The clock turned back almost one hundred years last Friday (November 18 2016) at the Children 1st Touch of Tartan Ball.
The annual fundraising event saw Aberdeen’s Beach Ballroom transported back to the roaring ‘20s with guests in all their finery - with a touch of tartan.
The city’s art deco venue was the perfect backdrop for the 1920s themed event, which raised more than £78,000 for Scotland’s national children’s charity. Guests were treated to flapper style dancing from the Gatsby Girls and Guys and a medley of swing and jazz hits from That Swing Sensation.
All funds collected from the event will go to Children 1st which provides essential therapeutic support to local children who have experienced abuse, neglect and other traumatic experiences in childhood, to help them recover.
The Touch of Tartan Ball Committee Chair, Jane Armour, said: “The Ball has been running for an incredible 29 years and has raised in excess of £2 million pounds. As we are all well aware, it is a tough economic climate at the moment and many businesses have been affected by the downturn in the local economy. This makes the sponsors’ and supporters’ generosity of this year’s Ball all the more incredible. A fun time was had by all with first class entertainment, but knowing the tremendous difference that this will make to hundreds of children’s lives across the region is what it’s all about.”
Alison Todd, chief executive of Children 1st added: “There were over 5,000 cases of sexual abuse and cruelty against Scotland’s children last year and with over 2,700 children currently at risk of serious harm or neglect, there is a real urgency to get all vulnerable children to a safe place, both physically and emotionally. Our goal at Children 1st is to help all children and young people going through difficult times to recover and ensure that their lives are not blighted by their experiences.
Those who attended– and donated so generously - are making a real difference to the lives of children in this community, and I can’t thank them enough for helping us to raise much needed funds to ensure we can continue to reach out to all the children in the North-east who need our help.”
This year the Ball was sponsored by CJ Lang, Dales Engineering Services (Gold), Aberdeen Douglas Hotel, Anderson Anderson & Brown, BP, NoteMachine, Wood Group and Korero (Silver). The Ball is one of the biggest fundraising events in the Children 1st calendar.
Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are always at a premium and tickets are first come, first served. To become a sponsor or to book your place for next year’s ball on Friday November 17, please phone the Aberdeen office of Children 1st on 01224 251150 or email northfundraising@children1st.org.uk.