Future Choices £1 Appeal To Assist With Mobility

 Aberdeen City, News  No Responses »
Feb 212013
 

With thanks to David Forbes.

fchoicesappeal
Future Choices provides much-needed social and recreational facilities to people with disabilities, at Inchgarth Community Centre in Aberdeen.

The charity has support from many people, including Mr Paul O’Connor MBE, Dame Anne Begg MP, and Kenneth Watt, the Press Officer for Aberdeen City Youth Council.

The charity celebrates its first five years this year. However, it is in dire need of a much bigger bus to enable the folk it supports to get out and about.

Colleen McMillan, a fund raiser for Future Choices, says:

“This appeal is a massive challenge, but it’s needed as so many disabled people rely heavily on transport to get from A to B safely. To get this 17-seater bus, we’re going to have to raise approx £15,000, which is a huge project, but it can be done”

Fundraisers will be at various locations in the city to collect your cash donations. You can keep up to date at www.future-choices.org.uk .

Future Choices has also teamed up with local author Kathleen Kennedy, who has published a book describing how disability affects day-to-day lives. It can be purchased via Amazon, and it’s called ‘Yes, I Can, and I Will’. Proceeds of the book sales will go towards the Appeal. You can find it at http://www.amazon.co.uk/I-Can-Will-Kathleen-Kennedy/dp/0956554822

There’s also a video on YouTube that the Charity has released to explain why this appeal is so important. It’s at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D42XOq2Jwys

Anyone interested in supporting the appeal can contact Colleen McMillan on 079 410 33205 or David Forbes, Chairman on 078 217 00046.

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Future Choices Unveils New Minibus

 Aberdeen City, Featured, News  No Responses »
Jun 282012
 

On Saturday 23rd June at Sheddocksley Baptist Church in Eday Walk, the local disabled charity Future Choices unveiled their new wheelchair friendly minibus with the help of Dame Anne Begg MP who was the special guest to cut the ribbon. Lewis Macdonald and Richard Baker also attended, as did Paul O’Connor MBE from Inchgarth Community Centre.  With Thanks to David Forbes.

futurechoicesminibus
Future Choices launched the Cash for Cans appeal in February with the aim of collecting empty drink cans, which they exchanged for cash to allow them to purchase a second hand minibus.
Over fifteen thousand empty drink cans have already been exchanged for cash, generating over £1000 so far. John Lawrie Aberdeen Ltd. recycle the aluminium cans.

Although the charity has now bought the minibus, they still need donations of empty drink cans to cover the running costs of the bus.

Future Choices Chairman David Forbes said:

“Without the help and support of the Aberdeen community and oil companies, this appeal would not have been successful”.

“We received empty cans from companies including Hess, Talisman and many others, as well as community centres such as Inchgarth. We even had the support of primary schools, with Crathes Primary & Ferryhill Primary getting involved to make a difference.”

“Having access to the minibus will greatly increase the range of activities offered by the charity, allowing for a much wanted lunch club to be set up and day trips to be planned”

Dame Anne welcomed the purchase of the minibus stating:

“Transport can be one of the biggest barriers preventing disabled people participating in activities and this minibus will provide the opportunity for many of them to get out of their homes.”

Future Choices member Blanche Cruikshank, who needs accessible transport to get out and about, said:

“The minibus is a real life-saver and those behind the appeal have changed my life for the better.”

Another Future Choices member, Alec Rennie, who cares for his wife Mary, added:

“Having access to transport for my disabled wife and me will have a huge positive impact on our life. To be able to get out and about more is all we want.”

Future Choices also highlighted that fundraising needs to continue. Chief Fundraiser, Catherine Mancini, stated:

“The unveiling marked a great triumph for Future Choices and we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure the same level of success in the future”

http://www.aberdeenccn.info/Networks/FC/FCContact.asp

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Cash For Cans Success.

 Aberdeen City, Featured, News  No Responses »
Jun 222012
 

The success of the splendid ‘Cash for Cans’ initiative by Aberdeen’s Future Choices will culminate this Saturday (June 23rd) with the unveiling of a new mini-bus for the disabled. With thanks to David Forbes.

cashforcansfeat

The appeal was launched in February with the aim of collecting a million empty drinks cans which were exchanged for money to buy a second-hand mini-bus.

The charity’s chairman, David Forbes said: 

“Without the help and support of the Aberdeen community and oil companies, this appeal would not have been successful. The unveiling is our way of saying thank you”

He added;

‘We do still need your drinks cans coming in to maintain the vehicle and we appreciate everyone’s continued support.”

Dame Anne Begg – who will be assisting at the unveiling along with Lewis MacDonald and Richard Baker MSP – said:

“I am so pleased to hear that Future Choices have been successful in raising enough money to purchase a mini-bus. Transport can be one of the biggest barriers preventing disabled people from participating in community activities and this will provide the opportunity for many of them to get out of their homes.”

The event will take place at Shedocksley Baptist Church between 11.30am and 1.00pm and Light Refreshments will be provided.