Pagan Osborne digs deep to help Alzheimer charity

A team of six, including chief executive Alistair Morris, tackled the overgrown grounds of Alzheimer Scotland’s Dementia Resource Centre in Dundee, cutting it down to size and dramatically improving the environment for clients and staff.

Alzheimer Scotland is the chosen charity currently benefiting from a number of initiatives by the Edinburgh and Fife-based legal company and the chance to tame the unkempt garden at the Morgan Street centre and make a visible difference was a horticultural labour of love.

Glorious autumn weather also helped the taskforce of: CEO Alistair Morris; Karen Turner, property director; Alan Irvine, non-executive director; Audrey Dishington, legal director; Jennifer Lowry, human resources manager and Elizabeth Calderwood, director and partner – private client.

Voluntary work is at the core of Pagan Osborne’s “giving something back” ethos and the company provides the opportunity for all staff to take a day off at full pay to support charities and their local communities.

Mr Morris explained: “Giving something back is all about people, both within Pagan Osborne and the wider community, and our in-house ‘Make a Difference’ teams across our various offices comprise members of staff who take their duties responsibly but with a sense of fun.

“We had a great afternoon – albeit hard work – and it’s fantastic to see the significant difference our relatively modest contribution made. Corporate social responsibility is something that is often talked about but actually having an active role in the various communities that Pagan Osborne has been privileged to act for for over 250 years, is what really counts.”

In addition to the garden clear-up, Morris, his wife Sandra and seven members of staff also donned their walking shoes to raise almost £1000 for Alzheimer Scotland.

The employees, from the Edinburgh and Cupar offices, completed the 5k Fife Memory Walk last month (September) at Lochore Meadows Country Park.

Alzheimer Scotland’s head of corporate partnerships, Rachel Smith, said “We are really grateful to the team from Pagan Osborne who took time out of their busy lives to take part in one of our 26 successful Memory Walks across Scotland.

“We are also looking forward to next Spring to see the fruits of the gardening volunteer team’s labours.

“Their hard work to prune back the overgrown garden at our Dundee Dementia Resource Centre will re-invigorate the outdoor space at the centre and make it a more welcoming environment for the many people with dementia and their families who use the Centre”.