Aberdeen, UK (November 2026) Aberdeen children's charity AberNecessities is officially launching The Bright Future Project, a new initiative brought to life with the generous support of corporate partner Wood, designed to help children experiencing poverty and financial hardship feel confident, comfortable and ready for school.
The project comes against a backdrop of significant inequalities in school attendance. Scottish Government figures for 2024/25 show attendance rates of 87.6% among pupils living in Scotland's 20% most deprived areas, compared with 94.1% in the least deprived. While the reasons for absence vary, financial hardship can create additional barriers, from the cost of suitable clothing and footwear to food and everyday school essentials.
At the heart of The Bright Future Project is a specially converted double-decker bus, based at AberNecessities' headquarters in Dyce. Acting as an extension of the charity's existing services, the bus will welcome children and families from across Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire, working closely with the network of professionals who already refer families for support.
Downstairs, families can choose from breakfast essentials, after-school snacks, toiletries and household cleaning products to take home. Upstairs, children will find school uniforms, winter jackets, shoes, backpacks, school supplies and books.
A key part of the experience is giving children the freedom to choose items for themselves, reflecting their individual needs and preferences. The bus will also create opportunities for the AberNecessities team to spend time with families and their supporting professionals, building relationships and identifying where further help may be needed.
The Bright Future Project officially launches on Friday 6th November, welcoming local families on board for the first time, alongside representatives from Wood, the Lord-Lieutenant of Aberdeen City and The Literacy Trust.
Created by AberNecessities, the project has become a reality thanks to over £129,000 raised by Wood and the generosity of its employees.
Steve Nicol, Chief Operating Officer – Operations said: "We are proud to support AberNecessities, and the incredible work they do for families and children across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. I am delighted that Wood has played a part in raising funds towards ‘The Bright Future Project’ which will provide nourishment, school supplies, and a sense of confidence for young learners."
Danielle Flecher-Horn, Founder of AberNecessities, said: "We know that for some children, something as simple as not having the right shoes, a warm jacket or the essentials for school can become a real barrier to attending. We wanted to create a space where families could come to us, where children could choose things for themselves and where we could spend time understanding what would make life a little easier. What started as a bit of a pipe dream has become a reality, thanks to the incredible generosity and support of Wood.”
The Literacy Trust will host a special storytelling session at the launch, with plans for future reading events and activities aboard the bus, adding another educational element to the project.
Susan Calcluth, Scotland Lead for National Year of Reading at NLT said: "We’re delighted to support AberNecessities and The Bright Futures Project by bringing reading initiatives directly to families and communities as part of the National Year of Reading. Reading for pleasure remains one of the most powerful ways to improve educational attainment and life chances. Giving children the opportunity to experience reading as fun and relevant to them, alongside access to books and the choice to discover what they enjoy, helps to inspire a love of reading and deliver benefits that last a lifetime."
With The Bright Future Project, AberNecessities hopes to ease some of the pressures facing families living in poverty, tackling the everyday challenges that can make something as fundamental as going to school more difficult than it should be.
