The company has maintained its regular dedication to the Star Community Involvement Programme (SCIP), a corporate scheme supporting charitable efforts, educational initiatives and community development projects all over Britain, and has also sought to give back to society in a number of other ways.

The SCIP has been running for several years now, having been first launched by the company’s group managing director Dr Andy Pearson. The programme aims to engage with local communities providing them with different opportunities and funding for charitable causes.

This year has been no different, with SCIP supporting a wide variety of organisations where employees are personally connected to the cause, including Spectrum Gymnastis, Simpson’s Memory Box Appeal (SiMBA), Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) and various local sports teams, among other worthy causes. However, with all the setbacks caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Star has made attempts to help those most in need this Christmas through a number of different initiatives.

Recognising that many voluntary organisations have been hit hard this year, and their clients’ need for support is greater than ever, Star has extended its charity budget and redirected monies from two additional Covid-related sources of funding including the underspend on their 50th Anniversary celebratory events and the cancellation of local department and branch Christmas nights-out.

Dr Pearson, said: “There are many others in the country who are in a significantly more precarious situation than we are. The enforced closure of high street stores has affected many shop workers badly and it has been a double whammy for charities. Just at the time that the demand for their support has been at its highest, they have seen one of their main sources of income, their own charity shops, put out of service.”

“I am thankful for all the suggestions from our staff that came in of charities that they felt could do with some extra help. They were all great causes and I have been greatly impressed and deeply moved in reading the details of all of them.”

“We have also been able to raise £1,100 for Save the Children and the Children’s Hospice Association of Scotland through the Christmas Quiz night this week. Of course our donations are just a drop in the ocean and there’s much more to do, so we will continue to be on the lookout for good causes in need of additional support.”

In total, Star employees suggested 17 charities which have benefit from SCIP donations, from food banks to children’s hospitals to animal sanctuaries. The list included Oxford Children’s Hospice, Derby City Mission, Halliday Foundation, Portishead Primary School, Women’s Aid Midlands, Radio Lollipop, Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, Scottish Nautical Welfare Society, PACT Animal Sanctuary, Women’s Aid South Lanarkshire & East Renfrewshire, Glasgow South East Foodbank,EACH East Coast Children’s Hospice and Paul’s Parcels - Shotts Food Poverty Prevention Group.

In a similar project, Star employees also provided support for a primary school in the east end of Glasgow following a request from one of their colleagues to provide gifts for the children as well as food, clothes and money.

The company’s last fundraising event of 2020 ended on a high note this week with Star matching the total raised for Save the Children through their ‘JustGiving’ page with an equivalent donation to another charity.