Manifesto Launch and ways to support us!

Today we have released our manifesto. In the run up to our tenth anniversary, this document explains everything that Merry-go-round stands for and how we do it. It outlines our mission, aims and impacts and how we strive to serve our community. 

We exist to support the community in many different ways, and you help us achieve this through donating your unwanted children’s goods or time to volunteer.  We know this isn’t always possible or easy though, so we have now created a variety of other ways to help us on our mission to make big changes!

There are now loads of ways that you can help make a difference.  By supporting us, in whatever way, you are taking practical action to reduce the environmental impact in our community, you are supporting families in need with free essential items, and you are helping 10000’s of families improve their mental health and wellbeing.  

Since when did a few small clicks make such a big impact!?

The Yaldi, Glasgow Community Lottery 

Merry-go-round is proud to announce that we’re part of Yaldi, the Glasgow community lottery.  Every ticket you buy on our behalf will help us deliver our manifesto of being a low-cost, environmentally friendly, welcoming one-stop shop for the whole community. AND you have the chance of winning a cash prize of up to £25,000 or other prizes!

For each £1 ticket you buy, we receive 60p which we will put straight back into our Carousel Programme. Together we can provide more free packs to low income families, helping to reduce the financial burden and improving wellbeing.  We’re already providing around 70 free packs every month and your support will enable this to continue.

The Yaldi lottery is an easy way of supporting our work in your community – and you could win a prize too! Click on the link for how to play: https://www.glasgowlottery.scot/support/merry-go-round

Text donations 

We are officially set up for making text donations! This is a quick and easy way to make a contribution on the go at a time that suits you. To donate just text MERRYGOROUND to 70460 to donate £2. Text will cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message.– Thank you!  All of the money raised goes straight back into providing our services.

Pay it forward Hangers 

Shopping at Merry-go-round? Have a look out for our new Pay it Forward Hangers in store. These hangers are designed to be taken to the till where you can pay the price of an item of clothing for a family in our Carousel programme. 

Buy one for you, pay it forward for another.

Fund a starter pack for The Carousel Programme 

Keep an eye out for an example starter pack in the shop. It shows you what an average free pack looks like that we deliver to families in need. We distribute an average of 70 packs a month primarily clothing for 0-24 month olds but we also provide nappy, sensory, literacy, maternity packs and clothes up to age 5. 

The cost of these packs to us is £25 (but with a value of £130 if the items were bought new!) 

You can now ‘buy a bag’ for £25 in store which we will fill for a family in need.You can read more about our Carousel Programme here. 

Donate via our website 

You can also make a monetary donation via our website using the following link https://www.merrygoroundglasgow.co.uk/checkout/donate?donatePageId=5e8b05c3138b9761efd0b3ac&fbclid=IwAR0hTLeACe6Li5whPICR5bsuH6txDWnYJW7EsuyQmdWObK-CcUGjRNmnfbg

Host a fundraiser on our behalf 

Whether it’s a coffee morning or sponsored pram walk there are lots of activities you can do to raise money on behalf of Merry-go-round.  Community fundraising events so far have included a santa dash, a marathon, a pram walk and a sponsored knitathon! 

Got an idea?  email community@merrygoroundglasgow.co.uk and we can help turn it into a reality.

Volunteer

We have numerous volunteering opportunities at both our shop and sorting hub in Shawlands.  Whether it’s making up packs, driving our van, sorting donations or making beautiful displays our volunteers play a vital part in keeping the merry-going-round!

For more information about volunteering visit https://www.merrygoroundglasgow.co.uk/volunteering-with-us or email volunteermerrygoround@gmail.com

Donate your pre-loved items

Last but certainly not least we are incredibly grateful for your donations. We are now accepting your pre-loved children’s clothes and equipment all day every day at the shop. 

We accept pretty much everything maternity and baby up to age 5, check our website for details.  Your donations are rehomed in the local community and save other families the materials and transport of buying new - saving carbon and saving the plant, one babygrow at a time.

THANK YOU from team MGR X