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The voice of Scotland’s vibrant voluntary sector

Published by Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

TFN is published by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Mansfield Traquair Centre, 15 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6BB. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Registration number SC003558.

Is this charity’s Christmas advert better than the John Lewis one?

This news post is about 8 years old
 

Alzheimer Scotland has made its own Christmas advert this year promoting the charity and its work

Move over John Lewis there is a new Christmas advert on screen … and this one pulls on the heartstrings.

Alzheimer Scotland’s poignant two minute online ad (below) titled ‘Tartan Christmas’ tells the story of a son searching for the perfect thoughtful gift for his mum who has dementia.

Struggling for inspiration he discovers by chance the Alzheimer Scotland tartan and decides to get his mum a shawl made.

The pair are then seen chatting, singing and loving life on Christmas morning after she opens his gift.

With over 90,000 people living with dementia across Scotland, the advert aims to promote a dementia-friendly Christmas where people living with dementia are supported and involved in the festivities.

The charity is also raising funds by selling gifts such as scarfs, hats and teddy bears made out of the tartan.

The advert is set in Edinburgh's historic Old Town and features the track ‘Vanishing Act’, recorded by Edinburgh-based singer-songwriter, Jonathan Pennington-Twist.

The mum in the advert is played by Margaret McGinty, from Paisley, who has been living with dementia for the past three years.

Anna Devine, director of fundraising and marketing at Alzheimer Scotland, said: “I’m really proud that we have been able to bring the spirit of our vibrant tartan to life on screen to honour people living with dementia everywhere.

“Despite not having budgets to the scale of businesses like John Lewis and their annual Christmas campaign, we have created something really honest for viewers.

“Featuring no actors and a moving soundtrack, the short online film is the most effective use of our resources and is a real first for our fundraising.”