Smith attends new Red Cross centre opening

25/7/08

Edinburgh West MSP Margaret Smith joined more than 50 volunteers and staff at the opening of a new British Red Cross centre in the Gyle today, as part of a celebration of 100 years of the Red Cross in Edinburgh. The new centre will provide a range of community health services as well as being a centre for staff and co-ordinating activity across the city.

Commenting, Margaret said:

“It was great to meet so many dedicated staff and volunteers and I know this will be a great new centre for the area providing much needed assistance for local people as well as a range of public training courses which will help to spread the Red Cross’ expertise across the city.

“I was impressed by the range of services the Red Cross now provides such as help in schools and skin camouflage for people with scars. Edinburgh is also the only branch of the Red Cross to provide on the scene assistance to victims of house fires and this is a service which may now be extended across Scotland.

“The service has really changed over the years I’m sure they will continue to provide a hugely valuable service across Edinburgh as well as continuing with their international aid work for many many years to come.”