Celebrate Aberdeen
March 2011
 The Third Sector is a relatively new term for what is often described as the voluntary sector – organisations which provide social or environmental benefit and do not distribute profits.
The term covers voluntary and community organisations, charities and social enterprises as well as some co-operatives and mutuals.
Thousands of participants from the sector will turn Union Street into an extravaganza of music and colour to “Celebrate Aberdeen” on June 11 - an event which will have an impact far beyond that one day.
Behind the singing, dancing and festivities there will be a serious aim – to highlight the efforts of the thousands of workers and volunteers in the “Third Sector” and to link them with businesses which, at a time of great economic stress, may be able to help them
It will raise the awareness of the impact Third Sector organisations have on communities and act as a public expression of thanks for the caring, the time given, the generosity, the creativity and the doggedness of the people of Aberdeen in helping themselves and their fellow citizens.
The parade is the brainchild of Morven Mackenzie who already offers direct help to a number of those organisations through her Aberdeen-based company Mackenzie PR.
It was during a holiday to Washington DC last year she was inspired to organise “Celebrate Aberdeen.”
As she watched the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade – a Washington institution – she thought: “Wouldn’t it be fantastic if we could do that in Aberdeen, and have a stronger purpose to it?”
Within days the planning was underway.
Morven, who has now established a steering group, enlisted the help of the Aberdeen Council of Voluntary Organisations (ACVO) which is working in partnership with her to mobilise more than 150 organisations to make the parade a resounding success.
“The response so far has been absolutely fantastic both from the Third Sector and the private sector,” said Morven.
“While there is a serious purpose behind the event we want it to be a fun-filled day which everyone will enjoy and remember.
“It is being organised in such a way that every organisation, large or small, will be able to participate. Our website www.celebrateaberdeen.org is now live and private companies can go there and match up with a charity to support for the day. Each private sector company will provide a sponsorship fee of £500 so that every Third Sector organisation can take part at no cost. It is £500 whether the company is paired with one of the major charities active in the area like MacMillan or the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland or one of the small self help groups like the North-east Disabled Veterans Association.
“We are anticipating that 150 Third Sector organisations will take part and we would like each to be matched with a private company. That company will then help not only with the funding but in the preparation for the event. We hope the private companies will develop a greater understanding of how these organisations work and that long term relationships of support might be established.
“Some people have asked – ‘Why do it now when money is tight?’ but there is no better time to do it. We recognise that these are hard financial times but it is an opportunity for Third Sector organisations to show their diversity and rally support. It is absolutely critical that we do it at this time.”
Any profits from the event will go to a designated “Celebrate Aberdeen” fund for a new project for the benefit of all Third Sector organisations in Aberdeen – “Aberdeen Impact” which ACVO will develop with the sector and the Celebrate Aberdeen steering group.
Ian Paterson of ACVO said - “We are proud to have the opportunity to use our understanding of the enormous impact social enterprises, community groups and charities make on the wealth, fairness, health, greenness, smartness, strength and safety of our City. We are absolutely thrilled that, in this the European Year of Volunteering, our incredibly diverse sector and so many of its friends from all walks of Aberdeen life have got behind this fantastic initiative and have understood the lasting value that this project will have on those who live, work and play in the North-east.
“One in four Scots are involved in some form of volunteering. 44,000 volunteers give approximately 84 hours of their time every year in Aberdeen City alone equating to £52 million in economic value to the city. It is volunteers who run many of the most crucial social care services in our City and who make up the boards of our many successful social enterprises. It is volunteers who provide much of the sporting and cultural entertainment residents and visitors enjoy, volunteers who bring over 33,000 footfalls into our retail centres, volunteers who raise and donate much of the essential income to support services and activities which help people young and old overcome their personal challenges and go on to live fruitful lives. Volunteers inform the work done by the 137,000 professionally paid staff in the sector from the 65% with income of less than £25,000 to the many hundreds with income of more than £1m. Celebrate Aberdeen will give recognition to the outstanding range and diversity of this essential sector and to the Aberdonians who give it their support in any way they can. “
“Celebrate Aberdeen is a fantastic opportunity to bring all our communities together and celebrate the great contribution third sector organisations and volunteers make to the City.”
- Jeannie Felsinger, GREC
“Mannofield Church thinks Celebrate Aberdeen is a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge the good work being undertaken by charities, churches and others organisations within our city in terms of the care, support and encouragement being offered to people of all ages in our city.”
- Rev Keith T Blackwood, Mannofield Church
“We were delighted when we heard that the great idea we had heard whispers about was actually going to happen for 2011! The idea that on one day all third sector organisations from Aberdeen could be seen and heard parading up Union Street is amazing.”
- Duncan Charles, CLAN
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