A wealthy philanthropist has gifted CHAS – Children’s Hospices Across Scotland– an estate overlooking Loch Lomond and a cash boost of £1million.
Millionaire Peter Armitage – a former global fund manager – and his family have given Ardoch Estate to the charity.
CHAS offers a full family support service to babies, children and young people with life-shortening conditions.
Yorkshire businessman Peter bought the 133-acre estate when he retired and set up the Ardoch Foundation as a social enterprise, mainly to benefit children’s charities.
Now he has decided to transfer all its assets – an 18-bedroom conference centre, event space, and cottages – to CHAS. He said: “Ardoch has a canny way of putting everything in perspective. It generates hope, joy, laughter and friendships.
“Our neighbours, CHAS, can leverage this magic and share it much more widely than I can. Ardoch has a very exciting future ahead.”
Rami Okasha, who becomes the new CEO of CHAS on February 1, said: “This is momentous for CHAS, the children and the families we support.”
The initial vision for the estate is that it could provide respite holidays for the siblings of those children visiting CHAS hospices elsewhere.
