Thanks to the stellar efforts of all our team, our clients and contractors, three local charities will enjoy a share of the £7,500 raised during Northwood North East’s 15th anniversary celebrations last year.
Aberdeen Amateur Athletics Club, Friends of Anchor and Banchory-based Forget-Me-Not will each receive £2,500 as Northwood’s chosen charities.
At the start of 2024, we undertook to mark the milestone by ‘giving back’ with a calendar of philanthropic endeavours which would benefit 15 different charities and organisations.
Our 15 X 15 Programme involved members of the team offering their services to different organisations throughout the region, starting in January with Somebody Cares, where we helped sort through donations in the charity’s warehouse and shop.
After that, we undertook all sorts – from odd jobs to painting, jet-washing to sorting, mucking-out and bathing tortoises to weeding and counting puzzle pieces – helping outstanding charities including Somebody Cares, Befriend a Child, SensationALL, HomeStart, Maggie’s, Halfpenny Animal Sanctuary, Cyrenians, MISS Miscarriage Support, Denis Law Trust, Mission Christmas, JAS Counselling and Grampian Women’s Aid.
To round off the year, 14 of us blazed a trail when we walked across hot coals as part of a sponsored fire walk, before being joined by partners, contractors and clients to enjoy an evening of fun and celebration – the perfect way to end a very rewarding year.
As we look back, it was crazy 12 months – we were exceptionally busy on a professional level, while at the same time, through our philanthropic efforts, continued to build upon and make important and lasting connections with our local communities and the organisations which have come to mean a great deal to us all. We loved every minute and would like to say a huge thank you to everyone involved.
Owner and director Laura Mearns said that since opening its doors in 2008, the focus of Northwood North East has been to ‘love and live local’, with more than £45,000 raised and donated to local charities in the past 15 years.
“Whether fundraising, volunteering or attending workshops, we have learned a huge amount about understanding, empathy, respecting and valuing others from different backgrounds. The sense of accomplishment and pride everyone has taken in helping these organisations over the past few months are palpable. This has had a very positive effect on us all.”
