Annual Dick Vet Bag Appeal helps spread festive cheer Image A group of undergraduate students are working with Edinburgh charities and filling and distributing rucksacks filled with essential items to homeless people and their pets. Now in its seventh year, the Dick Vet Bag Appeal asks staff and students based at the Easter Bush campus to donate warm clothes, blankets and basic toiletries to help the homeless over the cold winter months. Supporting the homeless of Edinburgh The Appeal collects donations from staff and students across the Easter Bush Campus. A group of student volunteers then fill bags donated by Royal Canin with essentials such as warm clothes, toiletries, blankets and food as well as a Christmas card and sweet treats. This year, the Appeal volunteers have filled over 50 bags full of donations that will be distributed to those in need by local charities Bethany Christian Trust and Steps to Hope SCIO. The first Dick Vet Bag Appeal was held in 2016 and was organised by Dick Vet graduate Jamie-Leigh Thompson. The initiative proved so popular that it is now an annual event and has been extended to run throughout the winter months. Pet treats Items for animals, including toys, food and blankets, are also being collected and will be distributed by All4Paws – a student run veterinary clinic which provides free care for the pets of homeless people. Can you help? The Bag Appeal will continue to collect donations throughout the winter months and would future welcome further donations. Drop-off locations can be found at the main receptions in each of the buildings on campus. The organising committee would also like to appeal for volunteers to join them. You can contact them through their Facebook page. Related links Dick Vet Bag Appeal Facebook page All4Paws Bethany Christian Trust Steps to Hope SCIO About the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies is a one-of-a-kind centre of excellence in clinical activity, teaching and research. Our purpose-built campus, set against the backdrop of the beautiful Pentland Hills Regional Park, is home to more than eight hundred staff and almost fourteen hundred students, all of whom contribute to our exceptional community ethos. The School comprises: The Roslin Institute The Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems The Roslin Innovation Centre The Hospital for Small Animals Equine Veterinary Services Farm Animal Services Easter Bush Pathology The Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education We represent the largest concentration of animal science-related expertise in Europe, impacting local, regional, national and international communities in terms of economic growth, the provision of clinical services and the advancement of scientific knowledge. Publication date 20 Dec, 2022
