Animals Need Your Help This Winter

 Aberdeenshire, Charity, Featured  No Responses »
Jan 242014
 

willowsgingerBy Suzanne Kelly.

Most Scottish animal welfare organisations get no government support: the charities must rely on private donations to keep going.

The cost of keeping animals, their food, shelter, heating and care, continues to rise, while the economy shows only modest growth.

Our local charities are not only struggling for donations, but they are also struggling to home animals which are being abandoned at an alarming rate.

Without shelter places, animals such as horses may wind up in the slaughterhouse, and other animals may be put down.

With no end to these problems in sight, help from the private sector is more important than ever. These are some of the organisations that home and rehome animals; your donations, whether goods, food, money or even time will be appreciated.

  • Blaikiewell Animal Sanctuary

Deeside, Aberdeenshire
Website and donation information: http://blaikiewell.com/

Mavis Petrie, her brother Bert, and volunteers take care of “over 60 horses and ponies, two Jersey cows, and six pigs as well as cats, dogs and any other animal or bird that needs a safe place”.  They have been going since the 1970s, but are now facing their biggest challenge. The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route cuts through the countryside and through Blaikiewell.  This charity has already lost prime grazing fields, and as a direct result faces higher feed costs.

  • Willows Animal Sanctuary

Lambhill, Fraserburgh AB43 6NY
Website;  http://www.willowsanimals.com/
Donate here:  http://www.willowsanimals.com/SupportUs.htm

Willows is home to hundreds of animals, from pigs to peacocks, and lately it has taken on a considerable number of the abandoned horses and ponies that might otherwise have been put down.

Rescues come from all over the UK. Willows’ Animal Assisted Therapy programme is designed to improve the physical, social, emotional, and/or cognitive functioning of the patient, as well as to provide educational and motivational effectiveness for the participant. It has been running for over eight years.

  • Scottish SPCA

Various locations in Scotland, including Aberdeenshire
Website:  http://www.scottishspca.org/
Donate here:  https://www.scottishspca.org/donate

As well as rehoming a wide range of animals including budgies, cats, dogs and equines, the Scottish SPCA investigates cases of animal neglect and cruelty.  There have been recent high profile cases of neglect and abuse in the Grampian area. In some instances animals were in such a poor state that they had to be put down.

The Scottish SPCA relies on the public not only for donations, but also for information about animal cruelty. Their hotline number for anyone with information about possible animal abuse or neglect is 03000 999 999.

  • Mountains Animal Shelter

Forfar, Angus
Website and donation information:  http://www.mountainsanimalsanctuary.org.uk/

Mountains has been going for thirty years and has helped over 600 horses. However, it faces the same struggles as the other organisations, and last year received a blow.  Just after a successful nativity play early in December 2012, thieves broke in and stole goods and cash worth thousands. Even their CCTV system was stolen.

Thankfully no animals were harmed or taken. Its founder, Alan Beaufort Fraser, passed away in 2010 after a lifetime helping animals throughout Europe.

  • Cats Protection League

Various locations in Scotland
Website:  http://www.cats.org.uk/
Donate here:  https://www.cats.org.uk/donate/?b=0 or call 0800 917 2287

This long-established organisation has rehomed thousands of cats and neutered feral strays over the years. As well as donations of money, new and used goods would be welcome for sale in their Aberdeen shop on George Street.

Anyone concerned for the welfare of a domestic or feral cat can call their helpline on 03000 121212.

  • Animal Concern Advice Line

Dumbartonshire
Website:  http://www.adviceaboutanimals.info
Donate here:  https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/animal-concern-advice-line-acal-11179/donate

Animal Concern Advice Line (ACAL)’s John Robins has been an active voice for animals in Scotland for years now; ACAL campaigned actively to save the Tullos Hill deer, and is currently highlighting the shooting of seals and the cruelty involved in intensive salmon fish farming.

ACAL offers advice and assistance and has a great deal of expertise focused on improving the welfare of animals whether wild, domestic or farm.

  • The New Arc

Ellon, Aberdeenshire
Website:  http://www.thenewarc.org/
Donate here:  http://www.thenewarc.org/page_2067122.html

The New Arc recently changed from a rescue and rehoming centre to a rescue and sanctuary. They are no longer taking in unwanted pets, but are to widen their wildlife rescue work. They will still assist with lost and found pets, cruelty and abandoned animals, but will refer unwanted pets to other organisations who may be able to help.

  • Mrs Murray’s Cat and Dog Home

Aberdeen
Website: http://www.mrsmurrays.co.uk/
Donate here:  http://www.mrsmurrays.co.uk/Donate

Mrs Murray’s Home cares for lost and stray dogs and cats, and helps rehome animals whose owners can no longer care for them. Each year 1500 animals pass through their gates, and they depend on public donations and legacies to help them secure each and every one with a happy future.

Any of these organisations will be happy to hear from you, or to explain more about their work. Your financial support, donations of food and/or goods will be welcome.

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Festival Of Politics Fundraiser At Cellar 35

 Aberdeen City, Opinion  No Responses »
Jan 212014
 

By Andrew Watson

Cellar 35 played host to the Festival of Politics fundraiser in lieu of the impending independence referendum.

Though primarily an acoustic act setup, there was enough variety to keep the audience interested. The only condition was that each act had to, aptly enough, display political material in their sets. This posed little problem throughout.

First up was Clype and his keyboard. This was a good showcase of traditional piano, rather than of a synthesised basis.

The set was mixed with sometimes contemporary lyrics, though one number was an adapted version of a poem written by a woman during World War II.

Peter McConville was next.  He mixed singing with his guitar, workmen songs a cappella and sea shanties. This was somewhat reminiscent of Pete Seeger, the folk activist I has previously discovered via Bruce Springsteen.

Jamie Rodden followed.  Almost forgoing current affairs material, he had a minor issue remembering his three year old political ditty. However, he outdid himself with some intense and forceful acoustic playing, done with the voice of a heart throb.

Dandy and the Ghost followed after, and she raised transgender plights throughout.  Perhaps not the most accomplished guitarist she made up for this in spades, with expertly written lyrics and good delivery.  What caught my ear the most was that many of her verses were structured and phrased like a rapper would navigate a drum machine.

Mark Ayling, reminded me of Paul Weller but was probably more like Billy Bragg. Talk amongst the crowd considered him more akin to Frank Turner, though I can’t possibly say because I’ve barely any idea who he is!

Fred Wilkinson and the Gallopin’ Buntys, the main support act, were a curious looking bunch and sounded just as unique. This was in part due to the fact that they had a violinist in their ranks to give their punk rock a folky flavour.

Headliners Curios Orange didn’t seem to have been together for too long, and although the same could maybe be said for the aforementioned support, the latter didn’t get away with it. To be fair Curious Orange, personnel wise, are a lot younger; and when they got it right they were good mix of grunge and alternative rock.

Bar a little hiccup in the running order of the night’s proceedings, all ran relatively well. Apparently whoever was meant to be onstage at 21:00 was working until 22:00.

A good night!

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Wear A Onesie For Charity

 Aberdeenshire, Community  No Responses »
Jan 162014
 

maggies_dundee_centre_kitchen_table_groupWith thanks to Chris Ramsay, Forviemedia.

A number of Collieston residents are raising money for Maggies Centre, by wearing a onesie all day on Tuesday 21st January 2014.
So far half a dozen of us are participating. Money received or pledged is currently heading towards a three-figure sum.

If you’d like to take part or wish to donate, please contact John Carter; by email to r.carter961@btinternet.com or phone on 01358-751376.

Obviously if you have a job interview or a hot date, you cannot wear a onesie all day!

When we send the final sum raised to Maggies, we’ll let folk know and some photos of participants wearing their onesies for this good cause may be

https://www.facebook.com/maggiescentres
http://www.maggiescentres.org/home.html

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VSA Golf Day And Dinner Is A Major Success

 Aberdeen City, Sport  No Responses »
Aug 232013
 

VSA’s annual Tartan Pro-am Golf Tournament and fundraising dinner raised more than £30,000 to support families in the North-East. With thanks to Jenny Montgomerie.

vsa

Aberdeen’s largest social care charity, VSA held their annual golf event last Thursday at the Aboyne Golf Course on Royal Deeside, with a fundraising dinner in the evening to raise funds for VSA’s Family Contact Centre.

The centre is a volunteer run facility where children from separated families can spend valuable time with the mum or dad who no longer lives with them.

VSA’s Family Contact Centre can help when contact is hard to achieve for practical or personal reasons.

The event attracted 32 teams, with one Scottish Golf Professional playing in each team of four. The tournament was followed by a prize giving dinner at the Marcliffe Hotel and Spa where 150 guests enjoyed a Pimms reception followed by a fantastic dinner.

The after dinner entertainment, Drew McAdam left the audience speechless with his astounding mindplay.  Also during the evening an auction took place along with a heads and tails competition and a raffle.

In thanking all of the sponsors and guests for their very kind support in aid of the Contact Centre, VSA Trustee Andrew Forsythe was able to announce that the day had raised a staggering £37,735.00.

Debbie Fotheringham, VSA’s Events and Fundraising Co-ordinator said:

“We are so grateful to everyone involved in today’s Tournament and Dinner to help raise an amazing amount of money for such a worthy cause. I am overwhelmed by everyone’s kindness and generosity. The Family Contact Centre is a valuable service to hundreds of families and the support from our sponsors, including Brewin Dolphin and Munro’s Travel Group, all of the day’s players and evening’s guests has been fantastic. We should all be very proud of ourselves as this service is run entirely on voluntary income.

“I am also delighted to announce that next year’s tournament will be held at the scenic and challenging Royal Deeside Golf Club on 15thMay.”

Teams booking before the end of December will qualify for special discount rates.

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