PO Box 1008
Glasgow G42 8AA
Tel: 0141 226 5066

Campaign Against McDonalds Update on McDonalds hospital-site opening.


On Monday Oct 23 1995, the National Lottery Charities Board Scotland announced a £635,000 contribution to Ronald McDonald House, a hostel facility provided for families of seriously ill children. This prompted campaigners to meet with hospital authorities

It has become clear that McDonalds financial input is a once-only payment of £0.5 million. The balance of construction costs, £1.6m, coming from Yorkhill NHS Trust and the National Lotteries Charities Board. The lottery will contribute £45,000 p.a. for

While putting forward the case for disassociation with McDonalds Corp on the hostel provision, campaigners will seek assurances that the facility is not merely a prelude to McDonalds' aspiration towards securing the lucrative burger branches on hospital sites.

Experience from other parts of the country suggests that whenever McDonalds Corp encounters local resistance to expansion on hospital facilities, that community is offered a hostel with the almost inevitable result that sites previously closed to them are suddenly accessible.

RONALD McDONALD HOUSE YORKHILL
TO BENEFIT FROM THE NATIONAL LOTTERY
£635,000 CONTRIBUTION
TO BENEFIT HUNDREDS OF SCOTTISH FAMILIES
A ' HOME AWAY FROM HOME'
TO BE PROVIDED FOR FAMILIES OF SERIOUSLY ILL CHILDREN


Today,
Monday,
October 23, 1995

The National Lottery Charities Board Scotland, announced a £635.000 contribution to Ronald McDonald House at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill.

Commenting on the announcement, John Slater, Director, Yorkhill Family House Limited, said:
"I am delighted with the decision by the National Lottery Charities Board Scotland, to award this project £635,000 thus ensuring that we will be able to provide this much needed facility which will make a great difference to the lives of many families."
The cost of developing the House is £1.6 million. To date £1 million has been contributed jointly by Ronald McDonald Children's Charities and the Yorkhill NHS Trust. This amount, together with the capital grant of £500,000 from the National Lotteries "The House is a "home away from home" for families of children suffering from serious illness or complex paediatric conditions. It is a place where families will stay at no cost, while their child is being treated in hospital.
"When a child is seriously ill and has to go into hospital it can be a very distressing and upsetting time for parents and children, particularly those who live far away from the hospital. At a time like this, children need to be close to their parents The first Ronald McDonald House was opened in Philadelphia in 1974 and there are now 165 Houses world-wide."


The first House in the UK is situated at Guy's Hospital in London, and the second at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool.


What facilities are provided at the House?

First and foremost, we want to ensure that the House will be a "home away from home" with a comfortable family environment. The house will have 24 family bedrooms of varying size including wheelchair accessible bedrooms, as well as teenagers' rooms, so..

How much is it costing to build the House?

The cost of developing the House including furnishings and equipment is £1.6 million. The annual running costs of the House are estimated at £125,000.

How is it being funded?

£1 million is being funded jointly by Ronald McDonald Children's Charities and the Yorkhill NHS Trust. Other funding is being generated through corporate sponsorship and fund raising activities.