The Princess Royal Trust East Ayrshire Carers Centre, based in Kilmarnock, provides information, training and respite activities to carers of all ages living in East Ayrshire. Carlogie House, set in five acres of land on the outskirts of Carnoustie, will offer five-day residential, action-packed, respite holidays throughout the year to approximately 400 young carers.

Employees from the express delivery giant, joined by Steuart Howie, Wooden Spoon Chairman of Trustees and Bob Kevan from the Board of Directors of East Ayrshire Carers Centre were hosted by Charlie Bryden, Chairman of the Wooden Spoon Region Scotland, when they participated in the formal opening of the young people's caravan as part of Seeing Is Believing (SIB), a pioneering initiative being championed by the logistics company and the Wooden Spoon Charity. The staff took time off from their working day to see, first hand, how the money they have raised in-house has contributed towards the overall funding of the residential static caravan in Carnoustie.

Spoon in Scotland donated £30,000 towards the caravan, which will be used as alternative accommodation allowing the young people the extra fun and excitement of sleeping/playing away from the main residential buildings in a semi-camping situation.

TNT Express Services is the largest single contributor to Wooden Spoon in the UK, having raised over £3million in the past 14 years. Wooden Spoon provides funding across the four home nations for a wide range of projects and community programmes to improve the quality and prospect of life for disadvantaged children and young people.

Gavin Hastings, Honorary President of Wooden Spoon Scotland, said, "Wooden Spoon is very proud of the support we have been able to provide to East Ayrshire Carers Centre, and at the same time we would also like to recognise and acknowledge the assistance and sterling fundraising efforts of the TNT Edinburgh Depot staff in helping us raise the necessary funds for this latest Scottish project."

Jane Smith, CEO of Carlogie House said, "We are very grateful to The Wooden Spoon Society for their support. Their donation has enabled us to purchase and furnish a three bedroom static caravan which will allow us to offer holidays/respite breaks to young carers and their families in beautiful sunny Carnoustie, Angus.

"The caravan is decorated to a very high standard and even has decking and garden furniture. Many of our young carers and their families have never had a holiday together. The caravan will be an amazing resource giving young carers a well earned break and happy memories they will remember for years to come, thanks to The Wooden Spoon."

More than 2,500 TNT employees have so far participated in SIB visits around the UK and had the pleasure of seeing how their efforts contribute so significantly to the improvement of the lives of tens of thousands of disabled and disadvantaged youngsters. The ground breaking programme forges even stronger ties between TNT employees, Wooden Spoon and, critically, the youngsters who benefit from the support of Wooden Spoon.

Wendy Blacklock, Depot Secretary of TNT Edinburgh Depot said, "We thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to attend the residential caravan project opening and to see for ourselves the end result of the Charity's hard work towards providing this excellent facility for adult and young carers. Thank you to Wooden Spoon for looking after us during our visit."

Chief Executive of Wooden Spoon Bill Hill said: "TNT is an outstanding partner to Spoon whose continued generosity over the years has greatly improved the lives of so many disadvantaged children. This is a unique opportunity for their staff to see and appreciate for themselves just how significant and invaluable their support is."

Alistair Cochrane, Managing Director of TNT Express Services commented: "We believe in putting something positive back into the communities in which we operate and Wooden Spoon is an ideal partner. We both have a great commitment to helping youngsters realise their full potential and supporting Spoon helps us deliver a feel-good factor to our employees."