One of Scotland’s most vital children’s charities is teaming up with the Royal Bank of Scotland in a nationwide push to raise £100,000 — and lift spirits — for families grappling with the unimaginable.
From city centres to rural villages, this partnership promises to do more than just gather donations. It’s about giving time, showing up, and making sure no family walks this path alone.
An emotional mission, not just a fundraiser
This isn’t some polished corporate stunt. It’s a cause built on heartbreak, resilience, and community.
CHAS — short for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland — provides palliative care to children living with life-shortening conditions. The charity works with families in all 32 local authorities, from Aberdeen to the Borders. Its care starts at diagnosis and stretches far beyond, often into grief and remembrance.
For many families, CHAS is the only steady hand they’ve got. That support might come through home visits, time in one of their two hospices — Rachel House in Kinross and Robin House in Balloch — or through dedicated teams inside all three of Scotland’s children’s hospitals.
One sentence, but it carries a lot: CHAS is there.
RBS employees go beyond the desk — and into the heart of it
The £100,000 target isn’t just some feel-good number. It’s a lifeline. And this time, RBS employees aren’t just handing over cash.
They’re rolling up sleeves and clocking in as volunteers.
At CHAS sites, they’ll help with everything from admin and maintenance to garden work and event coordination. There’s also a serious commitment to fundraising — sponsored walks, bake sales, quiz nights, and payroll giving schemes are all in the mix.
• Staff from over 100 RBS branches are expected to get involved
• Dozens of fundraising events are already in planning stages
• Many employees will donate their volunteering hours directly to CHAS locations
It’s not just about raising money. It’s about standing with families who didn’t ask for any of this.
Behind the statistics are real stories — and real people
Every number has a name. Every donation means a story goes on a little longer.
Take Isla. Diagnosed with a rare genetic condition at six months, she spent much of her short life in and out of hospital. CHAS helped bring her home for her final days, surrounded by love, family, and her favourite books. It’s these quiet, tender moments — often away from headlines — that your £10, your time, your voice, helps to protect.
This campaign hopes to amplify those quiet moments and turn them into something bigger.
Scotland’s only hospice charity for children — stretched but standing strong
CHAS remains the only charity of its kind in Scotland.
Its model is simple, but costly. Each family gets care tailored to their child’s needs, whether that means complex nursing support or simply someone to talk to when the hospital goes quiet. But services like this need more than goodwill — they need money.
Here’s how CHAS currently operates:
| Resource | Details |
|---|---|
| Hospices | 2 (Rachel House and Robin House) |
| Hospital Partnerships | 3 children’s hospitals |
| Home Visits | Available in all 32 local authorities |
| Annual Budget Need | Over £19 million |
| Funded by Donations | 70% of income comes from public support |
The partnership with RBS won’t close that gap entirely, but it helps.
Corporate partnerships with heart — not just headlines
RBS has a long track record of supporting youth-focused initiatives, but this collaboration hits different. There’s a vulnerability to it, a rawness. And that matters.
More than just another CSR box ticked, this one carries emotional weight — from the boardroom to the branches.
David Lindberg, CEO of Retail Banking at NatWest Group, said:
“We’re proud to stand alongside CHAS in this appeal. Our colleagues are passionate, and many are already deeply connected to the communities CHAS serves. It’s not just money — it’s time, it’s energy, it’s heart.”
That kind of language? You don’t fake it.
What £100,000 can really mean for a family in crisis
The goal might be six figures, but its real value is counted in hugs, memories, and moments that families cling to when time is running out.
Break it down and that £100,000 could mean:
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Over 400 hours of respite care so parents can rest
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Dozens of nights at hospice, letting families stay together
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Specialist equipment for complex medical needs
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Emotional and bereavement support for siblings and parents
It won’t fix the pain. Nothing can. But it can soften it.
A challenge worth every pound — and every minute
The campaign will run across 2025, with RBS staff already scheduling community events and internal giving efforts. There’s momentum — and heart — behind this one.
What CHAS offers isn’t loud or flashy. It’s quiet, dignified, relentless care. The kind of support you only notice when everything else is falling apart. And right now, they need help to keep going.
If the bank and the charity can pull this off — and early signs say they will — it could be a gamechanger. Not just for funding, but for the kind of values we put first.
