Toasts, Tributes and £10,000 for Childline

On Thursday the 5th of February, HF Developments hosted a Burns Celebration at Strathclyde Business Park's Avondale Restaurant, to raise vital funds for ChildLine. 120 of Lanarkshire's business men and women gathered for an evening of tributes in verse, music and song to Scotland's most famous Bard.

A memorable evening was had by all, with guests enjoying whiskies supplied by Park occupier William Grants and Sons, a sumptuous Bill O'Faire and superb entertainment.

The NSPCC's ChildLine service is the free 24 hour helpline for children and young people who are worried about any issue. Last year, 33,500 young people spoke to a ChildLine in Scotland volunteer counsellor about concerns, ranging from bullying and family relationship problems to sexual and physical abuse. Many children tried to call several times before they got through.

To help answer more of these cries for help, the NSPCC launched the Child's Voice Appeal in September 2008. The appeal aims to raise £50 million over the next three years, to grow and develop the charity's helpline services in Scotland and across the UK.

Elaine Bailey from the NSPCC attended the evening and explained "To achieve this aim we need to spend £11.1 million on the three ChildLine bases in Scotland. The Scottish Government will provide £2.5 million of this total, but this still means we need to raise £8.6 million from donors in Scotland and across the UK. Every penny raised will help us make a vital difference to vulnerable children.

"For example, the fabulous contribution raised by HF Developments could help us answer another 2,500 calls, or to recruit and train 6 new volunteer ChildLine counsellors, who in their first year will each be able to help up to 200 children through their worries and distress."

William Hill, managing director of HF Developments, said "We were delighted to be able to contribute in our small way to help ChildLine, which is relied upon by so many of Scotland's children. We applaud the work done daily by volunteer counsellors across the country in maintaining this vital service.

"Our thanks go to them, and to all those who have joined with us in supporting this worthy cause".


Ends

Notes to Editors: Strathclyde Business Park

Strathclyde Business Park is owned by HF Developments. Well established as one of Scotland's most successful business locations, it is situated in 155 acres of mature parkland near Bellshill, Lanarkshire. The Park provides over 1.4 million sq ft / 130,060 sq m of business and lifestyle space to some of Scotland's top companies, including ScottishPower, Virgin Media, Camelot, William Grants Distillers and PPD Inc. Over 6,000 people are currently employed at the Park.

The site Masterplan provides for a further 500,000 sq ft / 46,450 sq m of accommodation, which will bring an anticipated 4,000 extra jobs to the Park.

Located in the heart of the Central Belt, the Park is minutes from the M8, M74 and M80, providing excellent access across Scotland and further afield.

For more information on the Park, and its location, accommodation, facilities and amenities, please visit our website: www.strathclydebusinesspark.com.