Money will help employ more staff
A foundation has donated over £100,000 to MND Scotland to fund a new post.
The Alan Davidson foundation has given the cash to enable the charity to recruit an advocacy worker to provide vital support for those with the illness.
Founded by Aberdeen-born architect Alan Davidson who died of motor neurone disease (MND) in 2018, the organisation handed over a grant of £104,423 to MND Scotland.
Davidson, who was diagnosed with MND in 2012, was committed to helping people living with MND and other neurological conditions. Through his foundation he wanted to help initiatives that improved peoples’ lives through better care and support, and fund research to find a cure.
MND Scotland’s team of advocacy workers help people affected by MND resolve issues they may be experiencing and aims to take away some of the stress and strain families are under, when already dealing with a devastating diagnosis. The team can help with getting a care package in place, delays in home adaptations, moving to an accessible home, employment or pension issues, and much more.
One service user said: “I don’t know where we would have been without MND Scotland’s advocacy worker. She has been able to reduce our stress by going above and beyond within her role as an advocate, getting my brother the care and housing he required. She has shown nothing but compassion and determination to help us through this time. There are no words to express my gratitude.”
Roslyn Scholarios, MND Scotland’s head of direct services, said: “Our advocacy team is here to help people living with MND if they are facing delays, disputes or roadblocks of any kind, so that families do not have to fight for what they are entitled to, alone.
"The demand for this service, since it launched in 2018, has continued to grow and the Covid-19 pandemic has meant that people with MND are coming up against even more delays when accessing statutory services.
"We are incredibly grateful to the Alan Davidson Foundation for their donation, which will ensure we are able to continue providing the highest level of support possible to families when they need us most.”
Colin Reid, from the Alan Davidson Foundation, said “We feel privileged to be able to help MND Scotland with this critical, yet often neglected feature which comforts those living with MND and is a vital service to help reduce the stress and confusion around households, for families learning to adjust to this life changing condition.”
