Selkirk fundraising heroes celebrate 70-year legacy

A group of fundraising champions in Selkirk has celebrated seven decades and £73,000 of vital funds raised to help protect Scotland's children. 

Since the 1950s, the Children First Selkirk Action Group has organised countless fundraising events, raffles and even ran a thrift shop for a time, all to support Scotland's national children's charity. 

Made up of a small group of lifelong friends - Cliff Ellershaw, Shenagh Ellershaw, Gillian Inglis, Doris Kellet, Marion Oxnard and Liz Thomson – the group represented almost 200 years of fundraising experience. Chair Gillian had been part of the group for almost 70 years, after first becoming involved alongside her mother as a child, while treasurer Cliff joined in the 1970s. 

Now in their 70s, 80s and 90s, the group have decided it is time to hang up their fundraising hats. To mark their extraordinary contribution, Children First recently welcomed members to the Selkirk service to celebrate their achievement and recognise the difference their fundraising efforts have made. 

Mary Glasgow, Chief Executive at Children First, said: 

“The Selkirk Action Group is a wonderful example of what can happen when people come together with a shared commitment to helping children and families. For more than 70 years, this group brought friendship, generosity and incredible dedication to their fundraising for Children First. 

“Raising £73,200 is an extraordinary achievement, but the story behind that figure is even more special. It represents decades of people giving their time, organising events, bringing their community together and doing whatever they could to support children in the Borders and across Scotland. 

“On behalf of everyone at Children First, I want to say a heartfelt thank you to every member past and present and to everyone who has supported the Selkirk Action Group over the years. Their dedication has been instrumental in giving hundreds of children safer, brighter futures." 

The Selkirk Action Group was one of Children First's local fundraising groups – groups of volunteers who come together in their communities to raise money, organise events and champion the charity's work supporting children and families across Scotland.  

The group's fundraising had a particularly strong local connection, supporting Children First's longstanding Borders service which works to protect children from harm and supports children and families to recover from trauma and abuse in their homes, schools and communities. Bill Dunbar, who led Children First (formerly known as the RSSPCC)’s work in the Borders for many years as an Inspector, was a core member of the Selkirk Action Group before his death earlier this year. A lifelong champion for children, Bill played a crucial part in the Action Group's history and is remembered with great affection by fellow members. 

Gillian Inglis, Chair of the Action Group committee for the past decade, said: 

"It's meant so much to all of us to be able to raise money to help children who really needed it, especially in our local community and to make people aware of Children First. 

“I’ve been on the committee for 40 years and been involved in all sorts of fundraising events – from open garden schemes, supper evenings, fashion shows and silent auctions to concerts and acapella evenings at Philiphaugh Estate. 

“Over the years, our committee has changed. We used to have around sixteen members, but times change and we were down to eight of us. We’re all getting older, so we decided that sadly the time had come to wind down.  

“It’s lovely to be appreciated for everything. I’m glad I was part of it." 

While the Selkirk Action Group has come to an end, Children First's work to support children, young people and their families in the Borders continues to go from strength to strength.  

Find out more about Children First's work and how you can fundraise or donate to help give Scotland's children a brighter future at www.childrenfirst.org.uk/donate.