Record Breaking £15,000 Raised At Charity Spring Fair

 Aberdeen City, Featured, News  No Responses »
May 242013
 

Debbie Fotheringham, events and fundraising co-ordinator at VSA, and daughter Kenzie, a volunteer on the day With Thanks to Claire McBain.

After welcoming almost 3,000 visitors to its spring fair at Easter Anguston Farm on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th May, social care charity VSA raised £14,581 at an event which marked the re-opening of the farm for the summer.

This figure is significantly more than ever raised before at either their spring fairs or the charity’s VSA Days which were previously held in Duthie Park.

While the farm’s new donated pygmy goats – which can be seen on YouTube at http://ow.ly/kz3Nf  - were the highlight of the day, visitors were also kept entertained by Segway experiences, a bouncy castle, face painting and games.

VSA services also hosted stalls, spreading the word about the good they do and fundraising for their individual causes.

Staff and service users from VSA’s Arrdeir House, a long-term residential support for adults with varying degrees of mental health difficulties who would struggle to cope alone in the community, focused their efforts on fundraising for a trip of a lifetime to Disneyland.

By working in the Farm’s café on both days, the group exceeded their target and will be able to send two long-term service users on their dream holiday.

Doreen Murray, team leader at Arrdeir House, said:

“It’s fantastic! 

“Elspeth [Donald] and Richard [White] have been with VSA for 21 years but neither of them have been on an aeroplane, or even been out of Aberdeen. 

“Now they can!”

Debbie Fotheringham, event and fundraising co-ordinator at VSA, said:

“Of course, the most important thing about the day is the cause behind it. 

“VSA is the largest charity in the north-east, an umbrella to more than 30 life-changing social care services. 

“VSA supports thousands of the most vulnerable people in the community, reaching out to newborn babies, children with additional support needs, young and adult carers, adults with mental health difficulties and older people. 

“The services include a nursery, school, play schemes, respite, advice, care homes, day care, respite opportunities, a bookshop and, of course, the farm.”

For the last six years the charity has taken over Duthie Park for the VSA Day, but this year the Peterculter-based farm incorporated the landmark event with its annual spring fair, raising awareness of the local work which VSA does in looking after thousands of people, and celebrating those who have supported the charity over the past year.

Easter Anguston Farm will now be open daily throughout the summer, from 10.00 a.m. until 5.00 p.m., when visitors will find all the usual attractions – the coffee shop, education centre, farm shop and garden centre – in full swing.

For more information about VSA and other events visit www.vsa.org.uk or www.youtube.com/supportvsa

Financial Boost For Bruce

 Aberdeen City, Featured, Sport  No Responses »
Apr 262013
 

With thanks to Dave Macdermid.

brucecolin A North East subsea services and training company is the latest organisation to provide financial support for Aberdeen tennis player Bruce Strachan, in his bid to build a full time career in the sport.
Tullos-based SUBC Engineering Ltd, which operates globally, will assist the 18-year-old with equipment, training, subsistence and tournament entry fees.

Colin Burney, the Managing Director of SUBC believes it’s vital to give Bruce every chance of succeeding in what is one of the world’s most competitive sports.

“It’s fantastic that Bruce is attempting to follow in Andy Murray’s footsteps and SUBC is only too happy to play a small part in helping to make that happen. He’s a real talent and certainly deserves to succeed in his quest.”

Bruce recently lifted his first title of the year, winning the Stirling Grand Prix and in the process defeating former Australian Open Junior Doubles champion Graeme Dyce 7-6 (6), 7-5 in the final.

In addition to SUBC Engineering, Bruce is supported by a number of organisations and individuals including the Paul Lawrie Foundation and David Lloyd.

The North East Open Men’s Singles champion for the past two years, Bruce is currently in the middle of a hectic competition schedule featuring the AEGON British Tour and the ITF Futures event, with a couple of events on mainland Europe planned for later in the spring.

For further information contact Dave Macdermid on 07710 580148,  dave.macdermid@tennisscotland.org

Search For Athletic Aberdonians To Aid VSA

 Aberdeen City, Featured, News  No Responses »
Apr 092013
 

With thanks to Claire McBain.

On Monday, VSA, the north-east’s largest charity, announced that it has two places in the Edinburgh Marathon on Sunday 26th May up for grabs.  The option of a half marathon is also an option.

Athletic Aberdonians can pick which part of the charity they want to fundraise for from a selection of more than 30 VSA services that support a wide range of people which includes babies, children, adults with mental health difficulties, children with additional support needs, carers, young carers and older people.

VSA’s events co-ordinator Debbie Fotheringham, who is leading the search for competitors, said:

“At VSA we’re passionate about making sure our runners know that they can raise money for something that matters to them.  Asking people to sponsor you is never easy, but if it’s for something important to you, it’s a million times easier.

“VSA is such a diverse charity.  I think that, for almost every person out there, there’s a service that means something.  You might want to run to raise money to send our hardworking young carers on a well-deserved trip or to buy an iPad so that our older people can Skype their overseas relatives. 

“You could even run to raise money to buy a goat for VSA’s Easter Anguston Farm in Peterculter.  The list is long and flexible.” 

Looking back at the 2012 Edinburgh Marathon which he ran in aid of VSA, John Willis of telecommunication consultancy 9 Dots said:

“Running for VSA was a pleasure.  The charity provides an incredible range of services for those in need and has been an integral part of the north-east’s third sector since the Victorian times. 

“Not only does VSA play an important role for the local community but it’s one of the most cost-efficient charities in the UK – for every £1 you raise, 96p of it goes directly to helping those who need it most. 

“Charity begins at home and we need to do as much as we can to support our local third sector.”

To book a place or to find out more about running for VSA at the Edinburgh Marathon, please contact Debbie Fotheringham on 01224 212021 or e-mail Debbie.fotheringham@vsa.org.uk 

Support Continues For Tennis Star Bruce

 Aberdeen City, Sport  No Responses »
Mar 212013
 

The Paul Lawrie Foundation and David Lloyd Leisure are the latest organisations to assist teenage tennis star Bruce Strachan in his bid to forge a full time career as a professional player.

15/03/13 PAUL LAWRIE & BRUCE STRACHAN- Bruce Strachan sponsored by Paul Lawrie Golf Foundation With thanks to Dave Macdermid.

Bruce Strachan, the 18 year old Aberdonian tennis player who trains full time at Stirling University, has received financial support from the Paul Lawrie Foundation which also donated auction items for a recent fundraising dinner, hosted by David Lloyd Aberdeen, which raised over £7,000.

David Lloyd Leisure has also granted Bruce use of the facilities at all of its leisure complexes throughout the United Kingdom while, in the north east, various individuals and organisations have assisted to help him with equipment, training, subsistence and tournament entry fees.

Bruce, who has been the North East Open men’s singles champion for the past two years, is currently in the middle of a hectic competition schedule featuring AEGON British tour and ITF Futures events, with a couple of events on mainland Europe planned for later in the spring.

Eight UK Biodiversity Firsts Discovered Near Loch Ness

 Environment, Featured, News  1 Response »
Mar 072013
 

Fly and Cranefly on Eared Willow With thanks to Richard Bunting.

Biodiversity surveys in 2012 at Trees for Life’s Dundreggan Estate near Loch Ness revealed eight new species never recorded before in the United Kingdom, and brought the total number of species recorded on the forest restoration site to over 2,800, it was announced today.

New species for the UK discovered at the 10,000-acre site in Glen Moriston, Inverness-shire are a sawfly (Nematus pravus), an aphid (Cinara smolandiae), two species of aphid parasitoids (Ephedrus helleni, Praon cavariellae), three species of fungus gnats (Brevicornu parafennicum, Mycomya disa, Sceptonia longisetosa), and a species of mite (Ceratozetella thienemanni).

Another key discovery, made by Trees for Life’s Executive Director Alan Watson Featherstone, included the first record in Europe of a biting midge in the genus Atrichopogon feeding on a cranefly (Helius longirostris). Although known in the tropics, this behaviour has never been observed in Europe before.

Alan Watson Featherstone said:

“The surprisingly rich variety of life at Dundreggan highlights the vital importance of conservation work, and of protecting and enhancing habitats across the Highlands. The discoveries are not only demonstrating that the estate is a special site for biological diversity – they are also revealing that there is still much to learn about Scotland’s biodiversity.”

The 2012 surveys revealed a significant and diverse range of organisms, including sawflies, aphids, fungus gnats, slime moulds and mites. The findings, together with those of previous surveys, bring the total number of species recorded on Dundreggan to 2,815. This wealth of biodiversity includes at least 269 plants, 341 lichens, 92 birds, 20 mammals, 354 beetles, 207 moths and 125 sawflies.

A species of note discovered last year is the rare Lapland marsh-orchid (Dactylorhiza traunsteinerioides subsp. francis-drucei), never found in this area of Scotland before and described by the Highland Biodiversity Recording Group as a “botanical gem”.

2012 was the third year of a sawfly study on the estate that is being carried out by a team from Liverpool Museums. The total known sawfly species recorded on Dundreggan has now reached 125. The discovery of Nematus pravus means that there are two ‘new to the UK’ sawflies feeding on the dwarf birch at Dundreggan, with a third species previously unrecorded in Britain found feeding on the downy birches on the Estate.

In another project, Steve and Sarah Burchett from PlymouthUniversity spent two weeks with a team of students, carrying out pioneering research into the biodiversity of Dundreggan’s forest canopy. This included new techniques to survey for lichens, mosses and invertebrates that live in the treetops and the upper branches of oaks, birches and Scots pines, in what is believed to be the first study of its kind in Scotland.

At least 67 priority species for conservation have now been identified on Dundreggan, which has been described as a Highlands ‘lost world’. The 2012 discoveries add to a remarkable range of rare and endangered species found on the Estate – some of which were previously unknown in Scotland, or which were feared to be extinct there.

Previous discoveries include the second-ever British record of a waxfly species; a golden horsefly (Atylotus fulvus) only seen once before in Scotland since 1923; the juniper shieldbug (Cyphostethus tristriatus), thought to be the first Highlands record; and species of spider, cranefly and dragonfly all listed in the UK’s Red Data Book of endangered species.

Other species include black grouse, pine marten, water vole, lesser butterfly orchid, lichen running spider, and small pearl-bordered butterfly. On-going research aims to establish whether the Scottish wildcat is present.

Dundreggan, purchased by Trees for Life in 2008, is also home to some of the best stands of juniper – a priority species for conservation – in the Highlands, and what may be the most extensive distribution of dwarf birch in the country.

Trees for Life is planting half a million trees on the estate as part of its award-winning restoration of the Caledonian Forest to a spectacular wilderness region of 1,000 square miles in the Highlands, to the west of Loch Ness and Inverness.

The conservation charity is also working for the return of rare woodland wildlife, plants and insects, and is conducting scientific research and education programmes. Volunteers are carrying out much of the forest restoration work. For more information, see www.treesforlife.org.uk or call 0845 458 3505.

  • Comments enabled – see comments box below. Note, all comments will be moderated.

City Students Raise Over £1,100 For Young Carers

 Aberdeen City, News  No Responses »
Mar 072013
 

Young carer Joanne Morrison at the pop-up shop With thanks to Claire McBain.

Last week Learning Opportunities students at Aberdeen College, some of whom are also young carers, raised more than £1,100 when they hosted a pop-up charity shop. The funds will benefit young carer services run by the local charity Voluntary Service Aberdeen (VSA).

The Aberdeen College charity shop will continue to fundraise for young carers until the end of this week, Friday 8th March.

Chris Sojka, Senior Carers’ Support and Development Worker with VSA, said:

 “I’m overwhelmed with the success of just one week in the charity shop. It’s fantastic. The money will go towards a school holiday respite programme, which gives young carers a much-needed break during their time off school. It will also help fund our education support for young carers. This ranges from helping them catch up with homework, to studying for exams, to making sure they get to College if that’s their goal. It’s all about fulfilling aspirations.” 

There are an estimated 2,240 young carers in Aberdeen, and far more that we don’t know about, who try to look after a sick or disabled relative without help.

Fiona Duff, lecturer in the Learning Opportunities department at AberdeenCollege, nominated the cause:

“Some of our students are young carers. I’m overwhelmed with what they do to help their families. It can take a lot for them to get to and stay in College. For students who don’t have direct caring experience, they can easily relate. They may have a friend who cares for someone. If not, they could imagine the situation. It could be them. It could be their brother, sister or cousin.”

“It went very well. We’re delighted with the amount raised: it would take us many weeks to raise that in the College charity shop. The students really enjoyed it and we got a lot of positive customer comments. Considering it’s something we’ve never done before, it went very smoothly.”

Chris added:

“We love to hear about people getting behind our young carers, especially people directly associated with the cause.  We’re so thankful to Aberdeen College for thinking of us.”

“Young carers are a phenomenal group of people, with some as young as five and others juggling Standard Grade study, who experience the struggles of growing up and their caring role. It might feel normal for them but they actually make a very special contribution to the community and their family. VSA’s Chill Out Zone gives them much-needed support, whether it’s respite, help with homework or a chance to have fun and just be a child.”

For more information about VSA’s Carers Services, visit their headquarters at 38 Castle Street, call 01224 212021 or visit the website at www.vsa.org.uk.

Aberdeen Social Care Charity Event: Run Balmoral

 Aberdeen City, Featured, News  No Responses »
Feb 082013
 

2012 runners L-R Rachel Maciver, Claire McBain, Debbie Fotheringham With thanks to Claire McBain.

On Sunday 3 February 2013, Voluntary Services Aberdeen launched an appeal for athletic locals to support it at the annual Balmoral Road Races. Budding athletes have been invited to pick which part of the charity they want to fundraise for, from a selection of more than 30 VSA services.

VSA has spaces in both the Conoco Phillips 5k race and the Stena Drilling Tartan 10k.

Debbie Fotheringham, fundraising officer at VSA, is leading the quest for competitors:

“We’re delighted to be part of Run Balmoral again.  This year, we’re passionate about making sure our runners know that they can raise money for something that matters to them.  Asking people to sponsor you is never easy.  But if it’s for something important to you, it’s a million times easier.

“VSA is such a diverse charity.  I think that, for almost every person out there, there’s a service that means something.  We support babies, children, adults with mental health difficulties, children with additional support needs, carers, young carers and older people. 

“You might want to run to raise money to send our hardworking young carers on a well-deserved trip or to buy an iPad so that our older people can Skype their overseas relatives.  You could even run to raise money to buy a goat for VSA’s Easter Anguston Farm in Peterculter.  The list is long and flexible.”  

“Last year we attracted a variety of runners, including me and a colleague.  I’m taking a break this year but I’d love to hear from people of all ages and abilities.  In 2012 we had marathon champions, regular runners and first-timers trying to keep their New Year resolution of getting fit.  But it’s not just about the running.  The Balmoral Road Races is really fun family day out.”

To book a place or to find out more about running for VSA at Run Balmoral, please contact Debbie Fotheringham on 01224 212021 or e-mail Debbie.fotheringham@vsa.org.uk 

Vintage Items Needed For New VSA Initiative

 Aberdeen City, Featured, News  No Responses »
Feb 022013
 

With thanks to Claire McBain.

scott-macleod A new facility in Aberdeen, run by VSA, a social care charity that supports more than 2,500 people each year in the city and shire, has launched a plea to local people with unwanted memorabilia and accessories dating back to the sixties, seventies and eighties.

The project, funded by Aberdeen City Council’s Change Fund will be a community-based facility for adults aged over 50 who are cared for at home.  It plans to support around 150 people each week.

Scott MacLeod ( pictured ), manager of the new facility at 22 King’s Gate, Aberdeen, said:

“We’re aiming for a March launch but are just waiting on confirmation from the Care Inspectorate.  We can’t reveal too much until everything’s confirmed. 

“The project has been on the go for months now and we don’t want to jinx it.  But we can say that, as far as we know, there’s nothing else like it Aberdeen.  We’re so excited.

“But this doesn’t mean we can’t start getting organised.  Because it’s a facility for older people, the building and activities within it will be largely based around reminiscence.  We’re looking for a quirky selection of vintage items and hope that the kind-hearted people of Aberdeen can reach out to help us.  We have a wish list but we’re generally really open to anything from the specified eras. 

“We’re also keen to hear from people who want to volunteer their time to support the more vulnerable people in their community.  In particular, we’d love trainee hairdressers or beauticians who can offer a bit of pampering.”

The 22 King’s Gate wish list is based around memorabilia, decorations, wall-hangings and miscellaneous items from 1960s, 1970s and 1980s but specifically includes:

  • Old fashioned projectors
  • Old fashioned clocks
  • Old fashioned tea service
  • Picture books from these eras
  • Traditional scales for measuring sweets
  • Old glass bell jars to hold sweets
  • Vintage taxidermy
  • Wii games, especially keep-fit ones
  • A piano or full-size keyboard
  • Any CDs
  • Any DVDs
  • Any books
  • Games and activities dating from any time period, including current

If you have an item that may be of use to 22 King’s Gate please contact Scott MacLeod on 07720972377 or e-mail scott.macleod@vsa.org.uk

  • Comments enabled – see comments box below. Note, all comments will be moderated.

Unpaid Mental Health Carers Invited To Pioneer New Forum

 Aberdeen City, News  No Responses »
Jan 242013
 

vsa With thanks to Claire McBain.

This month, VSA is urging unpaid carers who look after someone with a mental health condition to come together for the Mental Health In-Forum.

The monthly group ( on Tuesday 29 January 2013) offers mental health carers respite, education, support and socialising opportunities.

Arlene Malcolm, carers’ support and development worker at VSA’s Carers’ Services, said:

“It’s open to absolutely any person who looks after someone with a mental health condition, such as schizophrenia, depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder.  You don’t have to be a full-time carer.  You might help out your parent or child, support your husband or wife or occasionally lend a hand to a friend or neighbour.  Anyone linked to someone with a mental health condition is welcome.

“I want to create a safe, informal place where people can share stories, tips and ideas.  It’ll be a knowledge exchange with social and support elements too.  The idea is to get in insight into how the illness affects the person they care for but also to encourage carers to monitor their own mental health.” 

A 2012 Carers Trust poll revealed that 60% of unpaid carers found their mental health was affected by their role.

“Each session will have a specific focus and staff from Cornhill will be on hand to advise too.  This month we’re exploring therapy options.  We want carers to know that, although medication is available, it can be combined with other helpful rehabilitation, such as exercise and art, to help recovery.  We’ll also help carers apply for new funding available for them and those they care for.  It ranges from short breaks to relaxation therapies.”

The concept follows successful Aberdeen dementia support group, Information XChange, run by Alzheimer Scotland in conjunction with VSA.

“Three carers of people with dementia wanted to share their stories to help and inspire others.  It’s evolved over almost three years.  About 20 carers come to each meeting, which is a lot considering their commitments, and we have a lot more on our books.  The carers really get something from it.  They enjoy the fact it’s information-led but love the social side too.

“People worry that joining a group like this means lots of admin work or being talked into running for chairperson.  There’s none of that here.  VSA does it all.  The group belongs to the carers but the administration side doesn’t.”

The January Mental Health In-Forum meeting will be the second so far.

“We had our first meeting at the end of November.  Numbers were small but it’s all about getting word out.  I’m hoping we’ll catch up with the dementia group in no time.”

According to Carers UK, there are nearly 6 million carers in the country.  The Scottish Household Survey, conducted by The Scottish Government in 2010 reported 657,300 carers north of the border, more than 25,000 of which live in Aberdeen City.

The Mental Health In-Forum meeting will take place on Tuesday 29 January 2013 between 7pm and 9pm at the Recovery Resource Centre, Royal Cornhill Hospital, Aberdeen.  For more information about the Mental Health In-Forum or Information XChange please contact Arlene Malcolm on 01224 557868 or e-mail carers.info@vsa.org.uk. 

 

Conservation Work Gets Lottery Grant Boost

 Environment, Featured, News  No Responses »
Jan 182013
 

alan_featherstone_watson_pines_sq Vital conservation work, including the growing of rare trees, by award-winning charity Trees for Life has received a welcome funding boost thanks to players of a charity lottery.  With thanks to Richard Bunting.

An award of £7,443 to Trees for Life from People’s Postcode Trust, a grant-giving charity, funded entirely by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, has allowed the charity to expand and develop a tree nursery at its acclaimed Dundreggan Estate in Glen Moriston, near Loch Ness, in Inverness-shire.

Trees for Life has been able to invest in a much-needed new polytunnel, tools and equipment, increasing the nursery’s capacity to grow rare trees and plants to restore the Caledonian Forest in the Scottish Highlands.

Volunteers will carry out much of the work in the nursery, allowing them to gain new skills and experience, and to improve their health through outdoor exercise.

Trees for Life executive director Alan Watson Featherstone (pictured above) said:

“The opportunity to expand our tree nursery at a time of widespread concern about diseases from imported trees to the UK is a very positive development.

“Our new facilities will significantly increase the number of trees we can produce, and enable more volunteers to get involved in growing rare Caledonian Forest species, including dwarf birch, juniper, tea-leaved willow and twinflower.

“We would like to thank the Postcode Lottery Trust for its generous grant, which has made this possible.”

IF The expanded nursery will help the charity meet its target of establishing a million more trees by planting and natural regeneration within the next five years.

Trees for Life is restoring Scotland’s ancient Caledonian Forest to a spectacular wilderness region of 1,000 square miles in the Highlands to the west of Loch Ness and Inverness.

For more details, see www.treesforlife.org.uk or call 0845 458 3505.

  • Comments enabled – see comments box below. Note, all comments will be moderated.
 Older Entries