Inverclyde Council staff at Greenock Crematorium have secured £12,000 for Ardgowan Hospice.

They successfully applied for funding from the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) through its recycling of metals scheme.

The council has been part of the initiative for a few years but this is the first time a charity has been put forward for a cash award.

Councillor Michael McCormick, Inverclyde Council’s convener of environment and regeneration, said: “This is a fantastic sum of money for Ardgowan Hospice thanks to our environmental and commercial services team who run the crematorium and ICCM.

“It’s also down to bereaved families and their consent that has allowed this to happen.

“We all know about the incredible work that Ardgowan Hospice does caring for family and friends and also supporting their loved ones and it’s important that we do all we can to help them to continue providing vital services to people right across Inverclyde and this donation I’m sure will be a timely boost for the charity, particularly in the current cost of living crisis which is having an impact on us all.”

The hospice supports around 1,000 people and their families every year and over 60 per cent of its running costs are raised through donations and fundraising.

Joanna Hunter, Ardgowan Hospice fundraising manager, said: “We are delighted to be the first charity locally to benefit from the ICCM’s recycling of metals scheme and we can’t thank them enough and Inverclyde Council for thinking about Ardgowan Hospice and putting us forward for this donation.

“We rely heavily on our local area for donations so this £12,000 will help us continue to provide care and support to people living with a life limiting illness and their families when they need us most.”

ICCM donated almost £1.8 million to good causes in its latest round of funding from December 2021 to July 2022 taking the overall total to over £15m since the scheme started.

Trevor Robson, from ICCM, said: “The ICCM Board are delighted to announce the end of another successful round of nominations and donations from the ICCM/OrthoMetals recycling of Metals scheme.

“All scheme members should be proud of their work in assisting charities and ensuring some of them survive the current economic climate and the issues of funding still facing charities after the issues of COVID-19 and the ongoing pandemic.

“In addition, the biggest praise still needs to go to the families of the bereaved for their consent to allow the success of the scheme.”

Pictured, from left, are Cllr McCormick, David Millar, crematorium technician, and Joanna Hunter from the hospice at Greenock Crematorium.