Fife (6 September 2007) -- Rosslyn School, Kirkcaldy, can now look forward to the sound of music therapy for its pupils, and the Kinghorn branch of the RNLI can purchase equipment for new members, thanks to donations of £1,000 to each group from ExxonMobil Chemical Limited at the Fife Ethylene Plant.

The donations were raised as part of the site's Turnaround safety incentive scheme, which rewards employees for working safely and developing and implementing safety initiatives.

Rosslyn School, Kirkcaldy, a free standing school serving the Kirkcaldy to Burntisland area, currently has 19 pupils from 4 - 19 years with severe and complex support needs. The funds from ExxonMobil will be put towards Music Therapy, allowing participants to cross boundaries of culture, disability, physical and mental ill health and trauma. It can connect people with their inner creativity, facilitate communication, enable self-expression and improve quality of life. At the core of the approach is music itself, as the medium of change and communication.

Gordon Tulloch, a depute launching authority with the RNLI Kinghorn Lifeboat, said of the donation to the local Kinghorn RNLI crew: “This is fantastic news! The RNLI is a charity and we are only able to operate due to gifts such as this. Kinghorn Lifeboat is probably the busiest in-shore lifeboat in Scotland, especially this year as we have already launched for 55 callouts and we are only just moving into autumn. Training and equipment costs are pretty high; the cost of the lifeboat alone is around £125,000, a thermal suit is £90, safety helmet is £180, dry-suit is £350, gloves are £16 and our lifejacket is £500. Training a new member of crew costs around £1,000 in the first year and each year thereafter to retain their level of competence... your money will be put to excellent use!

"We would like to thank ExxonMobil for their generosity once again, as this is not the first time they have donated to the RNLI in Kinghorn. This is, in part, due to the fact that Liz Davidson, a depute launching authority and local training co-ordinator on the RNLI volunteer crew at Kinghorn Lifeboat, is the wife of ExxonMobil employee Steve Davidson.”

Richard Price, technical manager, who presented the cheques, said: "All staff and contractors at the site obviously benefit on a daily basis by ensuring that Nobody Gets Hurt, and it is also great for us see local people and organisations positively benefit from our safety efforts."