I’m walking the Thames Bridges Trek to raise money for ScotsCare, a charity close to my heart that has supported Scots in London for over 400 years.

ScotsCare’s story began in 1603, when James VI of Scotland became James I of England and many Scots followed him to London. Excluded from parish relief they relied on mutual aid. A group of Scottish merchants and craftsmen established the “Scots Box” to provide practical help to those in need.

By 1611, this informal effort had become the Royal Scottish Corporation. That year, it paid for the burial of over 300 Scots who had died during the plague. In 1665, the Corporation received the first of three Royal Charters. It went on to establish a hospital and workhouse for poor Scots in Blackfriars in 1673, the first national institution in London created to serve an immigrant population.

Today, ScotsCare is the modern face of that legacy. It supports Scots and the children of Scots in Greater London who are experiencing homelessness, poverty, poor mental health, addiction or isolation. The charity works holistically, offering tailored help either directly or through trusted partners.

As a trustee, I’ve seen the impact. One man, homeless and struggling with addiction, was given therapy immediately. He did not have to prove abstinence or sit on a waiting list. That simple act of trust helped him off the streets and into stable housing. He is still in recovery, and ScotsCare continues to walk alongside him.

This is why I walk. ScotsCare does more than offer support. It restores dignity, builds belief, and changes lives.

Please sponsor me if you can. Join supporters like J. M. Barrie, Sir Walter Scott and the late Queen Mother in backing this enduring Scottish institution.