With the Buy a Brick appeal, each virtual brick purchased by donors will bring us one step closer to developing a dedicated support centre in the North-east of Scotland that will benefit the hundreds of children in the region that have life-limiting or life-threatening conditions.
As of right now, families must travel more than 100 miles from Aberdeen to get the support, respite and care that they desperately need. The region’s absence of this vital support was a predominant factor in our plans to bring a support centre to Aberdeen.
Everyday we edge closer to meeting the fundraising target necessary for building this facility thanks to the generosity of our donors and the North-east community, but we must continue to dig deep before this dream can become a reality.
In this blog, we breakdown exactly what ‘buying a brick’ means, what the support centre will provide, and how you can get involved.
What will the Buy a Brick appeal help bring to the region?
In 2022, we launched our Buy a Brick campaign with an aim of raising £1million for the Big Build Appeal which is our grand initiative to develop a dedicated support centre in Aberdeen. To meet this fundraising goal, we have created 4,000 virtual bricks which are available at £250 each.
The accumulation of Buy a Brick donations will be used to fund the physical foundations of this vital centre - but what exactly will the facility be used for?
The Charlie House facility will be situated in the grounds of Woodend Hospital in Aberdeen, and will truly enhance the support available to children and families within our community.
The transition from hospital to home is often a challenging experience for families, where practical and emotional support becomes harder to find. With Charlie House, the facility provides families with the opportunity to create unforgettable memories in a safe environment while our care team remains on-hand to monitor the care and support of every child and family member.
The centre will include spaces dedicated to fun activities such as the craft room and play areas, while visitors can also expect spaces that are designed to help the whole family enjoy moments of relaxation such as the sensory room and spa pool. Charlie House will be complete with hoisting capabilities and other helpful measures that will ensure that everyone can make the most of this warm and welcoming facility.
Families can also use the centre as a home away from home, as the centre will feature a family suite including eight family bedrooms, an open-plan lounge, kitchenette, dining area, and therapy room.
The specialist support centre will also feature The Star Room - a private and intimate space where families can treasure precious time together as sadly, many of the children that are supported by our services are likely to live short lives. This secluded area provides an alternative to the home or hospital setting where families can begin the grieving process while being supported by our specialist team who will provide comfort and care for the family in need.
To discover the full extent of what’s inside this specialist facility, click here.
How to get involved
There are many ways for individuals, community groups and businesses to get involved in the Buy a Brick campaign, with the most popular being the outright purchase of a £250 virtual brick. However, we also have the alternative method of giving regularly by donating £21 per month meaning you can purchase your brick within a year! Otherwise, generous supporters can also fundraise for a virtual brick by getting family, friends and the community together to help reach the £250 target.
No matter which way you choose to support the Buy a Brick campaign, your generosity will go a long way to helping build this facility and ultimately change lives for the better.
As a thank you for supporting our plans to bring Charlie House to life, your name or the name of your community group or business, will be displayed both on our website and within the facility once it’s completed. You’ll also receive an official certificate to commemorate your efforts in supporting this great cause!
Please dig deep, and help us turn this dream into a reality
By getting involved in the Buy a Brick campaign, you’ll be helping us provide vital support to children, babies and young people across the North-east of Scotland and their families.
