EPILEPSY CENTRE RECEIVES £30,000 BOOST

The new Scottish Epilepsy Centre in Glasgow, the latest project by national charity Quarriers, has received a £30,000 boost for its fundraising appeal from the Trades House of Glasgow. 

The Quarriers project, which will see construction start early next year, was adopted by this year’s Deacon Convener of the Trades of Glasgow Jimmy Miller and his Chain Gang, 16 individuals who are the Deacons of the organisation’s 14 Incorporated Crafts and two associated bodies. 

“The present Quarriers facility is a very special place, assisting Scots living with epilepsy to find an accurate diagnosis and treatment, and enabling them to lead more fulfilling, safer lives,” said Deacon Convener Jimmy Miller. 

“With our focus on its new Scottish Epilepsy Centre, which will undoubtedly become a world centre of excellence, our target was to raise at least £25,000 towards the appeal for this £7.5m building.  We are delighted to have actually achieved £30,000, much of which was raised at our Glasgow Ball, to fund an en suite bedroom at the new Centre and help bring one element of the project to fruition.”

Catering for both patients and carers, the Scottish Epilepsy Centre will include facilities for education and research, providing access to the latest technology, as well as residential assessment with the added benefit of en suite bedrooms.  The site has been carefully chosen to ensure better access to the emergency services and the Institute of Neurology at the Southern General.

“Quarriers would like to thank Jimmy Miller, his wife Gillian and everyone in the Trades House of Glasgow for their contribution over the past year,” said Chief Executive Paul Moore.  “The Trades House’s gift of £30,000 to this life changing epilepsy hospital will help bring world class facilities to Glasgow for the 39,000 people in Scotland who live with epilepsy.  It will also place Glasgow firmly on the map in providing specialist diagnosis and care for the most common serious neurological condition.

“The Trades House was one of the first organisations to support the project, and has been instrumental in raising awareness of the Scottish Epilepsy Centre Appeal.  It will have a bedroom named in recognition of its contribution.”

The appeal has now secured funding of £5.3m from a range of trusts, companies, individuals, organisations like the Trades House, as well as Quarriers own contribution and the NHS.  Quarriers plans to award the contract in December this year and start building in early 2012.  A further £2.2m must be raised to complete the project.