An Aberdeen businessman has been awarded for his contribution to a local charity by the Aberdeen Council of Voluntary Organisations (ACVO).
Ian Herd, managing director of Amplus Energy Services, was recognised for his work with North East Sensory Services (NESS) during the past three years at the recent ACVO awards ceremony, in the Friends of the third sector category.
Amplus has provided significant support for NESS, including work with publicity and fundraising events, which has resulted in at least £50,000 of direct and indirect financial benefit to the charity.
NESS supports over 4,500 people in the North-east who have are visually impaired, hearing impaired, blind or deaf. The funds we raise help us to provide important services, such as support groups for vulnerable elderly people and life skills support for children and teenagers.
Graham Findlay, chief executive for NESS said: “The support of Amplus and Ian Herd in particular have been of significant importance to NESS over the last three years. The partnership with Aberdeen Football Club’s Angus the Bull club has seen valuable advertising at Pittodrie as well as season tickets for some of our young service users.
“We have also been extremely grateful for Ian’s support with publicity and also our fundraising events, helping us to raise the profile of NESS and raise funds which are vital to the day to day running of the charity. Both Ian, and Amplus have brought considerable expertise, enthusiasm and drive to the partnership with NESS, demonstrating a positive approach to corporate social responsibility.
“The support provided by NESS is essential to enable people with a hearing or visual impairment to achieve greater independence, and this is only possible with the help of our valued volunteers and sufficient funding to operate our services. Partnerships with local businesses such as Amplus are a vital element in the work of NESS.”
Mr Herd said: “I am delighted to win this award as I believe strongly in supporting local organisations like NESS. The charity does extraordinary work in supporting blind and deaf people in the North-east, and the work they do makes an enormous difference to sensory impaired people. I am proud to be associated with NESS whose staff work tirelessly to enhance the lives of people in our community.”