Appeal launched to help children's charity continue Kincardine camps

An emergency fundraising appeal has been launched by charity Over The Wall in a bid to enable its camps for children with serious illness to continue after the pandemic.

Following the coronavirus outbreak, all of the charity’s camps based at Tulliallan Castle, Kincardine, were cancelled.

And this has already had a severe impact on the charity’s income.

Since 1999 Over The Wall has provided free residential camps for children with over 130 different illnesses, helping over 8000 seriously ill children and their families, to engage in life-changing memorable experiences.

However the current health crisis means the charity is now calling on public support to help it survive and be able to offer its services to the children after the pandemic is over.

Kevin Mathieson, CEO of Over The Wall, said: “We are launching an appeal for funding, to essentially help ensure the survival of Over The Wall – and would therefore gratefully receive any support the public can offer.

“We appreciate that this is a difficult time for everyone, but any support now would be critical in us securing the future of the charity.

“The coronavirus has had such a severe impact on our fundraising programme, that we have already adopted a range of different measures in an attempt to ensure the survival of Over The Wall.”

Alternative programmes have already been in put in place for the children who were scheduled to attend the camps this year, by creating an exclusive virtual programme named Camp in the Cloud.

This is a free interactive web-based programme that brings camp directly into the home of the camper through challenges, activities and inspirational projects.

The charity is also engaging its larger audience through Activity Blitz, a project which offers activities for all children and families in lockdown to participate in at home.

It appears on Over The Wall’s social media platforms three times a week.

However to ensure the continuation of the camps the charity is famous for in the future, Over the Wall is asking for donations.

Mr Mathieson added: “Whilst we know the Coronavirus will one day be beaten –we are unsure of the continuation of our charity. So, if you can, please help us to ensure that Over The Wall survives these difficult times.”

To make a donation to the charity’s appeal, go to www.otw.org.uk.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you