Govan group Dates N Mates awarded Asda Foundation Grant
Asda’s charity, The Asda Foundation, has awarded £400 to Scotland's friendship charity run by and for adults with learning disabilities.
Article Source: Asda Foundation
Last Updated: 13 January 2025 12:12
Influenced by their members preferences, the charity organises a wide selection of social events where there are opportunities for new friendships and connections to be created.
The group hosts five events a year, and funding from the Asda Foundation enabled them to organise a Christmas party at a local nightclub while keeping ticket prices low. The event was a great success, with 150 members and non-members attending.
The Asda Foundation has donated £600,000 in grants to 763 groups across the UK working to combat loneliness and isolation, including 102 groups in Scotland. The grants, ranging from £400 to £2,000, are intended to support initiatives that bring local communities together and foster social connections. This funding demonstrates the foundation's dedication to addressing social challenges and strengthening community bonds.
The initiative follows information from Asda’s latest community tracker, which revealed almost one in five people experienced days when they didn’t speak to a single soul. Worryingly, 42 per cent said their mental health suffered because of their lack of interaction with others.
,strong>Roma McHardy, Community and Customer Champion at Asda Govan, said: “It brings me great joy to present this cheque to Dates-N-Mates in Govan, a truly inspiring group making a difference in the lives of young people with learning difficulties. Their efforts to combat loneliness and isolation by helping individuals build connections, make friends, and explore relationships is transformative.
“We’re proud to support their mission to create a more inclusive and compassionate community where everyone can thrive and find meaningful connections.”
Janie Waddle, West of Scotland Regional Lead, Dates-N-Mates said: “On behalf of everyone at Dates-N-Mates, Govan, I want to extend our heartfelt thanks for this incredible funding. Adults and young people with learning disabilities often face significant isolation after leaving college, and our dating agency is a vital lifeline, giving them the chance to build lasting relationships and a sense of belonging.
“This support allowed us to host a fantastic event in a mainstream venue, helping to normalise and celebrate inclusion. The funding was instrumental in keeping ticket prices affordable, enabling more of our members and even non-members to join in. It was a joy to see so many people connecting and having fun—something that means the world to us. Thank you, Asda, for making it possible!”
Martin Kendal, Asda Foundation - Communications and Impact Advisor, said: “The Asda Foundation understands that groups centred around bringing people together over a shared interest or hobby, to projects set up to support vulnerable people in our community – these organisations are a lifeline for many, often facing high demand with the added pressure of shortages in donations and volunteers. It’s incredibly important for community groups to have the resources they need to support those who need it the most and The Asda Foundation are proud to have been able to support the group with Grassroots Grants funding.”
Sponsored Links
Latest Glasgow News
Win your way to the IRN BRU Carnival
The Duck Hunt is back bigger and better with over 150 ducks hidden across Glasgow and beyond!
READ MORE
New film on resistance to Home Office raid on Kenmure Street to be released next year
Scottish distributor Conic has acquired all UK and Ireland rights for Everybody to Kenmure Street, a new documentary about Glasgow's community resistance to a Home Office raid in 2021.
READ MORE
Sean Batty joins Glasgow businesses to champion choose local at Christmas cry
STV presenter visits Glasgow West End's Business Improvement District to highlight the vital role that local people can play in the the final festive push.
READ MORE
Everyman presents Nationwide preview screenings of Sentimental Value
See the highly anticipated new comedy drama before anyone else, with preview screenings at Everyman cinemas nationwide.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Book Festival and Celtic Connections unveil major new partnership
Edinburgh International Book Festival and Celtic Connections unveil major new partnership bringing together Scotland's most celebrated writers and musicians!
READ MORE
Beatson Cancer Charity announces amazing total for Glasgow Santa Dash 2025
Beatson Cancer Charity is thrilled to announce that the Glasgow Santa Dash 2025 has raised more than £100,000 to support people affected by cancer across the west of Scotland.
READ MORE
University of Glasgow launches first Virtual Reality kiosk for Museums in the Metaverse
Imagine visiting a museum and being transported inside the glass cases, to virtually examine artefacts at astonishing proximity and from every possible angle. This is now reality.
READ MORE
Jock and the Beanstalk panto stars support Social Bite Festival of Kindness
Pavilion Panto stars headed to Social Bite's Festival of Kindness on Vinicombe Street to encourage Glaswegians to donate gifts and funds to support people experiencing homelessness this winter.
READ MORE
DF Concerts & Events celebrates a year of sustainable and inclusive events
DF Concerts & Events is celebrating the success of their sustainability initiatives delivered across their major summer events in 2025.
READ MORE
Full casting announced for Scottish premiere of Single White Female at the Theatre Royal Glasgow
Full casting has been announced as rehearsals begin for the Scottish premiere of Single White Female coming to the Theatre Royal Glasgow in June!
READ MORE
Celebrate the New Year with a sparkling experience at The Ivy Glasgow
With toasts to celebrate the new year breaking around the world, the experience is not to be missed!
READ MORE
A sweet partnership bringing locally produced, sustainable ice cream to the SEC in time for a packed winter events season
Equi’s Ice Cream, the award-winning Scottish, family-run ice cream maker, is announcing a major new partnership as the official ice cream supplier of the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow.
READ MORE
Teenage Cancer Trust units in Glasgow receive festive surprise from Aldi
Young people receiving cancer treatment in Glasgow have been treated to a surprise delivery of festive goodies from Aldi, helping them celebrate the holiday season away from home.
READ MORE
Step into Christmas at Dalmeny Park with special festive menus and afternoon teas this December
Dalmeny Park is pulling out all the stops to make this festive season truly magical, unveiling its 2025 festive dining menus and afternoon teas available until 23rd December.
READ MORE
Big Fat Bingo of The Year shows announced
Christmas is coming in fast, and hot on its heels is the surreal, off-kilter period between Xmas and NYE... Bongo's Bingo have got just the tonic to help see out the final days of 2025!
READ MORE
Scottish jazz talent in tune as award winners unveiled
The Scottish Jazz Awards 2025 celebrated the cream of the crop in the jazz scene on Sunday night, honouring outstanding artists and contributors at a memorable ceremony in Glasgow.
READ MORE
Anna Campbell Jones launches small batch Scottish botanical rum distilled in Glasgow
Interior designer, BBC Scotland's Home of the Year judge and entrepreneur Anna Campbell-Jones has released her first spirit.
READ MORE
Best burger in Scotland is now available in Glasgow for Christmas
Glasgow's Winter Wonderland gives visitors a taste of the festive season with foodie highlights including Scotland's best burger!
READ MORE
Award winning Rickshaw & Co launches its festive menu in Glasgow
Rickshaw & Co has launched its festive menu, bringing bold Indian and Bangladeshi flavours to December in Partick.
READ MORE
From plate to print: Kirsty Wark celebrates artistic legacy of great aunt
Glasgow Print Studio is thrilled to announce the release of a new limited-edition print by journalist, TV presenter and writer Kirsty Wark as part of their Call & Response series.
READ MORE
The festive knockout you can not miss at Oran Mor!
This December, Glasgow's Oran Mor premieres Morag Fullarton's new theatre production, 'It's a Wonderful Life... Mostly'.
READ MORE
10p pizzas from Civerinos as Deliveroo marks 10th Scottish anniversary
Raise a dram to a decade of Deliveroo: Civerinos and Deliveroo launch 10p pizzas to celebrate 10 years of feeding the people of Scotland.
READ MORE
Glasgow Fort serves up a slice of Home Alone magic with year long cheese pizza competition
Glasgow Fort has teamed up with Leopardo Pizza to launch a Home Alone-inspired competition, giving shoppers the chance to win a year's supply of Kevin McCallister’s favourite cheese pizza.
READ MORE
Lidl launching free gift wrapping stations across the UK
Lidl has unveiled its first-ever ‘Lidl Wrapped’ - a celebration of some of the nation's favourite buys, brought to life as limited-edition Christmas wrapping paper
READ MORE
Glasgow Fort joins forces with local charities to support people who feel lonely at Christmas
Glasgow Fort has teamed up with local charities to help raise awareness of the support they can provide to people of all ages experiencing feelings of loneliness and isolation at Christmas.
READ MORE
The Tron Theatre announced new season for 2026
Tron Theatre is delighted to announce its brand-new season of work for Spring/Summer 2026.
READ MORE
This weekend Glasgow shoppers can win the ultimate Glasgow Christmas gift
This Sunday visitors to VEGA's Christmas Market have the chance to “unwrap the city” and win the ultimate Glasgow Christmas gift worth over £1,000!
READ MORE
Buchanan Galleries welcomes two new stores for the festive season
City centre shopping destination Buchanan Galleries has expanded its retail line-up this December with the arrival of two new stores, offering visitors even more choice in the run-up to Christmas.
READ MORE
Glasgow Film Festival supports 50 next generation filmmakers across three star studded talent labs
Lab mentors and partners include Oscar-winning and nominated directors, leading animation studios, and executives from Netflix, BFI, Aardman, and Curzon.
READ MORE
Caledonia Gladiators launches most exclusive seat in Scottish sport in aid of GCH Charity
Scotland's basketball franchise Caledonia Gladiators has launched a unique new VIP experience – thought to be the most exclusive sporting seat in the country – in aid of charity.
READ MORESponsored Links
Sponsored Links