A new charitable organisation, launched today, has set its sights on helping Aberdeen’s ‘Priority Neighbourhoods’ by drawing on the collective skills and networks of the local business community.
All Life Chances has been created to work with existing community centres, charities and projects in the city’s areas of greatest deprivation, with a specific focus on supporting children, young people and their families.
The charity aims to work closely with the private sector to garner its support, not only in terms of its financial giving, but also staff time and specialist skill sets.
The operational team behind the charity comprises three local women, all of whom have held senior leadership positions in their previous roles.
Morven Mackenzie is responsible for the charity’s overall strategy, while also overseeing all its brand, marketing and communications activities.
Morven is no stranger to Aberdeen’s third sector, having founded local initiative Celebrate Aberdeen more than 14 years’ ago. Run on a voluntary basis, Celebrate Aberdeen aims to promote the city’s charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups, as well as those individuals who dedicate their time to supporting them.
Prior to joining All Life Chances, Morven enjoyed a 29-year career in marketing and media, which included setting up her own PR consultancy, before acquiring a design business to create one of Aberdeen’s first fully integrated marketing agencies.
Susan Crighton, Lara Munro (centre) and Morven Mackenzie.
Susan Crighton will facilitate the charity’s community partnerships, working with the third and private sectors, to provide effective and joined-up solutions to address the needs of Aberdeen’s most vulnerable people.
Susan has a huge amount of experience working in the city’s third sector, having successfully headed up CLAN Cancer Support and Charlie House’s fundraising teams and efforts, with both charities having implemented high-profile capital build campaigns.
The third member of the team, Lara Munro, will provide the charity with its link to the city’s schools, universities and colleges, as well as other educational groups and establishments, such as playgroups, early years nurseries, youth and after-school clubs.
Lara has more than 14 years' experience working in both private and state sector schools across the UK. As a headteacher in her previous role, Lara brings a wealth of practical knowledge in terms of supporting children and families in Aberdeenshire and the city, joining All Life Chances from Scotstown Primary School.
Commenting on the reason for setting up All Life Chances, Ms Mackenzie said: “Having worked with a number of Aberdeen communities at a grassroots level, we realised there was an opportunity to involve local businesses in a much more collaborative way, in order to bring about change.
“Many people across Aberdeen are facing incredibly challenging times, not least because of the cost-of-living crisis, and we believe that by working closely together, we can create a city where everyone feels that they have the opportunity to thrive and succeed.
“There is already so much great work going on, which we feel we can add to and support through the provision of funds, people and equipment from the private sector.”
The charity has begun working with a number of organisations including Aberdeen Lads Club Community Project, Northfield Community Centre, Byron Boxing and Northfield Academy.
The team will be supported by a board of local businesspeople comprising: David Rennie, Simon Cowie, Derek Stephen, Steven Dempster, Alan Wilson and John Bain.
More information about All Life Chances can be found at www.alllifechances.org