A CHARITY that provides support to children and young people found at risk on the UK rail network has welcomed a £5000 donation from Caledonian Sleeper – the profits from a limited-edition bottling of single cask malt whisky created to celebrate the sleeper service’s 150th anniversary.
The donation to the Railway Children charity will help fund its new Glasgow based project, which brings together the rail industry and British Transport Police to support vulnerable young people on the rail network.
Earlier this year, Caledonian Sleeper launched a limited-edition single cask single malt whisky to celebrate 150 years of Scotland to London sleeper services and committed to donate the profits to Railway Children.
Launched in partnership with Annandale Distillery, which is one of the oldest operating distilleries in Scotland, the eight-year-old unpeated malt, bottled at 50% ABV, was matured in an American oak ex-bourbon cask and hand-selected at the distillery by the Caledonian Sleeper team.
With only 200 individually numbered bottles filled, they sold out in under a month, raising a total of £5000 for the charity.
Managing director for Caledonian Sleeper, Kathryn Darbandi, said: “It’s so important that the vulnerable children and young people using our railway network get the care and support they need. As a proud member of the rail industry, this cause is close to our hearts, and we hope our donation today helps make a difference in Glasgow.
“Glasgow Central Station is one of the main transport hubs we service and so it felt only right that our donation should go towards funding Railway Children’s vital new project in the city.”
Railway Children is concerned with children and young people who could be using the UK railway network to run away from home or care, or meet up with someone who might be planning to cause them harm, or even being exploited in County Lines drug running activity.
Following the success of projects in London, Yorkshire, the West Midlands and the Northwest of England, the new Glasgow project marks Railway Children’s first venture into Scotland.
The charity will provide direct support to vulnerable young people identified through referrals from British Transport Police. They will deliver a range of services based on individual needs, including welfare visits, parental and family support.
The charity’s director of fundraising and marketing, Jack Miller, commented: “We’re thrilled that Caledonian Sleeper has chosen to raise money for our cause. Our new Glasgow project will allow us to cast our safety net into Scotland and support even more young people. This donation will help get the project up and running.”
In addition to the donation made to Railway Children, Caledonian Sleeper has also donating one of the 200 limited edition 70cl whisky bottles to the Scottish loneliness and animal charity Give a Dog a Bone, to be auctioned later in the year as part of fundraising efforts.
