Edinburgh jewellers known for ties to the Royal family raise more than £8000 for NSPCC

An Edinburgh jewellers known for its ties to the Royal family have raised more than £8,000 in a 154km challenge for The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).

George Street’s Hamilton and Inches raised the vital funds in December in a virtual fundraising event held by Walpole, the official sector body for UK luxury encouraging members to walk 100km for the charity.

Hamilton and Inches took part and increased the challenge in celebration of their 154 years of trading which saw staff enduring 154-mile bike rides, baking 154 cupcakes, running 154km and learning complex jump rope techniques.

The challenges completed by the team were no mean feat. The tour de force duo of silversmith, David Ramsay and managing director, Jonathan Payne successfully cycled 154 miles in one day, completing countless laps of Cramond in a gruelling trial lasting from 1am until 7pm.

Three members of staff opted to run 154km in one month, the equivalent of 5km each day, with some challenges providing a sweeter outcome as accounts assistant Yula Syahrial baked 154 cupcakes for friends, teammates and family.

A total sum of £4,399 was raised and priced matched by Hamilton and Inches bringing the total donated to £8,798. The money raised will go directly to the NSPCC.

As hidden victims of the pandemic, 1 in 5 children in the UK have suffered abuse and just £10 could pay for an NSPCC practitioner to answer two calls to the NSPCC helpline.

David Ramsay silversmith and Jonathan Payne MD of Hamilton & Inches

Since the beginning of the first lockdown, the average number of contacts made to the NSPCC helpline about abuse has increased and analysis of its data from April to November shows that the level of concern about emotional abuse, neglect, and physical abuse remain well above the pre-pandemic average.

The latest figures show that the number of contacts from people concerned about child abuse is 43 per cent higher than before the first lockdown.

Victoria Houghton, CEO, commented, “Whilst we have each struggled with the impact the pandemic has had on us, often the ones most in need are forgotten. It was important to us as a company to do our bit to help protect vulnerable children, giving our time to hopefully increase the support and help offered by the charity to the children most in need across the country.”

Linda Hamilton, community fundraising manager for NSPCC Scotland, said: “We’re so grateful for this large donation, and it will go far to ensure that the NSPCC continues to be here for children in these uncertain times.

“Without the support of Hamilton and Inches, and other local businesses like them giving back to their local community, we wouldn’t be able to provide our services such as Childline to children across Scotland, where children and young people can speak to a trained counsellor about anything that’s worrying them.”

Alongside a donation to the NSPCC, the Hamilton and Inches team were tasked with collecting large amounts of food and produce for The Trussell Trust, which supports a nationwide network of food banks. All items collected were donated to a local foodbank.

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