Fountain Bar funding for SCAA follows industry award

A community-spirited Scottish pub has donated £1,000 charity funds won in a nationwide competition to Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance.

Coca-Cola provided the funds following The Fountain Bar’s recent win in the Greene King category at the Great British Pub Awards – recognition for the Aberfeldy bar's efforts to unite the community and support vulnerable people during the national coronavirus lockdown.

The team at the Fountain was behind the ‘Feldy-Roo’ free hot meals delivery service which, at its peak, delivered meals and free newspapers to more than 200 homes, twice a day, across a 25-mile radius. More than 40,000 free meals were delivered in total.

Among the volunteers operating the service were Ross and Karen Menzies and their daughter Sasha. Their son Sean suffers with severe asthma and used Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance on more than one occasion during lockdown, to access urgent medical assistance.

Gavin Price, owner of The Fountain, said: “We were bowled over by the award win – to know that so many people voted for us means the world, and being able to make a donation like this as a result makes all the hard work even more worth it.

“We knew we had to act when the national lockdown started, and we’re so proud of everything we achieved.”

Coca-Cola GB Brands Director Paul Grace added: “It’s been so inspiring to see how publicans have stepped up to support local people in lockdown, despite many facing hardship themselves. It’s simply in their DNA.

“We’re pleased to be helping the team at The Fountain continue to make a difference and to support a cause that’s close to their hearts. We want to keep celebrating the role played by pubs in the community – they support so many of us in different ways, and now more than ever, they need our support in return.”