News Summary:
- Third biennial Scottish Transaid Dinner brought together key figures from across Scotland’s transport and logistics sector in a powerful show of industry support.
- Nearly 300 guests attended, with fundraising driven by ticket sales, sponsorships and auctions.
- Income will support Transaid’s life-saving work in road safety and access to healthcare.
More than £97,000 was raised for Transaid last Thursday (4 June) as Scotland’s transport and logistics industry came together for the third biennial Scottish Transaid Dinner, reinforcing the sector’s commitment to improving road safety and access to healthcare projects across sub-Saharan Africa.
The event saw nearly 300 people gather at the Macdonald Inchyra Hotel & Spa near Grangemouth, with funds raised coming from ticket sales and sponsorships, as well as an auction in aid of the international development organisation. The big-ticket items this year included a full hospitality experience for two at the 2027 Scotland vs Italy Six Nations men’s rugby match, plus a Tow-Max Pro twin-axle dropside trailer manufactured by Ifor Williams Trailers.
Joan Aitken, Transaid Chair and former Scottish Traffic Commissioner, says: “It is inspiring to see the Scottish transport and logistics sector come together with such generosity and enthusiasm. These unrestricted funds will make a huge difference to Transaid in an extremely challenging donor market for international aid, helping us to support projects that will transform and save lives.
“We are immensely grateful to everyone who supported the evening, through either organising, attending, sponsoring or donating. Our attention will now turn to planning an even bigger spectacle for 2028, which coincides with Transaid’s 30th Anniversary!”
The event was hosted by Scottish comedian and TV presenter Des Clarke, supported by special guest Anna Devitt, a stand-up comedian, actress and presenter who found fame in Series 7 of Britain’s Got Talent. Sponsors included Logistics UK, The Malcolm Group, McGills Bus Group and the RHA.
Together, the three Scottish Transaid Dinners held in 2022, 2024 and 2026 have raised a combined total of more than £300,000 for Transaid, helping to support the launch of both new pilot projects and existing access to healthcare and road safety initiatives.
All three events have been organised thanks to the huge effort put in by Lynsey Craik, formerly of John Mitchell Haulage & Warehousing, together with the support of Iain Mitchell, Joan Aitken, Jim Haldane and Malcolm Group colleagues. Joan Aitken commented that Lynsey’s selfless hard work in making these dinners special cannot be overstated.
For more information and to find out how you can support the organisation visit www.transaid.org.
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Note to Editor:
About Transaid
Transaid transforms lives through safe, available, and sustainable transport. Founded by Save the Children, The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), and its Patron, HRH The Princess Royal, the international development organisation works with communities, partners, and governments to solve transport challenges throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
Transaid works in two core areas, road safety and access to health, to solve two of the biggest transport challenges in sub-Saharan Africa. Transaid’s road safety work focuses on influencing safe driver behaviour with long term programmes in Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, responding to local needs for improved training for drivers and riders of trucks, buses, motorcycles and forklift trucks. On the access to health side, Transaid is working with local partners and communities to strengthen access to health services, primarily in rural areas. They are also working to strengthen health supply chains in collaboration with local partners and governments.
Transaid enjoys strong backing from the transport and logistics industry and the active involvement of its patron, HRH The Princess Royal.
For further press information:
Maddy Matheson at Transaid: +44 (0)20 7387 8136 / maddy@transaid.org
Natalie Ganshert or James Keeler at Garnett Keeler PR: +44 (0)20 8647 4467, or by email to natalie.ganshert@garnettkeeler.com / james.keeler@garnettkeeler.com
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