Tag: Age Scotland

Lothian and Age Scotland provide connection through charity bus designNew charity bus hits the streets of Edinburgh and the Lothians

Representatives from Age Scotland and Lothian Buses standing in front of the new charity bus at the garage in Annandale Street.
Representatives from Age Scotland and Lothian Buses standing in front of the new charity bus at the garage in Annandale Street.
Representatives from Age Scotland and Lothian Buses standing in front of the new charity bus at the garage in Annandale Street.
Service users from North Edinburgh Dementia Care standing smiling at the launch event.
Service users from North Edinburgh Dementia Care with Age Scotland Chief Executive, Katherine Crawford.
The new Age Scotland bus at Lothian's Central Garage in Annandale Street.
The rear of the charity bus which features the helpline information.

Lothian’s new 2025-26 Charity of Choice, Age Scotland, is on a mission to tackle loneliness in Scotland’s older people and Lothian will be helping to spread that message far and wide on a specially designed double deck bus.

The fully wrapped bus design, created in collaboration between Age Scotland and Lothian’s in-house design team, will be a common sight on the streets of the Scottish capital throughout the two-year charity partnership, with Lothian helping to raise awareness of Age Scotland’s mission.

Importantly, the bus design features information about the charity’s free helpline which provides support and advice to older people across the country. In 2024 Age Scotland’s helpline handled 30,000 calls, answering queries on a range of subjects from benefits and income maximisation, access to social care, and housing.

We were particularly delighted to welcome service users and support staff from North Edinburgh Dementia Care in Leith to the launch, giving them the chance to see the bus up close and meet with members from across the Lothian team who will be working hard to help amplify Age Scotland’s message.

Lothian’s Communications Director, Gaynor Marshall, said: “Lothian is proud to be partnering with Age Scotland over the next two years, helping to raise awareness of the vital work they do to improve the lives of older people in Scotland.

“Our buses offer more than a means of getting from A to B. They provide connections between people and communities, enabling inclusion and participation.

“Our Age Scotland bus offers a unique marketing opportunity with messaging which will connect members of the public across Edinburgh and the Lothians with information, advice and friendship.”

Katherine Crawford, Chief Executive of Age Scotland, said:

“We’re delighted to hit the road with Lothian Buses over the next two years and showcase how Age Scotland can help keep older people connected.

“Tens of thousands of older people across the Lothians experience loneliness and our branded bus will raise awareness of the services we offer to help, and support dozens of local groups and clubs which keep older people connected to their communities.

“We hope that our messaging reaches even more people and amplifies that we are here to provide friendship, companionship and support to older people on every street across Scotland.

Learn more about Age Scotland’s Impact.

The new Age Scotland bus at Lothian's Central Garage in Annandale Street.

Snap a photo & share on social!

The Age Scotland bus fleet number is 465 and it’s already hit the streets of the capital today (21 May) on Service 14. 

If you spot it, please snap a photo and share it with us on social media!

Lothian choose Age Scotland as next charity partner

Age Scotland staff stand in front of a Lothian bus holding signs for the charity and Lothian.
Age Scotland and Lothian Buses staff members stand in front of a Lothian bus at the garage, holding logos an signs to mark the launch of the partnership.
Representatives from Age Scotland and Lothian Buses, including the charity's Chief Executive Katherine Crawford and the bus operator's Managing Director Sarah Boyd, came together to mark the official launch of the new two-year partnership.

Lothian Buses is delighted to announce that Age Scotland has been chosen as its new Charity of Choice partner for the next two years following a staff vote of the company’s 2600+ strong workforce.

Age Scotland work to improve the lives of older people in Scotland. They provide a free helpline and information service, support older people’s groups, promote age and dementia-friendly communities, deliver wellbeing programmes, and campaign on behalf of older people.

The partnership, which will run until the start of 2027, will help support Age Scotland’s vision to ensure Scotland is the best place in the world to grow older and will provide the charity with an invaluable opportunity to raise awareness of its work and services across Edinburgh and the Lothians.

There will be unique marketing opportunities including the wrapping of a bus in Age Scotland messaging, and all funds raised from this partnership will contribute to Age Scotland’s community development work across Lothian’s network, including assisting the work of over sixty Age Scotland Member Groups.

Gaynor Marshall, Communications Director for Lothian, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Age Scotland as Lothian’s Charity of Choice 2025-26.

“Lothian is proud to be part of the communities we serve, and we look forward to working with the team at Age Scotland over the course of the next two years to raise awareness of the support they can offer – helping to tackle loneliness, support inclusion, and deliver better lives for older people across our operating area.”

Katherine Crawford, Chief Executive of Age Scotland, said: “Tens of thousands of older people across the Lothians experience loneliness and this wonderful partnership means we can reach many more people with the services we offer to help, and support dozens of local groups and clubs which keep older people connected.

“We’re incredibly grateful to the staff at Lothian who voted for us to be their Charity of Choice over the next two years, and I just know that our work together will have a really positive impact on the communities that Lothian serve so well.”