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Charity

 

At Gillies, we believe that community involvement is very important; after all, it's the people in our local communities who shop with us! So, every year we get involved in community projects local to our stores. We enjoy supporting these causes and doing our bit to help fundraise for these worthy charities. Here are some of the causes we’ve recently supported…

RNLI - Broughty Ferry

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is, put simply, the charity that changes lives at sea. They offer a 24hr lifeboat search and rescue service to the whole of UK, with the Scottish lifeboat stations being some of the busiest. The RNLI relies on people giving their money and time, with most of the crew being fully dedicated volunteers.

The RNLI is particularly special to Gillies. We have two members of our staff that dedicate their time as local volunteers.

Peter Hay- Second Coxswain
David Philp- Crewman

Annually, Gillies host the Broughty Ferry RNLI fundraising team in-store, selling Christmas cards, gifts and toys, all to raise proceeds to keep the charity-funded life-saving boats, and their dedicated crew members, kitted in the best and safest of equipment, and trained for whatever the weather throws at them.

It is therefore with great delight that we accepted a formal thanks from the RNLI in 2021 for fundraising efforts over the last number of years.

Broughty Ferry Traders Association

Our founder James Gillies Snr played an active role in the community, ever since he opened our flagship store in his beloved Broughty Ferry in 1906. At one point he was even a local councillor. His successor, James Gillies Jnr, followed in his father’s footsteps, serving 44 years as a local councillor, including campaigning for the construction of the Tay Road Bridge, and acting as Lord Provost for a period, all of which led to him being awarded an OBE for his services.

Gillies continues as a family run business and we still believe that supporting the local community, and the people and businesses within, is not only important but vital for a thriving and flourishing high street.

In doing this, Gillies are active members of the Broughty Ferry Traders Association, where two company Directors are committee members, and assist with community matters and local events.

Gillies are also proud sponsors of the Broughty Ferry Christmas Light Switch-on Event and the summer Gala week, as well as supporters of the Broughty Ferry Rotary, and Broughty Ferry In-Bloom. We love being able to give back to the community by sponsoring, supporting and helping at local events.

Christmas Display

Creating an eye-catching and enjoyable Christmas window has always been one of our favourite projects of the year. None more so than in 1992, when Gillies were delighted to receive a civic commendation from the Lord Provost for adding a festive touch to our premises for Christmas.

Since then, we have introduced a collection box for anybody who wishes to express their appreciation for our display and help support a local cause. Each year, Gillies nominate a local charity and, in true Christmas spirit, everyone’s hard work and effort pays off and we are able to raise money for our nominated charity.

The Archie Foundation

Since 2014 Gillies have supported The Archie Foundation with various fundraising activities, and have raised an impressive £75,000 to help local Tayside children.

Every year The Archie Foundation makes a difference to the lives of over 175,000 sick children. Raising money for toys, specialist healthcare equipment and everything in between, at Gillies we feel very proud to have been able to support such a worthwhile cause and continue to raise money for ‘ARCHIE’ each year.

Our most memorable fundraising efforts for The Archie Foundation were during their Oor Wullie Bucket Trails. After the first trail, which ran throughout Tayside in 2016, Gillies were delighted to buy a ‘Wullie’ at auction to feature in-store alongside a collection bucket. We then went on to organise an ‘Oor Wullie Reunion’ window display at Christmas time, bringing our total raised to almost £20,000 that year!

The Oor Wullie Bucket Trail returned in 2019, as a nationwide campaign, and Gillies again donated to purchase, this time, ‘Scots Guard Wullie’ for £15,000.

The Archie Foundation remains a special charity at the heart of Gillies. Their core mission is to help sick children and their families in Tayside, Aberdeen, Grampian and Inverness, and Gillies continue to support and fundraise for them where possible.