Charity provides £70k boost to good causes
A NEW local charity has already handed out £70,000 to good causes in Inverclyde.
The Newark Trust was founded by brothers Michael and Donald McLaren, from McLaren Packaging in Port Glasgow, who want to give something back to the community.
The pair are now appealing for local groups who need help to come forward.
Michael told the Telegraph: “The company was founded by my late father in 1979 and I run the business with my brother Donald.
“We wanted to give something back to the community.
“We are a major employer in Inverclyde. We employ 220 people and we have been operating for 45 years.
“We are aware of some of the challenges facing the community, and we wanted to thank the community for supporting our business all those years.
“We wanted to have some recommendations, and some of our employees have made suggestions over charities we should support and we have set up a committee.”
Michael’s passion is sport and trying to get young people into employment.
He said: “I am keen to encourage young people to participate in sport and the benefits that can have in terms of applying what they learn to their personal development.
“I’m also keen to do something we have seen in our own business, which is to help people who have left school without any skills get the support they need to help them in the future.
Michael added that he was aware of the good work Street League do combining sport with employability and hopes the trust can do something similar or support Street League’s efforts.
Claire Stone, who manages the new charity, said: “Michael, Donald and their mother wanted to set up an organisation for the benefit of Inverclyde, and we have set up a board of trustees.
“The three aims of the charity are to fight child poverty, to assist children with disabilities, and to support the community.
“There are some amazing things going on in Inverclyde and we want to build relationships.”
The charity has already given out grants to local causes including able2sail, an accessible sailing charity based at Inverkip Marina, Parklea Branching Out, as featured in the Telegraph, Greenock and District Sea Cadets
with help to build a slipway, and the Be-inn Unity social enterprise to support young people in Inverclyde.
Claire said: “We are a new organisation, and we are openminded. We looking at giving practical help and perhaps to fill the gaps that have been missed.
“We are looking forward to support groups and want to hear from them.”
If any local groups are hoping for help, they should email Claire on claire@thenewarktrust.org.