Dumfries and Galloway forces boss writes to people asking for £100 donation

A forces charity boss is writing something other than Christmas cards over the festive period.

Robin Hood has contacted thousands of people across the region asking for donations for Southwest Scotland RNR.

The charity has been heavily hit by the coronavirus pandemic which has stopped Robin’s fundraising trips pulling statues of the charity’s mascots around various cities.

So he’s put pen to paper asking people to donate £100 each so he can put ex servicemen and women through HGV driver training.

Robin, who lives near Mossdale, explained: “As a nation, we are 50,000 HGV drivers short and there are 40 vacancies in Dumfries and Galloway alone.

“It costs £2,000 for us to put someone through their training at Nithcree.

“We have funding for 10 people so are looking for funding for another 30.

“I have written to 4,000 businesses and people in the area asking for £100 each. If 20 people reply then we can put one person through training.”

Thanks to government money, the charity raised nearly £200,000 last year. However, this year that has plummeted to just £35,000.

The charity helps former forces personnel retrain for new careers and Robin claims it’s a win-win situation.

He said: “It’s not just the individual that benefits, it’s the community. They are paying income tax instead of receiving dole money, they spend money in local shops and it helps companies as they have their own driver rather than paying agency fees.

“Military people have a different mindset to the man on the street. They keep to the schedules and get there on time because they have been trained to think that way.”