Aberlour Children's Charity 4 September

Wed, Sep 4th 2024 at 12:40 pm - 2:00 pm

Abby Parkhouse will tell us all about this children's charity

Aberlour Children's Charity 4 September -

‹ › ×

Guest speaker was Abby Parkhouse, Community Fundraiser for Aberlour Children’s Charity which helps Scotland’s struggling children and their families. The charity was founded in 1875 by a Miss Macpherson in Aberlour. A church and an orphange were built built originally, expanding over time, virtually taking over the whole village and caring for some 600 children at one time. The original premises closed in the 1960s in favour of smaller group homes across Scotland. Today the charity cares for children aged from 3-18 (at 17 they can move into independent annex accommodation) and has a staff of 702 plus 330 active volunteers, offering over 50 services to help support disadvantaged children in so many different ways: an online and ‘walk-in’ centre to help families stay together (where possible, keeping children at home rather than in care is the desired option); fostering services; peri-natal support and befriending for young mothers and families across Scotland; ‘Youth Point’ service offering hobbies, crafts and adventure expeditions such as camping and climbing for those who otherwise would never be able do it. In addition, Aberlour’s Urgent Assistance Fund can provide immediate relief to families suffering extreme hardship and needing help to provide heating, clothing, bedding, baby items, white goods and food. Mother-and-child recovery houses offer services for those seeking to free themselves from addiction, and there are services providing guardianship for trafficked children. This was a moving talk, opening eyes to the demands and activities of such an important charity. Ann Baird gave an appreciative vote of thanks.