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Befriend a Child are celebrating success in the Grampian Business Awards after being named as the Alick Buchanan Smith Spirit of Enterprise winners for 2011.  The charity picked up the honour at the annual awards dinner in the Ardoe House Hotel from Janet Buchanan Smith, the widow of the former MP Alick Buchanan Smith after who the award is named.  On a fantastic night of celebration, Befriend a Child joined fellow recepients including Keenan Recycling (Wood Group Award for Innovation); Urquhart Partnership (Employer of the Year) and Roy MacGregor of Global Energy group (Entrepreneur of the Year) in accepting the accolades.

Chief Executive Karen Farquhar commented: “We were absolutely stunned and so delighted with the award, especially at the first time of entering.  Although the staff and committee were on hand to accept the award, it’s really a reflection of the hard work and efforts of our volunteers, and is down to every single supporter who has played their part in our growing success in recent years.  The ethos behind the award is community spirit and as an organisation, we exist to offer hope, relationship building and fun for young people  who make up our community.  Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our growth – we appreciate every single friend, donor and supporter who contributes to Turn a Frown Upside Down.”

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Kuddles Is Winner

Aberdeen FC manager Craig Brown had the tough choice of selecting the winner of the Befriend A ChildMascot competition from many fantastic entries.

Craig dropped in to make the selection and chose Kuddles the Kangaroo designed by Ellie McGowan from Kingswells.

Entries to the competition were varied and hugely creative, ranging from bears and lions, to bumble bees and stars.
Said Craig: “It was actually a very tough decision but I thought that Ellie’s entry was well thought out, and the message about how a kangaroo cares for its children was very clever.  I look forward to seeing the real Kuddles!”

Ellie’s reward for winning will be to see her creation made into a full size mascot to help promote the work of Befriend A Child across the North East. She will also have the opportunity to enjoy a tour of Pittodrie and meet the current squad courtesy of Craig.

Highly commended awards were also given to Alexandra Riddell from Hazlehead for her design featuring brother and sister Polly and Max, and to Anoshe Hussain of Westhill for a colourful – but unnamed – character!

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The Difference A Day Makes

Lilly Pharmaceuticals gave a dozen staff members a chance to spend a day at Befriend A Child in June, helping us to brighten up our base unit. And they certainly got into the spirit of the day with a fantastic Scooby Doo mural in the hallway, and colourful handprints winding their way up the stairs.

Senior Representative Heather Baxter, who is herself based in Portlethen, said that her colleagues had a super day.
“This is the first year that we’ve actually done this service, which is a global initiative instigated from Indianapolis in the USA.
“It’s a great way of helping local charities – although a national charity of the year is chosen, we can use the donation of labour as a way of making a difference to a cause on our doorstep,” commented Heather.

However staff actually travelled from all over Scotland to lend a hand (or brush), including Ayrshire and Glasgow, to help improve the décor at the Bon Accord Square premises and did a marvellous job.
And there was plenty of opportunity to get messy along the way!
While some chose to weed and tidy a small grass area outside the building, others cracked open the paint tins and got to work with colourful butterflies, trees and Scooby Doos!

Said Heather: “Everyone has been very willing to muck in and do something fun, and which involves team work.
“We see it as a team building exercise which can also do some good in the community.”

Lilly Pharmaceuticals have a UK base in Basingstoke and are one of the world´s largest research based pharmaceutical companies dedicated to creating and delivering innovative pharmaceutical health care solutions that enable people to live longer, healthier and more active lives.
For more information on how your company can get involved with Befriend A Child, please call Alan or Duncan on (01224) 210060.