THE Makers Community Hub in Alloa has received a £20,000 donation from the Morrisons Foundation.

Part of Scottish Autism, the cafe offers training and vocational opportunities from its premises in the Makers Village.

Don Green, community champion at Morrisons in Alloa, paid a visit to present the team with a cheque for £20,100.

He was delighted to hear the retailer’s head office had selected the organisation to benefit from the foundation, which supports charities making a positive difference.

He said: “I’m quite humbled that we were actually able to help them and to see that the money is going to do some good. 

“To get a substantial amount of money like that is just a bit overwhelming and I’m glad it’s going to go into something that’s going to help.”

Don works in the community regularly, helping the likes of local schools, youth clubs and churches with support from the senior team and his store manager, Paul Lappin. 

Through his role at the supermarket, he raises funds for CLIC Sargent and has supported care homes like Parklands and Marchglen.

Recently, he took the opportunity to visit the Makers, met the staff, volunteers and received a tour.

It was his first trip to the cafe and he said the work done there “blew me away”.

There is now a plaque at the entrance from the foundation and Don said it was his “privilege” to present the cheque.

Scottish Autism has received a huge amount of support for the Makers initiative.

Karen Wilson, the charity's fundraising manager, said: “Without the support and fundraising efforts of the Morrisons Foundation and the other local organisations that has donated to Makers - including SG Pro Cleaning and Tesco’s ‘Bags of Help’ Alloa Fund -  it would not be flourishing in the way that it is.  

 “We’d like to send them and all our other fundraisers an enormous thank you for their support.  

 “This is Scottish Autism’s 50th Anniversary, and Makers helps to demonstrate how autism services are evolving, supporting autistic people and their families from childhood through their whole life journey.”

Jill Ferguson, Scottish Autism’s service manager for central area, said: “We are already seeing great outcomes for both the local community and the people with autism and learning disabilities who work at Makers.

 “It provides great opportunities for individuals to build social confidence and learn vocational skills whilst directly experiencing a workplace environment.

 “These opportunities help autistic people and those with learning disabilities to lead full and enriched lives, becoming valued members of the community they live in.  

 “Makers also has a space to accommodate events and workshops for community groups, and we welcome any ideas or opportunities to support or get involved in what is going on in our local community.”