Aberdeen Cocktail Week is proud to announce Befriend a Child as its official charity partner. The partnership will see the festival not only helping to raise funds but, importantly, sharing the great work Befriend a Child does for the city’s next generation - supporting children and young people to thrive through befriending, mentoring, companionship, and community.
About Befriend a Child
- Founded in 1975 and now celebrating their 50th birthday, Befriend a Child is one of Aberdeen’s oldest charities dedicated to providing one-to-one befriending and mentoring for children aged approximately 4 to 16 years who are growing up in difficult life circumstances. This may include situations such as poor parental mental health, social isolation, poverty, parental alcohol or substance misuse, abuse, and neglect.
- Operating primarily in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire, the charity matches young people with trained volunteers (“befrienders or mentors”) who meet them twice a month for fun and supportive activities that help build confidence, reduce social isolation, and offer stable adult role models who are kind, trustworthy and most importantly, consistent in their lives.
- Annually, Befriend a Child nurtures around 250 children and young people, supported by about 270 volunteers, offering not just befriending and mentoring, but group activities, youth clubs, and additional family support services.
Aberdeen Cocktail Week
Running from 9th - 19th October, Aberdeen Cocktail Week brings together twenty-seven of Aberdeen’s best bars and restaurants for an 11-day celebration of creativity, community, and cocktails. Alongside giving attendees the chance to enjoy festival-exclusive creations from the city’s bartenders, this year we’ll also be helping Befriend a Child raise funds and, importantly, shining a spotlight on their vital work for the next generation of Aberdonians.
Comment from Befriend a Child’s Head of Fundraising & Marketing, Katie Kyle: “We’re absolutely delighted to be partnering with Aberdeen Cocktail Week as we continue to celebrate our 50th anniversary. For five decades, Befriend a Child has been supporting children and young people across the city and shire, and it means so much to have the community come together with us for this special year. This collaboration is a wonderful chance to raise awareness of our life-changing work and to say a big cheers to everyone who has helped us make a difference along the way, whilst joining in the celebrations of such a vibrant local event.”
Gregor Sey, organiser of Aberdeen Cocktail Week, said: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with Befriend a Child this year. My wife has been a befriender so I’ve seen firsthand the difference it can make. Supporting Befriend a Child gives us a way to directly help shape a young person’s future for the better. We hope to utilise our reach to raise awareness and funds for Befriend a Child”
Festival-goers can support Befriend a Child during Aberdeen Cocktail Week by dropping your spare change into the collection cans at any of our participating venues, or donating online via our JustGiving page here. Every £1 counts, and for every £1 donated at the point of wristband sale, we’ll match it up to £1000.
For more information about Befriend a Child, their work, and how to get involved, visit www.befriendachild.org.uk.
You can purchase a ticket to Aberdeen Cocktail Week at aberdeencocktailweek.com