting and within the community.
Scott Hollinshead, Change Centre manager, said: “We’re proud to welcome The Archie Foundation to the Change Centre. Since we opened our doors in 2021, our goal has always been to provide a safe space that offers opportunities that can significantly impact positive outcomes in the lives of those in the community.
“We know the incredible impact the charity has across Tayside, and we’re pleased to be able to support Archie’s work by providing them with office space, allowing more of its resources to go directly towards helping local children and families.”
Plans are taking shape for joint events and fundraisers between the two charities, along with hopes to host bereavement activity days at the hub for young people experiencing grief or anticipatory grief.
The Archie Foundation supports babies, children and families in hospitals and communities across the north of Scotland, funding specialist equipment, projects, services, bereavement support and experiences that make a difference when it matters most.
In Tayside, this includes working closely with Tayside Children’s Hospital at Ninewells Hospital as well as other NHS services such as Glenlaw House, a respite facility for children with complex medical needs and their families.
To find out more about The Archie Foundation and how it supports babies, children and families across Tayside, visit archie.org/what-we-do/.
The Archie Foundation
The Archie Foundation are the official children`s charity for Tayside children`s hospital. We are near completion of our new Theatre Suite which 2 million was raised for this project.
