Charlie House, an Aberdeen-based charity dedicated to supporting children with life-limiting conditions, is recognising a significant milestone with long-term supporter, Apache North Sea.
This year marks 10 years of contributions from the oil and gas operator, which collectively amounts to more than £182,000 for the charity.
The partnership, which initially commenced back in 2014 due to Apache’s focus to support local causes in communities where it operates, has been instrumental in furthering Charlie House to expand its services across the local area.
Committed to supporting local children and their families to create precious memories in the time that they have together, Charlie House provides a range of inclusive activities for all the family to enjoy, such as cinema trips, horse-riding, trampoline parks and wreck-it rooms. The charity also provides a range of practical and emotional support to families, including bereavement support.
Additionally, the operator’s Bond Committee - which manages funds raised by the company’s offshore workforce on its North Sea platforms - has played a vital part in supporting the charity’s Big Build Appeal to create a purpose-built facility for children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions and their families.
On completion, this specialist centre will transform the help available locally and ensure families get the support, respite and end-of-life care when they need it.
From left to right, Jill Chibesakunda, Bond Committee member at Apache; Emma Leiper Finlayson, fundraising director at Charlie House; Jeff Yates, Bond Committee member at Apache and John Brebner, CEO at Charlie House.
Emma Leiper Finlayson, director of fundraising at Charlie House said: “We are incredibly grateful for Apache’s unwavering support over the last 10 years.
“Apache championing Charlie House over this time period has helped us raise awareness of our cause, reach an even wider pool of people throughout the region and educate the community on what we do. It’s part of the reason we’re currently able to support more than 120 families.
“This collaboration also highlights the impact that sustained corporate support can have on the community, making significant milestones such as our build, easier to reach. On behalf of everyone at Charlie House, and the families we support, we cannot thank Apache enough for its contribution, both monetary and in time."
“It is important for us to form long-standing partnerships with the organisations that we support through the Bond,” said Jeff Yates, Vice President, Apache North Sea. “It is incredible to see first hand everything that the team at Charlie House does to make life a little less stressful for the children and families who are going through a challenging time. Our team is pleased to be a small part of the Charlie House journey towards a much-needed specialist care centre in our region.”
The total sum raised is made up of various fundraising efforts from Apache employees and the Bond Committee’s donations. Supporting the delivery of services, £15,000 funded a trip to Kielder, an accessible and inclusive weekend getaway for parents and children to make precious memories, while £160,000 has gone directly to the Big Build Appeal, ensuring the build of the future facilty’s craft and counselling rooms.
Once built, the centre’s craft room will enable families to create precious keepsakes including handprint cards, paintings, hand casts and much more, while the counselling room will provide a discreet, calm space to give families the support they require to maintain their wellbeing and continue their caring role.
To find out more about how Charlie House makes a difference everyday, please visit: https://www.charliehouse.org.uk/