SOHTIS is delighted to announce they have been chosen as the Scottish nominated charity of Tumbling Lassie for 2019. Tumbling Lassie was founded after Alan McLean, QC, Chair of the Committee, found reference to a court case from 1687 with a girl, called “the tumbling lassie”, as a central character. She had been “bought” from her mother and forced by a travelling showman to work as a performing gymnast until, physically worn out, she fled and was given refuge by a couple.
The showman went to court and demanded damages from the couple, but the judges in the Court of Session dismissed his claim, and the official report of the case, Reid v Scot of Harden and his Lady, stated: “But we have no slaves in Scotland, and mothers cannot sell their bairns.”
SOHTIS is a new charity based in Edinburgh Joy Gillespie, Development Manager said, ‘it seems shocking that in 2019 slavery still exists in Scotland. SOHTIS believes that as the judge ruled in 1687, everyone deserves to live in freedom with dignity and respect and are therefore developing programmes of support which will empower survivors of trafficking in Scotland to rebuild their lives, reducing the risk of them being re-trafficked. We are delighted to have the support of Tumbling Lassie and look forward to working with them to provide quality services for survivors’.
Tumbling Lassie, comprising six members of the Faculty of Advocates, has in its previous three years of raising awareness of modern slavery and people trafficking, raised around £60,000 to help victims. Alongside SOHTIS they will continue to support global charity, International Justice Mission (IJM).
This year’s fundraising efforts begin on Sunday, 14 April, with a performance of The Tumbling Lassie, an operetta by author Alexander McCall Smith and his musical collaborator Tom Cunningham, in St Andrew’s and St George’s West Church, George Street, Edinburgh, at 7:30pm. It is a double bill with Fergus of Galloway, another McCall Smith/Cunningham work.
Alan McLean said, ‘we are delighted to work with SOHTIS, alongside the excellent IJM’.
Email: enquiries@sohtis.org
Web: www.sohtis.org
