With thanks to Judith Haw.
The second Blooming Big Aberdeen friendly bench has been unveiled in Seaton Park by veterans’ charity Erskine in their centenary year.
The Lord Provost of Aberdeen, George Adam, officially revealed the Erskine bench, painted with the colours of the medal ribbon which features on the charities logo, on Cathedral Walk.
The purpose of the ribbon is to connect Erskine in a clear way to its core focus – provision of care to members and ex members of the armed services.
Erskine has four care homes in Scotland, providing nursing, residential, respite and dementia care to veterans and their spouses. The charity supports over 1,000 veterans and their spouses each year.
The friendly bench project is one of the most recent initiatives to have arisen from the Big Aberdeen Event in September 2014 and is supported by ACVO TSI in partnership with Aberdeen City Council. Third sector organisations were invited to claim and design a bench in the city to raise awareness of the support and services they provide, with Erskine jumping at the chance to get involved.
Erskine Community Fundraiser for the North, Michael Parkes has invited local volunteers and supporters to the unveiling at 1pm as a thank you for all they do for the charity.
Speaking about the bench Michael said:
“It is a great honour for Erskine’s Blooming Big Aberdeen friendly bench to be in one of Aberdeen’s most popular green spaces. Thanks to our bench designers, Neil and Louise McIvor, they have helped make Cathedral Way even more picturesque!
“The project is a fantastic way to promote the charity in the city. We will also be able to use it as an outreach point for local supporters, volunteers and veterans. The North of Scotland has a rich history in the services so it is great that we can recognise this with the Erskine bench.
“One of our veterans currently being cared for at The Erskine Home is originally from the Hilton area in Aberdeen. Previous residents have also served in the Gordon Highlanders.”
Lord Provost George Adam said:
“This initiative is a creative way of promoting the vital work of the third sector and at the same time adding something new to our parks and open spaces. Erskine does an outstanding job caring for our veterans and I hope people using the park will see the bench and take the time to find out more. A lot of work has been done in Seaton Park recently and I’d encourage everyone to come down and see how great it’s looking.”
Anyone interested in supporting Erskine locally can contact Michael Parkes on 07811 326 206.
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