Disability Archives - Page 5 of 11

North-east Superheroes Required For Fundraiser

May 052016

With thanks to Ian McLaren, PR account manager, Innes Associates.

An Aberdeen-based charity is encouraging north-east residents to be superheroes for one day later this month in order to help support disabled and disadvantaged children.

Cash for Kids is once again staging its annual Superhero Day, this year on Friday, 13 May.

The fundraiser gives people the opportunity to swap their normal Friday attire for a superhero costume.

Superhero Day is now in its fifth year and all of the money raised will assist sick, disabled and disadvantaged children and young people living in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

More than 60 businesses, schools and nurseries have already signed up to take part this year and Cash for Kids is confident that this will be the biggest Superhero Day yet. Those taking part include Denholm MacNamee, Bon Accord & St Nicholas Shopping Centre, Aberdeen Snowsports Centre, Arnold Clark, David Lloyd, QA Business Travel and many hairdressing salons across the north-east.

Domino’s Pizza is also fundraising for Superhero Day by donating £1 to Cash for Kids for every pizza it sells on the day. While customers to Yo Sushi and Fuel Juice Bar in the Bon Accord Centre will receive a 15% discount if they text donate £5 for Cash for Kids on Superhero Day and show their virtual receipt when paying at either business.

Superhero Day is one of a number of initiatives that employees from Denholm MacNamee will be undertaking to raise money for Cash for Kids. Staff from the Inverurie-based firm will take part in the Dunecht Dash and Baker Hughes 10k, amongst other races, to fundraise for the children’s charity.

Cash for Kids provides grant funding to individuals, families and community groups to support children and improve their quality of life. All of the money raised from Superhero Day will be used to fulfil grant applications in the next funding round, which closes on Friday, 29 July.

Whether it is classic children’s TV superheroes such as Spiderman, Batman, Bananaman, Super Gran and Wonder Woman, or characters from the upcoming Captain America and X-men films, the public are being urged to don a superhero costume and unleash their special fundraising powers to support children living in the north-east.

To get Superhero Day into gear, Northsound Radio presenter Pete McIntosh will be donning his superhero tights to take on a 40-mile cycling challenge. Dubbed the Tour de Pants, Pete will aim to complete a circular route from Aberdeen, taking in Westhill, Dyce and Bridge of Don, within four hours on the Friday morning. Deeside Thistle Cycling Club will provide support along the route, while Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative has donated a bike for the challenge.

Michelle Ferguson, Cash for Kids charity manager, said:

“Superhero Day is great way of putting the fun into fundraising. When we visit some of those businesses taking part there is always a really positive atmosphere and strong team spirit – clearly donning a superhero cape is a great teambuilding tool.

“Each year, Superhero Day grows in popularity and we expect this year’s to be the biggest yet. All of the money raised will stay in the north-east, helping to improve the lives of thousands of children and young people living in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. Our quarterly grant funding scheme is unique and makes a huge, positive contribution to society.

“In addition to dressing up as a superhero, there are other ways to get involved in Superhero Day. People can stage a bake sale with kapow cupcakes, hold a superhero themed quiz or take on a challenge like Pete and get sponsored by friends and family. We’d encourage anyone who sees Pete pedalling through Westhill, Dyce and Bridge of Don on the Friday morning to cheer him on and donate some money to Cash for Kids.”

Companies or organisations that wish to get involved in Superhero Day can visit www.northsound1.com/superhero for more information. Anyone wishing to make a cash donation to Cash for Kids can do so via its website, or text NORTH to 70808 to donate £5 to the charity.

Cash for Kids is Northsound Radio’s listeners’ charity. It makes grants to individuals, families, children’s groups, organisations and projects throughout the Northsound transmission area. All money is raised locally and spent locally to benefit local disabled and disadvantaged children and young people under 18. More information on Cash for Kids can be found at www.northsound1.com/cashforkids, or telephone 01224 337010.

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Charity Boss Scoops Two Prestigious Awards

Aberdeen City, Information No Responses »

Apr 222016

With thanks to Future Choices.

Local man, David Forbes has recently been awarded with two prestigious awards at a special awards ceremony hosted by entertainment and events company Wobia Entertainment House.

The awards ceremony recognises a vast amount of people from all walks of life to recognise the contribution they give to society.

David, Future Choices charity boss explained:

“The public were encouraged to vote for me for Male Role Model of the Year, which in itself is a huge honour. To win, however, is simply amazing and feels incredible., so I want to say a massive thanks to those that voted for me.”

David was then awarded Special Recognition for Services to Humanity.

The Charity Boss added:

“When you do things that you love doing and you see it benefiting others, that is in my view the best ever feeling, seeing people who can be so isolated, smile, that’s just priceless.”

David runs the local voluntary charity every Tuesday at Inchgarth Community Centre from 11am -2pm, and the group provides vital social inclusion for those who may not get out and about due to many life challenges. Visit www.future-choices.org.uk

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Charity’s Tower Of Beds Dwarfs Aberdeen Landmark

Aberdeen City, Featured No Responses »

Apr 082016

Kirk of St Nicholas and 350 mattresses graphic

A graphic illustrating the Kirk of St Nicholas and the stack of 350 mattresses representing the beds the charity has provided thanks to previous appeals.

With thanks to Ian McLaren, Innes Associates.

A north-east charity has taken an unusual step in its efforts to highlight the growing scale of childhood poverty that exists in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

Cash for Kids, which has once again been running an appeal to raise money for new children’s beds, has calculated that when all the beds it has provided through its three previous appeals are piled one on top of the other, they stand taller than Aberdeen’s Kirk of St Nicholas.

The well-known city landmark stands at 59m from the ground to the tip of its spire making it the joint fifth tallest building in Aberdeen.

The towering pile of 350 mattresses provided by the charity so far would reach a staggering 63m.

Fundraisers say their lengthy calculation puts into perspective the alarming number of requests it has received for beds for north-east children who have to share beds with siblings or even sleep on a mattress on the floor.

Cash for Kids charity manager Michelle Ferguson said:

“We wanted to visibly demonstrate the alarming statistics about the number of disabled and disadvantaged children in Aberdeen and across the north-east who simply don’t have their own bed to sleep in.

“We’ve helped more than 350 children since we began the appeal three years ago and the positive impact that these beds have on the lives of these children and their families is very significant. Last year, we provided beds for four children in one family and they were all so pleased with their new beds that on the day they were delivered they invited their neighbours in to see the beds.”

This year Cash for Kids has been running its annual bed appeal to raise £20,000 to enable the purchase of 150 beds for disabled and disadvantaged children under the age of 16 living in the local area who do not have a bed of their own. The appeal once again highlights the issue of poverty in the region that is often hidden.

The 2016 appeal once again featured the unique Scottish Bed Making Championship, which was held at the Crowne Plaza Aberdeen Airport Hotel on Thursday, 31 March. The contest tested teams of four on their bed making precision and speed, with points being awarded for each task. A special blindfolded round was included, which made the task of putting a duvet cover on a duvet rather challenging for some teams.

John Lewis and a number of Aberdeen’s top hotels took part in the event which culminated in a bed making race between the two fastest teams from the earlier heats. It was a repeat of the 2015 final as teams from the Aberdeen Altens Hotel and Crerar Thainstone House Hotel went head to head to be crowned Scottish Bed Making Champions.

In a close finish, the Crerar Thainstone House Hotel team of Nicole Chapman, Alan Curtis, Colin Grieve and Lynn McRae showed that they were bed making kings and queens, clinching the title by a fraction of a second. All proceeds from the contest were donated to the Cash for Kids Bed Appeal.

For more information on the Bed Appeal visit www.northsound1.com/bed.

Cash for Kids is Northsound Radio’s listeners’ charity. It makes grants to individuals, families, children’s groups, organisations and projects throughout the Northsound transmission area. All money is raised locally and spent locally to benefit local disabled and disadvantaged children and young people under 18. More information on Cash for Kids can be found at www.northsound1.com/cashforkids, or telephone 01224 337010.

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Charity In Urgent Need Of Volunteer Drivers

Aberdeen City, Information No Responses »

Mar 242016

With thanks to Future Choices.

Whilst most Charities seek your help when it comes to funding.

Local Voluntary Charity Future Choices is desperately seeking Voluntary drivers to help them keep going and providing a vital service within the local community.

The Charity which is 100% run by a dedicated team of Volunteers needs more drivers to come forward and help.

Most members who use the service rely on being collected by their dedicated bus, but if they have no driver available on the day – the Charity automatically grinds to a hault.

Chairman of the group, David Forbes states:

“It’s so hard especially these days to seek volunteers to help out but to seek voluntary drivers is even harder, and that’s why im making a desperate plea to people who could help, to come forward.“

Future Choices runs it’s weekly service supporting the most vulnerable in the community every Tuesday from 11am at their Garthdee base, Inchgarth Community Centre.

They need volunteer drivers to come forward and be able to help from 9am till around 4pm on a Tuesday.

David added:

“The worse case scenario would be to suspend the group gatherings if their was no drivers available – which would completely devastate the community and the charity and it’s members.”

If you feel you can help, you can contact David on 0800 5668728 or email info@future-choices.org.uk

Peacock Visual Arts Presents ‘Drawing In Response’

Aberdeen City, Information No Responses »

Mar 242016

With thanks to John Morrison.

Peacock Visual Arts is delighted to present Drawing in Response.

Drawing in Response is the result of the Bethany Arts Project, led by Bethany Christian Trust, in partnership with Gray’s School of Art and Peacock Visual Arts.

Bethany Arts Project is an ambitious new art project working with local homeless and vulnerable people to help build confidence and learn new skills by participating in a series of printmaking and photography workshops.

Facilitated by Bethany’s Arts Coordinator, Caitlyn Main, and with the help of Gray’s School of Art students Aiden Milligan and David Brown, participants worked with Peacock’s printmakers to create exciting new work of their own.

The aim of the Bethany Arts Project is to enable homeless and vulnerable people to work with artists in a way that harnesses their experience, enthusiasm, and creativity, as well as increase their own self-esteem.

Bethany Arts Project seeks to challenge perceptions of homelessness and social exclusion and encourage more mutual respect and understanding across the city.

Date: 1-16 April 2016
Opening: Thursday 31st March 2016, All welcome
Location: Peacock Visual Arts

McNasty’s Quizzers Raise Funds To Help Kids’ Charity

Aberdeen City, News No Responses »

Mar 172016

With thanks to Ian McLaren, PR account manager, Innes Associates

The customers of an Aberdeen bar have shown their generosity by raising thousands of pounds for an Aberdeen children’s charity.

Regulars at McNasty’s on Summer Street raised £4,000 during 2015 for north-east charity Cash for Kids, which will use the money to fulfil applications for grant funding.

The fundraising initiative was spearheaded by the owners of McNasty’s, Stephen and Linda Taylor, who were keen for the pub to support a charity, with a regular quiz night forming the core of the effort.

Cash for Kids was chosen as the nominated charity last year after everyone involved in organising the quiz heard about the work that the charity does to improve the lives of disabled and disadvantaged children living in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

The landlords enlisted regulars Barry Cooke and Iain Sluyter to run the fortnightly quiz in the city centre bar. Six years on, setting each quiz is a challenge the duo still relish. Around 15 teams of five take part in each quiz, all keen to test their knowledge on subjects including sport, current affairs, history and general knowledge.

Alongside the fortnightly quiz, the bar has organised a number of fundraising initiatives, including raffles, race nights, and band nights. Bar manager Claire-Louise Duff, assisted by other staff members, organises the raffles which feature donations from local businesses including Apache North Sea, while local Ronnie Falconer hosts the race nights. All of the bands that take to the stage on band nights do so free of charge.

After raising £4,000 in 2015 for Cash for Kids, the pub is continuing to raise money for the charity in the coming year, with the quiz continuing to form an important part of this. Quiz dates are advertised on the McNasty’s website www.mcnastys.co.uk and Facebook page.

Quiz organiser Barry Cooke said:

“Over the past six years the quiz has grown in popularity, enabling us to raise thousands of pounds for charity. When we heard about the work Cash for Kids does and some of the appeals that it runs we wanted to lend our support.

“The response from the regulars at McNasty’s has been fantastic. Everyone involved in the fundraising is really pleased with the amount that was raised last year and knows it will be put to good use helping children across the north-east. Our fundraising for 2016 is already off to a great start.”

Cash for Kids supports sick, disabled and disadvantaged children and young people under the age of 18 living in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. It will use the donation to help fulfil applications in its next round of quarterly grant funding. The charity provides grants four times a year to support young individuals and their families, improving their quality of life.

Funding is also granted to community groups to aid the delivery of various projects that benefit local children. This has included grants to community run playgroups, breakfast clubs, sports clubs and skate parks. Applications for grants must include supporting information and be submitted by the end of January, May, June and September each year.

Cash for Kids charity manager Michelle Ferguson said:

“The management and customers at McNasty’s have done a brilliant job in raising £4,000 over the past year. Everyone has put in a huge effort to fundraise for Cash for Kids over the past year and we can’t thank them enough. The donation will enable us to make important and positive differences to the lives of the children that we support.

“Having taken part in some of the quiz nights I know how much fun Barry and Ian make them. The questions test your general knowledge, but it is a great opportunity to learn some new facts, have a good night out, whilst raising money for charity.”

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Charity Boss Shortlisted For Male Role Model Of The Year

Aberdeen City, Charity No Responses »

Mar 112016

With thanks to Future Choices.

Local Voluntary Charity Chairman, David Forbes, has been shortlisted for a prestigious award under the category of Male Role Model of the Year on behalf of local events company Wobia Entertainment House.
The purpose of the awards ceremony is to recognise achievement from all sectors.

Charity Boss David said:

“I simply cannot believe it. Again I have been nominated and now shortlisted. Last year I was lucky enough to win and this year I have again been shortlisted.

“I’m so honoured as I only set out to make the lives of disabled people better as much as I can”

David runs a local voluntary charity called Future Choices, the charity provides vital social inclusion and recreational activities to those who have a physical disability. They provide sessions every Tuesday from 11-1 from their base at Inchgarth Community Centre in Garthdee.

The charity boss added:

“If I win, it will push me even more to help those who really need it and will be dedicated to my dear mother, whom I do this work for, and her pals.”

The results are down to the public voting, so if you feel David deserves your vote, follow the link, you need to Register, confirm email and select David Forbes for Male Role Model of the Year

http://www.wobiaentertainmenthouse.co.uk/login.html

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Pillow Fight To Fund Children’s Beds

Aberdeen City, Charity, Featured No Responses »

Feb 292016

With thanks to Ian McLaren, PR account manager, Innes Associates

It will be pillows at dawn in Aberdeen next month as teams fight it out to be crowned Scotland’s best bed maker.
Organised by north-east children’s charity Cash for Kids, the Scottish Bed Making Championship will be held in the Granite City on Thursday, 31 March.

The competition is part of the Aberdeen-based charity’s annual Bed Appeal which runs throughout March.

It is hoped the appeal will raise £20,000 to enable the purchase of beds for around 150 disabled and disadvantaged children living in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

This is the second time the unique competition has been held and this year will be staged at the Crowne Plaza Aberdeen Airport. Teams of four will to be tested on their bed making precision and speed, with points being awarded for each task. The two highest scoring teams will then go head-to-head in a bed race to be crowned Scottish Bed Making Champions.

Reigning champions are the staff at Crerar Thainstone House Hotel who showed that their hospital corners were a cut above the rest of the competition last year. The team is confident about their chances of retaining their title against a bigger field of competitors.

General manager Morag Clark said:

“The team at Thainstone are excited to again be involved in the Scottish Bed Making Championship and we hope to successfully defend our title. It was great fun last year and it is fantastic way to support such a worthy cause.”

A number of the Aberdeen’s top hotels have already signed up to take part in the contest. The number of entries is already up on last year, but Cash for Kids is encouraging businesses from all sectors to get involved, including nursing and healthcare providers. Entries cost £100 per team of four, with all proceeds going to the Cash for Kids Bed Appeal.

Now in its fourth year, the month-long Bed Appeal aims to provide disadvantaged children with a bed of their own and disabled children with specialist beds. Over the last three years, the appeal has helped Cash for Kids provide new beds for over 350 local children.

The charity is also calling on the north-east public to fundraise for the Bed Appeal throughout March. Cash for Kids is encouraging people to wear slippers to work for a month, organise breakfast bake sales, and hold onesie or pyjama to work days. Employers are also being asked to consider raffling off an extra day’s holiday as a duvet day in support of the appeal.

Cash for Kids charity manager Michelle Ferguson said:

“The Scottish Bed Making Championship is open to anyone who wants to show off their bed making prowess. Entries from businesses of all sizes and operating in all sectors are welcome. It really is a fun event and great for teambuilding as everyone has to work together efficiently.

“The contest and the month-long Bed Appeal will once again highlight the issue of poverty in the region that is all too often hidden. We continue to be surprised by the number of applications we receive requesting beds for children who are forced to share beds with siblings or even sleep on a mattress on the floor.”

To register a team for the Scottish Bed Making Championship or for more information on the Bed Appeal visit www.northsound1.com/bed.

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Help For Families Of Deaf Children

Articles, Information No Responses »

Feb 012016

With thanks to Esther Green, Tricker PR.

Offering support to families when they need it the most. National Deaf Children’s Society is running a families weekend in Edinburgh this month.

Families of young deaf children from across Scotland who gather in Edinburgh later this month to learn that deafness is no barrier to preventing a child achieving their dreams. Peer support, expert advice and professional information will be available for families getting to grips with a baby or toddler’s diagnosis during a weekend course organised by the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) and funded by Aberdeen Asset Management.

The gathering, on 27 and 28 February, will be attended by families from Angus, East Lothian, Orkney, Argyll and Bute, Midlothian, Glasgow and other parts of Scotland.

Over 90% of the 3,850 plus deaf children in Scotland are from hearing families with no previous history or experience of deafness, so for many parents the diagnosis comes as a devastating and overwhelming shock.

The NDCS supports deaf children and young people, but in the early years of a child’s development, it is parents who need the charity the most. With the low incidence of deafness in Scotland, families often find themselves to be unique within their immediate communities, leading to feelings of isolation and uncertainty.

Heather Gray, NDCS director for Scotland and Northern Ireland explains:

“The NDCS Early Years weekends empower and inform parents at a crucial stage in their child’s development, and offer vital support and advice at a time when parents are still getting to grips with their child’s diagnosis.

“Families receive clear, unbiased information from audiology, education and from local sources of support over the course of the weekend, giving parents the opportunity to explore the options that are available to their child and ask the questions they have been unable to ask in busy everyday situations.

“Through receiving this information in a safe and relaxed environment, parents are able to gain an understanding of childhood deafness and develop a network of support which can assist them now and in the future.”

By bringing families together, parents have the opportunity to share their experiences and access vital peer support that can often exist far beyond the weekend itself. In addition, families also find reassurance in the shared experiences of parent volunteers, and inspiration and encouragement through speaking to young deaf role models.

The impact of NDCS Early Years weekends is clear – parents have indicated they felt more confident in working with professionals to ensure the right support for their child as a result of becoming informed and connected.

One parent said:

“I have learned more about my child’s hearing loss in the past two days than I have in the past two months. It was eye opening to hear other people with similar or even more difficult circumstances. Great to share stories about struggles.”

Karin Hyland, of Aberdeen Asset Management’s Charitable Foundation said:

“The weekend will help 12 families; enabling parents to become part of a positive community network of mutual self-support. Families will also be informed about access to services which encourage improved community relations, reduce isolation and improve peer support through this valuable outreach work by the NCDS.”

The Aberdeen Asset Charitable Foundation was established in 2012 to formalise and develop the Group’s charitable giving globally. The Foundation seeks partnerships with smaller charities around the world, where funds can be seen to have a meaningful and measurable impact and the firm encourages its employees to use their time and skills to support its charitable projects.

For more information visit http://www.aberdeen-asset.co.uk/aam.nsf/foundation/home

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Local Voluntary Charity Supporting Primary School

Aberdeen City, Charity No Responses »

Jan 282016

With thanks to Future Choices.

Local disabled Charity Future Choices, which is based at Inchgarth Community Centre, Garthdee has come forward to
help the Primary 7 pupils of Kaimhill with their fundraising
efforts.

The Charity which provides social inclusion became aware of the pupils’ fundraising efforts and wanted to do all they could to help, so they donated £100 to help boost their efforts.

Chairman of Future Choices, David Forbes said:

“As a completely self funded charity, we absolutely know how difficult it is to fundraise, so anything we could do to try and help the children, we aim to.”

The P7 pupils are currently fundraise to go on a school trip to Cromdale Outdoor Centre later on in the year ut need much needed funds to make this dream a reality. They have made this trip an annual one so want to continue with the trip this year.

David added:

“Seeing the pupils so happy, that’s what it’s all about and as a charity, we strive to get Vulnerable adults out enjoying themselves, so to be able to help local school children try to reach their goal is simply a positive thing.”

If you feel you can contribute to the fundraising efforts to help the pupils of P7, please contact David by email on info@future-choices.org.uk or freephone 0800 5668728

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