A little sunshine on difficult days…
We know how much a beacon of hope in a challenging world can be just the tonic we all need. Sir Walter Scott himself was no stranger to adversity. The polio he contracted in childhood meant that he battled physical disability every day, as well as suffering depression, bereavement and bankruptcy in his lifetime.
Yet for Scott, his beloved Abbotsford was the balm that soothed his soul in times of trouble and inflamed his imagination in days of prosperity. As the great man himself said:
if the little Sunshine I have ever can be of use to you…
As an independent charity, we would very much appreciate your support in these difficult days. We receive no core Government funding and rely on the financial support of our friends, neighbours and visitors to care for Abbotsford and safeguard Sir Walter Scott’s legacy, as well as to provide learning opportunities for people of all ages and abilities in our local community and to support our award-winning volunteer programme. Our buildings and collections need on-going care and we need to be able to cover the costs associated with this, such as heating, security and staff costs. Sadly, Abbotsford’s historic buildings, café and Visitor Centre and its outdoor areas, including the woodlands, riverside walks and playtrail, will be closed for the foreseeable future due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Even if you’re not able to visit Abbotsford at the moment, there are lots of things you can do to support the Abbotsford Trust and help safeguard Sir Walter Scott’s legacy:
1. Keep safe and well
Look after yourself and those you love. Follow the advice we’ve all been given (even when it feels challenging). Eat well, drink well, exercise (safely!) if you can. Take a moment to think about the sunshine on difficult days. We want everyone to stay safe and well at home for now, and look forward to welcoming visitors back once the crisis has passed.
We will be sharing stories and snippets online, through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, so please join us there.
2. Make a donation
If you are able to consider it, any support that you are able to give will help us through this difficult time. You can make a donation online by using the DONATE button at the top of the page.
Or you can donate by text (SMS) if you prefer:
To donate £3, text SCOTT253 to 70331
To donate £5, text SCOTT253 to 70970
To donate £10, text SCOTT253 to 70191
Thank you for your support, it is very much appreciated. Times are tough for everyone right now, but we will get through this together. We look forward to welcoming you back to Abbotsford very soon. As Sir Walter Scott said:
Yet to save Abbotsford I would attempt all that was possible. My heart clings to the place I have created. There is scarce a tree on it that does not owe its being to me.
* Fundraising, payments and donations will be processed and administered by the National Funding Scheme, operating as DONATE, a charity registered in England and Wales (1149800) and Scotland (SC045106). In addition to any text donation, you will incur your standard network message charge (based on your service provider rates). For Terms & Conditions, see www.easydonate.org