Amanda banking on charitable Borderers to help cloth needy youngsters

Royal Bank of Scotland branches in Galashiels, Kelso and Peebles are opening their doors to members of the local community who want to make donations to regional children’s charity Tweed Togs. Pictured is Amanda Baitup, of RBS, with clothes donated to the Royal Bank of Scotland’s Galashiels branch from both customers and non-customers.

The bank is establishing drop-in points at the Borders’ branches for people who want to leave clothes for the charity, which offers clothing for youngsters to families living in poverty in the region.

The move follows an afternoon of fundraising last month by the bank’s commercial, private, business and personal teams, where staff joined Tweed Togs volunteers at the charity’s HQ. Staff helped organise donations and, working with the owner of local delivery business Movesmart, Craig Lewis, trialled donation drop-off points at selected bank branches for four weeks and helped deliver clothing packages to needy families.

The bank’s Borders community banker, Amanda Baitup, part of the volunteer team, said: “Most of our colleagues live locally and know the impact Tweed Togs make, and staff across the business, including our colleagues at Lombard, were keen to get involved.”

She added: “We were also so touched by the generosity of our customers. One customer purchased and donated six coats, one of which was chosen by volunteers for an 11-year-old girl.”

z Pictured is Amanda Baitup with clothes donated to the Royal Bank of Scotland’s Galashiels branch from both customers and non-customers.