A Banchory-based charity has received a boost thanks to the support of a group of local businesses.

Employees at The Leys Group, which includes The Bancon Group, Leys Estate and North Banchory Company, donated unwanted Christmas gifts to Forget-Me-Not Club, which will be used to raise funds through various raffles throughout the year.

Forget-Me-Not Club, which supports people with dementia, their carers and family, received the donation at its dedicated resource centre in Banchory.

Eileen Reid, Bancon Group Accounts Office Manager, and Susanne Shepherd, Leys Estate Marketing & Communications Manager visited the charity to deliver the bumper collection of gifts which included everything from handbags and chocolates to champagne and gift sets.

Eunice Gardyne, Forget-Me-Not’s General Manager, said: “I was delighted to personally welcome Eileen and Susanne to Bennett House to see how the group’s donations would be used.

“This kind donation will be a huge help with our fundraising raffles during the year, particularly our main fundraiser Strictly Come Prancing which will be held on 21^st March 2020 at Ardoe House Hotel.

“We are working hard towards a more dementia friendly community and providing support to all the families affected. It is thanks to the generosity of organisations like Leys Group that we are able to continue to provide help to so many people.”

“We cannot thank the employees of the Leys Group and its charity committee enough for coordinating this collection for us.”

Eileen Reid, representing the Leys Group Charity Committee, added: “We know that sometimes people receive duplicate gifts at Christmas or turn to a healthy lifestyle in the new year and want to remove any temptation from their homes. So we came up with the idea of collecting any unwanted Christmas gifts our teams may have and putting them to better use.

“Seeing the support Forget-Me-Not provides first hand and hearing how the service has developed really brought home how donations, however small, can make such a big difference. Many of our employees live and work within the Banchory area, so it is extra special to be able to help a charity so local to us.”

Pictured are Eileen Reid, Bancon Group Accounts Office Manager, and Susanne Shepherd, Leys Estate Marketing & Communications Manager, are pictured with Forget-Me-Not General Manager Eunice Gardyne and some of the donations.

The Leys Group is the parent company of Bancon Group, Leys Estate Group and Leys Business Services. The Leys Estate lies to the north-east of Banchory nestled between the River Dee and the Hill of Fare. The estate covers around 7,800 acres of mixed-use land and woodland and supports more than 120 local businesses.

For more information about Leys Group visit www.leysestate.com  or email [email protected]

Forget-Me-Not Club was founded in 1999 and provides invaluable support to those living with and caring for people with dementia. With a dedicated and highly qualified team of staff and volunteers, the charity runs a host of activities in Banchory and Upper Deeside.

For further information visit www.forgetmenotclub.co.uk