Changes and STEMCELL
Changes Community Health Project was established in 1996 to promote the positive wellbeing of people living in East Lothian.
Growing from a local community initiative, over the years Changes has developed a range of tried and tested self-help groups and courses, counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy services, mental health awareness training, together with well supported volunteer opportunities, where volunteers co-facilitate groups and courses and lead the Healthy Living Project activities.
Their services are free and open to everyone in East Lothian, and they can help with a variety of challenges.
The 'Ask'
Changes have up to 50 volunteers at any time (many with their own mental ill health struggles), and they love taking the opportunity to say thank you.
Their request was to support volunteer recognition. They hired a venue to host a Christmas ‘Thank you’ event. The request explained the importance of valuing volunteers because many of their services could not be run without them.
The 'Match'
STEMCELL Technologies provides high-quality cell culture media, cell separation technologies, instruments, accessory products, and educational resources to scientists around the world working on stem cell, immunology, cancer, regenerative medicine, and cellular therapy research.
The University of Edinburgh is one of its customers and is keen to ensure that its suppliers invest in Edinburgh and South East Scotland.
They asked STEMCELL to review the ‘asks’ on the ESES Communities Portal.
STEMCELL is dedicated to improving lives through advanced knowledge and scientific discovery, through its commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion in STEM and the life sciences industry, and its investments in sustainability, community, and social responsibility.
They care deeply about making the world a better place and chose the ‘Changes’ request because it resonated with their company ethos.
Thank you so much for the donation. It allowed us to purchase small gifts of thanks for our amazing volunteer team, who put their heart and soul into supporting our community. It is great for us to thank our volunteer team; this helps them feel valued and appreciated, and they are more likely to stay with us longer.
STEMCELL is dedicated to improving lives through its investments in sustainability, community, and social responsibility. It is nice to be able to give back to the community in a way that meets their specific needs.