Creating Memories Fund

Since the foundation of Anam Cara Fasgadh, our Trustees have collaborated with High School students via the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative to enhance the charity's funds, aims and ambitions.

In 2022, our co-founder Susan Simpson engaged with a group of S5 students at Oban High School to create a Travel Fund. The exceptional team, comprising Beckie, Charis, Lei, Arden, and Tilly, advanced to the finals with their research, presentation and concept. However, they were narrowly outperformed by the team representing the remarkable Dove Centre Oban Hospice. Consequently, the Trustees chose to temporarily withdraw from the initiative to concentrate on the fundamental services of Poppy’s Place and our yearly memorial events. The students continued to volunteer at memorial events for the charity, where they demonstrated remarkable empathy and understanding towards families grieving the loss of a baby, child, or young person, leaving a lasting impression on the Trustees.

We realise that the journey through grief after a child's death is deeply challenging and lifelong and as a team our pledge is to ensure that no family faces this journey alone and that they are enveloped in love and care when they come to us. Our mission is to give families who have endured the loss of a baby, child, or young person a chance to forge enduring memories by exploring local sights and taking trips in the area.

So in August 2024, our cofounders Andrew and Susan, with assistance from Youth Champions Charis and Noah, resurrected the fund, and came up with the Creating Memories Fund - all in memory of their Heavenly children Alex and Eilidh Beth. They hope the initiative will provide further solace, empathy, and assistance to families mourning the death of a baby, child or young person.

The loss of a child can make time seem to stand still, and the initial shock and pain are often intense and persistent. Poppy’s Place offers a sanctuary for families to find peace and tranquillity, to reflect on their loss, and to create meaningful memories with their child in mind. But during these economically challenging times, Anam Cara Fasgadh aims to give each family a significant experience during their stay, whether it's exploring Inveraray Castle, taking a boat trip to see dolphins and local wildlife, or hiking to spot sea eagles, all the while supporting local enterprises and organisations.

Andrew, Susan, Charis and Noah, with cofounder Michael, are collaborating with High Schools across Scotland through their YPI initiative to accomplish this goal and would appreciate your support. It is an especially poignant campaign for the Simpson family as their children would now be in High School had they lived ~ Alex in S6 and Eilidh Beth in S3.

To contribute to the Creating Memories Fund and assist us in providing bereaved families with the opportunity to enjoy the best of what Argyll has to offer, please click the link above or below.

Wildlife tours:

Many families enjoy a trip out on the sea, but it’s worth booking ahead. We are very blessed in this area, seals in abundance but also dolphins, orcas, minkie whales, otters and sea eagles.

https://obanseatours.co.uk/

https://www.seafari.co.uk/

https://obanboat.co.uk/

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Open Sunday to Friday, Dunollie Museum, Castle and Grounds is well worth a visit. We have bought a pass for families so there is no charge. Well worth taking one of the guided tours, at 11.30am and 2pm - but please phone ahead to book this. Or you can enjoy a lunch there, and visit the sculpted Tree of Tranquility, the leaves of which bear the names of children gone too soon. We took ownership of the Tree this year.

https://www.dunollie.org

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Tucked away in the village of Dunbeg is the Ocean Explorer. The centre is attached to the world renowned Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), renowned for its groundbreaking research and exploration of our oceans. The interactive displays open up the oceans around our coastline. There is a lovely wee cafe and just a stones throw away are beautiful beach walks.

https://www.oceanexplorercentre.org/about/

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And while you are in Dunbeg why not take a walk along to Dunstaffnage Castle and Chapel.

Built before 1240 it was a stronghold of the MacDougalls (who’s clan seat is at Dunollie). It was captured by Robert the Bruce in 1308, and was the royal seat until 1469, housing the Stone of Destiny which is still used in the coronation of Kings and Queens.

https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/dunstaffnage-castle-and-chapel/

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This is a fab wee video about McCaig’s Tower.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/166DhxvHoA/?mibextid=wwXIfr

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Oban is also known as The Gateway to the Isles and many families take time to book a ferry trip.

As well as visiting Mull, Kerrera is a few minutes Ferry ride from Oban and has great walks (see if you can spot the wild goats!) and a lovely restaurant.

https://www.calmac.co.uk/destinations/kerrera

Iona is 2 short ferry rides away - take the ferry to Mull then a short car or bus journey to Fionnphort. Iona is the spiritual birthplace of Christianity and the burial place of ancient Scottish Kings, including MacBeth. https://www.calmac.co.uk/destination/iona

Lismore can be reached by ferry from Oban or foot ferry from Port Appin and boasts Bronze Age cairns, Iron Age duns and Pictish brochs. There a cafe, museum and library that’s well worth a visit. https://www.calmac.co.uk/destinations/lismore

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Have you ever wanted to take a walk with Highland Cows? Well give Auchinreir Farm a shout and book a walk! The farm is near Barcaldine village, at the foot of Glen Salach, with 132 acres of permanent pasture and biodiverse woodland, home to native trees and moisture-loving plants such as epiphytes, lichens, and bryophytes - part of Scotland’s west coast Temperate Rainforest, a rare and endangered habitat.

https://www.achinreirfarm.com/

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Cruachan Dam is the Hollow Mountain, and visitors are taken 1km inside when they take a tour,l. Tours are suspended just now, but there is a lovely cafe and for those who feel fitter you can walk up to the dam by taking the road opposite St Conon’s Kirk.

It produces enough electricity to power 90,000 homes, much of which is exporters to the rest of the UK, and was one of the oldest forms of large-scale energy storage. Construction involved the excavation of 220,000 cubic metres of rock and soil and around 1,500 workers were employed at the peak - 2 of whom were brothers of our secretary Irene.

https://www.visitcruachan.co.uk/the-experience/

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If you do visit Cruachan, be sure to stop in at St Conan’s Kirk. This atmospheric church has a Norman doorway, Gothic flying buttresses, a Celtic cross, Arts and Crafts carvings, a Saxon tower and even a Stone circle.

https://www.stconanskirk.org.uk

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Older than Stonehenge, why not visit Kilmartin Glen, south of Oban, and learn about our standing stones, cairns, burial chambers, and Dunadd, the seat of the Kings of Dál Riata around 600AD and the capital of this ancient kingdom.

https://www.kilmartin.org/guided-walk

Or if you prefer to explore the area yourself, they have a self-guided walk.

https://www.kilmartin.org/self-guided-trail

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North of Benderloch you can visit Glenfinnan, where Bonnie Prince Charlie arrived and 1,200 Highlanders gathered to pledge their allegiance to Prince Charles Edward Stuart ahead of the 1745 Jacobite Rising.

Here you can also see the Glenfinnan Viaduct, made famous by the Harry Potter films which filmed in this area.

https://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/glenfinnan-p236571

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Near Glenfinnan are some of the most stunning beaches in Lochaber.

https://everythingarisaig.com/arisaig-beaches

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And if you head down the Arisaig road, take a wander down to the wee town of Mallaig.

https://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/mallaig-p236601

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If you do take a trip north, we highly recommend Treasures of the Earth in Corpach, a private collection, one of Europe’s largest collection, of Crystals, Gemstones and Fossils.

https://treasuresoftheearth.co.uk

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While in Lochaber, why not take a trip up the mountain at Nevis Range?

https://www.facebook.com/NevisRange

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Also in Fort William is the Nevis Centre, where families can enjoy 10 pin bowling, soft play and the cafe. There is often music or events on in the evening.

https://www.neviscentre.co.uk

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This is Arisaig by the way, incase you’ve never been.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1DmW97C6zc/?mibextid=wwXIfr