Leading consulting and engineering firm, Wood, has raised £79,021 for Charlie House, significantly aiding the development of its dedicated, specialist support centre for children and young people with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, as well their families.
While the charity is still in fundraising stages before progressing the build, this generous contribution will directly go towards the centre’s therapeutic play area, a warm and welcoming space to deliver crucial emotional support sessions for children, siblings and families.
This vital room will enable both children and adults to express their thoughts and feelings, with or without speaking. By providing tools and techniques to manage worries and improve health and wellbeing, as well as pre and post bereavement support, the therapeutic play area will help families cherish moments together and keep memories safe.
Once complete, the state-of-the-art Charlie House development will be situated on the grounds of Woodend Hospital in Aberdeen and will prevent families having to travel more than 100 miles to get support, care and receive short breaks when they need it.
Charlie House was selected as part of Wood’s Aberdeen office’s Corporate Social Responsibility strategy, where local third sector organisations are picked as one of its charities of the year.
Commencing fundraising efforts during periods of lockdown, Wood’s employees rallied together to take part in online quizzes, cooking classes, raffles and donations.
As normality resumed, team members participated in challenges, including the Kiltwalk, Ride the North, Source to Sea Challenge and Around Wood in 30 Days, before hosting annual fundraisers such as its corporate golf day and ceilidh to ramp up the fundraising total.
Craig Shanaghey, Executive President, Projects at Wood said: “We are thrilled to have raised this sum for Charlie House, contributing to the build of such a major facility, and the real support it will provide for families in the region. I’m proud of the efforts of our Aberdeen-based teams who rallied round this important cause.
“The initiatives and services provided by the Charlie House team are integral to the North-east, as no family should have to travel for hours to get the vital support they need for their children.”
Charlie House first launched the Big Build Appeal - an initiative to raise funds to build the centre - in 2018. Since then, its fundraising total is nearing its next milestone of £5m.
In addition to the therapeutic play area which Wood has made possible, there will also be a sensory room, craft room, teenage den, further play areas, outdoor areas, a spa pool and star room, as well as children’s bedrooms and family suites.
Tracy Johnstone, founder and chair of Charlie House said: “We are all incredibly grateful for this significant contribution from Wood. Not only does it support the progression of our build, but it covers the cost of an entire room that will play a huge role in supporting families.
“Our Big Build Appeal is ambitious and we couldn’t have come this far without our amazing corporate supporters who dedicate their time and resources into raising not only funds for our initiatives, but help raise our profile too.”
To find out more about becoming a corporate supporter for Charlie House and help it build its dedicated support centre in Aberdeen, visit its website
https://bigbuild.charliehouse.org.uk
Left to Right: Jenna Simpson from Charlie House, Michelle Drummond, Caroline McMurray, Barbara Polson and Craig Shanaghey from Wood.
