Highland man raises over £16,000 for local children’s charity by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
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A Highland man has raised over £16,000 for a local charity by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
Paul Mackintosh, a site manager from Morrison Construction set off on February 14, to tackle the Northern Circuit of Mount Kilimanjaro, in order to raise funds for Safe, Strong and Free. A ceremony took place yesterday (April 12) to hand over the cheque to the charity.
Safe Strong and Free is based in Inverness and exists to equip children with the knowledge, skills, and strategies they need to navigate the complexities of the world safely.
The heart of charity’s efforts lie in its Primary Abuse Prevention Programme, a comprehensive initiative that combines interactive puppet workshops with engaging storybooks.
Through these innovative and interactive sessions, children learn invaluable strategies to stay safe in various situations, from encountering bullying to facing unwanted approaches from adults.
Over the last year, Safe Strong and Free has handled over 56 child concerns and in 2023 it saw 8073 children.
Paul explained that his little boy had come home with the books from the Safe, Strong and Free workshops, and he had asked Paul to read ‘Callum says no to bullying’ book to him.
Through discussion after reading the book, his little boy had opened up to him about bullying behaviour he was experiencing in nursery. This experience, and many good luck messages from local children working with Safe, Strong and Free kept Paul focused during this amazing challenge.
Safe Strong and Free is part-funded by the Highland Council, but it needs to make up more than 50 percent of the project costs. The charity says fundraising such as Paul's, and Morrison Construction is instrumental in enabling it to continue delivering its workshops across the Highlands.
Kerry Lowe, project manager at Safe Strong and Free said: "We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude and admiration for Paul Mackintosh from Morrison Construction, a truly amazing and kind-hearted individual, as well as the entire team, for their outstanding support of the Safe, Strong, and Free Prevention of Child Abuse Programme.
“Paul's dedication and commitment to raising £16,000 by conquering Mount Kilimanjaro was nothing short of extraordinary. He was an inspiration to the many children we told about his story when teaching acts of kindness in our Emotional Wellbeing Workshops.
“We would like to thank Morrison Construction for selecting Safe, Strong, and Free as their charity of the year. Their decision to support such a vital cause exemplifies their company's commitment to improving our community.”
The charity recognises the challenges facing children in the Highlands are ever evolving and expanded its reach in 2023 and the beginning of 2024, responding to increased requests from schools for assistance with issues such as anxiety, bullying, and disruptive behaviour.
Central to its approach is the use of technology as a tool for positive change. From animations to virtual workshops, Safe Strong and Free leverage the power of technology to bridge gaps and make a real difference in the lives of children.
