The donation, presented to Shining Stars founder Katie Slavin-Trower (centre), will assist the group with funding holiday camps during the school holidays as well as building a sensory room

Coatbridge McDonald’s makes £10k donation to Shining Stars theatre school

Welcome gesture made possible by the newly launched McDonald’s in the Community Foundation.

by · Daily Record

Coatbridge McDonald’s relished the chance to make a significant contribution to a terrific theatre school.

Shining Stars is £10,000 richer thanks to the kindness shown by the fast-food restaurant's team.

The theatre school for children, youngsters and adults with a range of additional support needs offers workshops in drama, drama therapy, sensory exploration, musical theatre, movement, a Makaton choir and adult services for people with needs ranging from mild to severe.

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The donation from McDonald’s will assist the group with funding holiday camps during the school holidays, which the organisation is hoping to increase during the Christmas period, as well as building a sensory room for attendees to use.

The welcome gesture was made possible by the newly-launched McDonald’s in the Community Foundation, set up by 16 Scottish McDonald’s franchisees and the 20 McDonald’s-owned restaurants in Scotland.

The Foundation provides a central hub to help distribute funds, raised by the 10p carrier bag charge, to different charities and organisations across Scotland.

McDonald’s franchisee Alan Halliday, who owns and operates the restaurant in Coatbridge, told Lanarkshire Live: “Supporting our local community is of the utmost importance to my team and I, which is why I was so pleased to see the McDonald’s in the Community Foundation officially launch this year.

"It means that each restaurant group can make meaningful contributions to charities in the communities that we operate in.

"Shining Stars does tremendous work in our community and we are delighted to be supporting them with this donation.

"We look forward to seeing the group grow in the future.”

Katie Slavin-Trower, founder of Shining Stars, said: “We’re so grateful to McDonald’s and Alan Halliday for this generous contribution.

"The funds will go a long way in helping the most vulnerable people in our community and we hope to grow this vital work even further.

"I started this organisation eight years ago due to my own stammer and drama has helped me with growing up.

"I feel so grateful to be able to now help others in the local area with this range of therapies and look forward to future performances with them.”

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