The Big Build appeal was launched in November 2018 and aims to raise £8m for a specialist support centre for families
A charity has gained a donation boost as it aims to raise substantial funds for a new centre.
North-east charity Charlie House, which supports babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions and their families, is celebrating today (Wednesday 23 June) as its year-end results reveal that its Big Build Appeal pot has reached an incredible £3.6 million, just short of the halfway point in their fundraising campaign.
The total includes a substantial pledge of £605,500 from The Robertson Trust which will support the construction and fit out of their specialist support centre and includes a contribution to the cost of nursing and care staff for a three-year period. Specifically, the Robertson Trust has chosen to fund the Day Suite which will be the central hub of daily activities at Charlie House and includes the main kitchen, dining room and lounge area and opens up onto an outdoor terrace.
The Big Build appeal was launched in November 2018 and aims to raise £8million for a specialist support centre built on the grounds of Woodend Hospital to support families across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Orkney and Shetland. The centre will have eight bedrooms, with additional family accommodation, set in four acres of ground. The state-of-the-art building will feature a sensory room, library, spa pool, craft room, teen den, soft play area, therapy room, star room, for end-of-life care and bereavement, outdoor play area and sensory gardens as well as adaptable meeting space and office space for the Charlie House team and medical staff.
Tracy Johnstone, chair and founder of Charlie House, said: “It is difficult to find words to express how grateful we are to everyone who has helped us get to this point. To be nearing the halfway milestone is just incredible and to do that in a year that has been so challenging as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and the associated restrictions is amazing.
"Securing the Robertson Trust pledge has been a key part in us reaching this point and it seems fitting that this funding will cover the Day Suite, which is the hub of the centre where everyone will be able to come together and from which people will be able to access the various activity rooms. The support and interest we have received from The Robertson Trust has been second to none and knowing that they believe not only in what we are trying to achieve but in our ability to deliver it is an incredible endorsement of our project and our team.”
Susan Crighton, director of fundraising, said: “We have always said that we needed to raise £4m before we cut ground. This pledge takes us so close to that halfway point that we’re going to have to start buying spades! We continue to focus on our campaign and ask our supporters to #DigDeep to get us to that magic £4m number and on to our ultimate goal of £8m. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the people of the north east for their generous and unwavering support so far, the £3.6m total is made up of hundreds if not thousands of individual contributions, each one makes a difference and each one is as important as the other.”
For further information on the Big Build Appeal or to make a donation visit the website or the pop-up display at Curated Aberdeen in the Bon Accord Centre between Thursday 24 June and Sunday 27 June.
