Partner’s in our Union Street store have been busy recently with everyone doing what they can to support Bean Responsible. We have more partner’s than ever before now willing to come and help out at events and alot of them have been really enthusiastic about nominating a charity for this quarter that is close to their heart. We’re looking at there being real competition for our chosen charity. We’re still in talks with Café Crèche and Hazlewood School and hope to be arranging some more fun yet activities with them. Also, in August some of our Barista’s will be attending a charity night fundraiser for the Anchor Unit of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. We will be serving coffee and hot chocolate and have also agreed to donate items to be auctioned off. The night came to our attention as one of the vet’s working beside our store was being treated by the Anchor Unit but tragically passed away. His office set up the fundraising event to show their appreciation and we were simply part of a mail shot to sell tickets to the event but we stepped in and offered our help as much as we could.

More recently Michael West from our store was part of the North East team that took part in the Care Challenge. More information on what taking part in the event involved and where the money raised went to can be found here http://www.carechallenge.org.uk/starbucks

 Dundee Borders and Overgate Stores

Cindy and Norman’s teams in Dundee have been really busy with Bean Responsible activities lately.

Cindy, Norman, Wendy and Hayley all went along and provided tea and coffee at a community centre called The Greylodge in Dundee. Greylodge is a centre that is all things, to all people, in the Hilltown area of Dundee. It has been open for 100 years and is not funded by the council so they really need the support of Starbucks.

Kenneth and Cindy also went and provided tea and coffee at a Breast Cancer awareness fundraiser in Forfar. They did this for one of their regular customers and the event raised £580 which is a fantastic result.

Cindy’s store still holds their weekly knitting and reading groups and are currently helping young people with learning difficulties learn the skills that will perhaps help them get full or part-time employment. Amy is the current addition to their team. She works with them on a Tuesday and Wednesday for four hours per day over a six week period. During that time, Cindy gives her support worker feedback as to how she is doing. This in turn helps Amy and her support team assess which skills she needs to learn. Two

of the partner’s at Dundee Border’s have been real stars working with Amy. They are Hayley and Anastsia and they really do deserve commendation for the work they do.Cindy, Kenneth and Carmen also took part in the Care Challenge, information on which can be found at the link above

Inverness Eastgate Store

On 31st May partners at Inverness Eastgate donned their shorts and wired up some pumping summer beats in a challenge to row the length of Loch Ness (22 miles). With Kirsty’s visual chart to track their progress and an array of balloons and legs on show, they each took turns to row until their arms gave up (many thanks to the guys from JJB gym for filling a couple of extra time slots). Hannah – one of the baristas – provided face painting which was a very popular few minutes rest for all the parents looking to have an even more enjoyable coffee break. With a guess the number of jelly babies in the jar also available and a raffle for the less sweet-toothed they managed to raise over £150.00 and equally importantly raised the awareness of our links and connections with Care International. With support from each other and many customers, not only did the team manage to row the length of loch Ness, they made it half way back (and run a Saturday afternoon shift!!!).
 
Over the last month or so many of the store’s customers have been showing their support and pledging money to sponsor Fiona on the recently completed Care Challenge and with some tips added and a health donation of customers’ spare change the fundraising total is building nicely.
 
With a very exciting summer phase 2 coming round the corner and Inverness Centre Manager’s brilliant initiative to build a beach outside the centre we are working on some plans for more summer fundraising days – lets hope the weather is as supportive as we all know the people of Inverness will be.

Below Gabby Gray and Lisa McEwan from Sarbucks St. Andrews show some of the 154 books they collected for Falkland Primary School.

This week a group from Aberdeen Union St. joined to provide musical entertainment, some free Starbucks coffee (Cafe Estima, if you’re wondering) and some help with childcare.

Not only was it a full and fun day, it’s also the beginning of a great partnership between the City Council/NHS and Starbucks Aberdeen. Stay tuned for more updates about Café Crèche in the future!

For all the photos, click here.

In the North East, teams hit a retail park in Inverness, and beaches in Aberdeen and St. Andrews.

Team Aberdeen – eight brave souls from Union Street and St. Nicolas Shopping Centre, trolled Nigg Bay below the Torry Battery (read about the area and all it has to offer, here). Occasional torrents of rain and steady cold didn’t stop them from gathering 26 bags of rubbish.

Scroll down for photos, or click here to see them all.

Special thanks to Keep Scotland Beautiful and various city councils for making this great event take place.

the team: Amanda, Jo, Michael, Heather, Sarah, Chris and Magda (missing Jackie)

Jo’s new socks

Typical square metre

Magda, getting it done.

the final result: 26 bags full and a job well done.

 What’s a Coffee Master, you ask? Look for a barista in a signature black apron – that’s your first clue. He or she is your local expert of all things coffee. They’ll walk you through the story of Starbucks coffee; from regions where beans are grown, how they are roasted, and how they are purchased.

Your Coffee Master will also be able to tell you all about how Starbucks is using fair trade methods in our purchasing, and which coffees are certified as Fair Trade.

Sometimes when you walk into the store you may see your Coffee Master huddled with a group around a table and a cafetiere. Chances are they are doing a coffee tasting: sipping coffee, swirling it around in their mouth, learning the different flavours that are distinct to certain regions, and what food goes best with each coffee. Feel free to pull up a chair and join in – Coffee education is for everyone, and your Coffee Master would love to share his or her knowledge with you!