Following a very successful public appeal to fund a £1.5m refurbishment, Voluntary Service Aberdeen-owned care home Ruthrieston House, was officially opened by HRH The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO on 24 July. With thanks to Claire McBain, Fundraising Officer, VSA
A public appeal and legacies, along with proceeds from the November 2011 VSA Ball, has provided funding for ten new bedrooms and a major refurbishment of the facility at 199 Broomhill Road, Aberdeen.
Marjory Moran, VSA’s Director of Services for Older People said,
“Demand for our services had been increasing and our studies showed that it would be possible to add a further ten bedrooms to Ruthrieston without impacting on the homely feel of the building. The timetable was challenging but so was the need. We knew that with the help of our friends and supporters we could do it.
“The result is more than we could have ever expected. It looks so much better. It’s been modernised and truly refreshed. The residents are very pleased. They’re so appreciative of the hard work that’s gone into improving their home.”
Kenneth Simpson, Chief Executive of VSA, commented,
“We’re delighted that HRH the Duke of Gloucester honoured us by performing the official opening of Rutherieston House and very pleased that Fiona Kennedy, a previous Chair of VSA, made such an effort to be with us on this great occasion.”
Fiona Kennedy added,
“This is such a special occasion, especially for the residents and all involved at VSA. I took young Ruairidh McDonald who is in The Kist to Ruthrieston House last week to sing and give the residents a flavour of the production and they gave us the thumbs up.”
VSA itself is the UK’s largest city social care charity, providing the best of care to the most vulnerable people in the community. It has been in existence for more than 140 years and looks after around 5000 people in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire each year.
VSA works falls in three main areas, education and lifelong learning, older people services and social care and wellbeing. It also incorporates services for carers.
These services help children and families to build better futures, older people to lead more independent, dignified and fulfilling lives, adults with disabilities and mental health problems to get the most from life, and carers, both adult and child, to juggle everyday life with caring responsibilities.
96p of every pound donated goes on direct charitable expenditure which sets VSA apart from other not-for-profit organisations. Money raised in the NE stays here. VSA encourages supporters to visit its services to see exactly how their money is being used.
For further information about VSA and its work in the local community, call 01224 358611
or visit www.VSA.org.uk
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