Befriend a Child is delighted to announce that its 2025 Giving Tree Appeal has raised an incredible £22,099.63, and ensured 242 children and young people across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire woke up to a gift on Christmas morning.
Thanks to the outstanding generosity of Giving Tree Partners, supporters and the wider local community, children living in difficult life circumstances were able to experience the joy, excitement and sense of being remembered at Christmas, something no child should ever go without.
The Giving Tree Appeal is one of Befriend a Child’s most cherished annual campaigns. Each year, local businesses and organisations host Giving Trees adorned with tags representing children and young people supported by the charity. Supporters select a tag and donate a gift, helping ensure that every child has something special to open on Christmas morning. Supporters could also choose to give through a virtual donation, helping create special moments long after Christmas ends. These donations fund days out and shared experiences for children and young people and their volunteer, building confidence, connection and joy throughout the year.
Befriend a Child supports children and young people across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire who are growing up in challenging circumstances, providing them with positive role models, fun activities and meaningful 1:1 relationships with trained volunteers. The charity’s work helps build confidence, resilience and brighter futures for those who need it most.
Befriend a Child would like to extend a special thank you to Dales Marine Services, the 2025 Giving Tree Appeal sponsor, whose generous support played a vital role in the success of this year’s campaign.
Befriend a Child raised over £22,000 for its 2025 Giving Tree Appeal
Jenna Simpson, Senior Fundraising Coordinator at Befriend a Child, said: “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who supported our Giving Tree Appeal this year, and we’d like to say a huge thank you to Dales Marine Services for their generous sponsorship. All those supporting the appeal helped make such a meaningful difference and ensured more local children and young people woke up to a gift on Christmas morning. We also couldn’t have done it without our fantastic volunteers, who gave up an incredible 85 hours of their own time to help prepare tags and support the appeal behind the scenes, their dedication and kindness makes the Giving Tree Appeal even more special.”
Kaylea Adam-Owen, Chief Financial Officer at Dales Marine Services, said: “It was an honour for Dales Marine Services to sponsor the 2025 Giving Tree Appeal, a powerful initiative that brings joy to children and young people each Christmas while helping fund the experiences and activities Befriend a Child will deliver in 2026.
“Community and connection are central values across our business, and supporting this appeal has allowed us to make a meaningful difference to local families and help create lasting memories. We would like to congratulate the entire Befriend a Child team, their dedicated volunteers, Giving Tree partners and everyone across the Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire community who donated, shared or gave their time.”
Whether supporters displayed tags, donated a gift, made a financial contribution, shared the appeal or helped spread the word, every act of kindness made a real difference.
On behalf of everyone at Befriend a Child, thank you for helping bring smiles, hope and happiness to local children and young people, not just at Christmas, but throughout the year ahead.
If you would like to learn more about Befriend a Child, and discover the ways you, or your organisation could support them throughout 2026, head to their website here - https://www.befriendachild.org.uk/