An Aberdeenshire business has rounded off its 18-month long partnership with a local charity with a novel donation.
North-east energy industry manufacturer and service provider Flowline Specialists has been raising money for Aberdeen-based charity Inspire since October 2014 and recently handed over a cheque for £3,000. In addition, the firm donated a stack of 70 books that Inspire will use to raise funds to help stage one of its annual events.
Employees at the Oldmeldrum-based firm have taken on a number of challenges to fundraise for Inspire, which supports adults, young people and children with learning disabilities and additional support needs. This has included firewalks, parachute jumps, 10k and adventure races and a pound for pound weight loss challenge.
Realising the benefits that participating in some of these events would provide to its workforce in terms of health and teamwork, Flowline Specialists covered the cost of the entry fees.
To mark the end of the partnership, Flowline Specialists called on its staff to donate any old unwanted books to help the charity raise additional funds. Over 70 books were collected and these will be sold at Inspire’s Cafe Coast in Aberdeen to raise funds for the charity’s annual Sparkles Disco. The event at the Beach Ballroom is a social highlight for many of the people Inspire supports.
Flowline Specialists also provided a lasting reminder of its partnership with the charity. One of the firm’s welders designed and fabricated a bespoke metal bench which takes pride of place at Inspire’s St James’s Court residential service in Inverurie.
Jim Smith, Flowline Specialists chief executive, said: “This was the first time that Flowline Specialists had worked with a charity in a long-term partnership and staff really engaged with our campaign to support Inspire. The charity provides important services and facilities across north-east Scotland and it was very rewarding for staff to learn more about the work the charity does and also engage with some of those it supports.
“Some staff quite literally threw themselves into fundraising for Inspire, which was great to see and some of those activities helped to strengthen the team. Utilising the skills of all our staff during the partnership was important, as was creating a lasting reminder of it, and the bench at St James’s Court does this very succinctly.”
Duncan Peter, Inspire business development manager, said: “We really appreciate all the support we have had from Flowline Specialists over the past 18 months. Their staff have undertaken all sorts of activities to raise funds for Inspire and showing that they were always willing to take on a challenge.
“Fundraising is vital for any charity, but donations of items, such as books, which can be used to raise additional money are also hugely important. For the people that Inspire supports the Sparkles Disco is a real highlight and any contributions that help to offset the cost of staging it are very much appreciated.”
Headquartered in Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire, Flowline Specialists designs, engineers and manufactures a wide range of equipment for the global oil, gas and renewable industries. All of its equipment is road mobile and ferry compatible for rapid deployment in the UK and Europe. Established in 2001, the firm employs around 60 staff and has an additional manufacturing base at Fyvie, Aberdeenshire and operational bases in Norway, Holland, Dubai and Singapore. For more information, visit www.flowlinespecialists.com or telephone +44 (0)1651 871872.