Accountancy firm Johnston Carmichael has launched a fund to help staff support charitable initiatives.

The JC Impact Fund has been created to mark the firm’s 90th anniversary.

The first good cause backed is cancer charity Maggie’s Dundee, which was nominated by advisory senior manager Derek Souter, who carried out a 10,000 ft sponsored sky dive in memory of his late colleague Gail Croll, who died after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

He raised £2,872 including £1,000 from the firm.

“Gail was a lovely caring person, extremely well-liked by the rest of the team, and I wanted to do something in her memory to raise money for a charity that would be important for her family,” said Souter.

“I decided a skydive would be something out my comfort zone to generate funds for a good cause, and choosing Maggie’s Dundee felt like the right way to honour Gail.

“Johnston Carmichael’s contribution through the JC Impact Fund showed how much they value supporting the causes that matter most to their people.”

Other good causes being supported by staff include helping a group of young hockey players from Moray and Aviemore to travel to an intensive training camp in Sweden, supporting charity Kick Mental Health and backing the National Youth Choir of Scotland’s bursary scheme.

Emily Young, Johnston Carmichael’s chief marketing officer, and member of the Fund’s committee, said: “The JC Impact Fund gives our people the chance to support charitable and community projects that matter to them.

“Sometimes those causes just need a small boost to reach a fundraising target or help a community group achieve its goal.”

She added: “The range of applications and the stories behind them show the passion our people have for the causes they support.

“We want to keep backing the projects that matter to our people in the months and years ahead.”

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