Are you the type to save a life?

The project team have set up their own blood drive in support of Give Blood’s Inverness Donor Centre in Raigmore Hospital. By the end of 2022, the team had collectively donated 15 pints of blood, hitting their annual target.

Commercial Manager Andrew Taylor explains, 'There wasn’t anything in particular that prompted us to give blood, more a collection of individual circumstances.

'My wife was a regular donor and convinced me to start donating about 10 years ago. Back then I started with the intention of visiting as regularly as I could but after stopping for what was supposed to be a very short period due to taking medication, life got in the way, and I failed to return.'

Andrew continued, 'After chatting with a colleague in a similar position, we realised we shared common ground in that blood donors in Scotland had impacted on both our family's lives. My wife needed blood after the birth of our son in 2020 and my colleague’s family had a very similar experience.

'After discussing our experiences, it seemed so apparent that such a simple thing can make such a huge difference to someone else out there. We decided to start our own company donation drive and promote what we were doing to the rest of our colleagues. Most of them said that they'd love to join in but just needed the push to do it. We've had brilliant support from our workplace and even created our own in office 'bloodometer' to track our donations.

'The whole process of arranging the group donations is so easy. It's simple to arrange and attending as a group helps to convince people that otherwise wouldn't have donated to make the effort. I'd say to anyone thinking of becoming a donor or who hasn't been in a while to please donate. You get to lie back on a recliner for 10-15 minutes and you get to have biscuits or cake and juice afterwards.

'Personally, it's so good to do our bit to support. Especially given the impact blood donors in Scotland have had on our lives personally.'

To learn more about Give Blood and to find out how you can support please visit https://www.scotblood.co.uk/