Robin’s story
Robin from the Ceilidh Collective tells us why and how he supports our work.
The ceilidh collective puts on events, predominately ceilidhs, to raise money for the charities and grassroots organisations we care about. I’m not that into developing strategies, dotting i’s and crossing t’s, I’d rather get out and do something! I love bringing people together, and the ceilidh collective allows me to do just that.
So far, we’ve run over one hundred events for a wide variety of environmental and social justice groups. Our first ceilidh for Friends of the Earth Scotland was on 14 November 2008, and we’ve hosted one most years since. Since we started dancing in 2003 we’ve raised over £82,000 including £14,800 for FoES.
I’ve been a member of Friends of the Earth Scotland for over fifteen years. I fully believe in what the charity is trying to achieve at local, national and international levels. I find the leadership of the organisation empowering and humbling; everyone seems to care very deeply about what they’re doing, and this really shows in the quality and reach of the campaigning.
My grandparents had one of the earliest organic farms (of modern times) where I spent many happy weeks each year, cultivating my connection with both the land and people. I think it’s the farm and my upbringing as a Quaker that has drawn me to care so deeply about social and environmental issues. I put my faith into action by doing what I can for the world around me; for future generations and for those of us here and now, too.
I’ve worked in mental health and social care, and run a small ethical events and outside catering company called BOE (bespoke organic events) of which ceilidh collective is the voluntary arm. Doing what I do just feels like the most natural thing in the world.
If you’d like to join us in volunteering for a ceilidh or want to know more just get in touch:
Say hello on Twitter
Email robin [at] boe.org.uk
www.ceilidhcollective.org
You can now get tickets for our Spring Ceilidh, Sat 9th March 2019 at Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh