Kind-hearted football fans at the Aberdeen and Dundee match (on Saturday, March 17) helped raise £7,098 for Aberdeen FC Community Trust (AFCCT), with the funds being used to support the charity’s outreach programmes across the North-east.
The Trust raised £4,712 during a week of fundraising activities in the run up to the second AFCCT day, with Dons supporters contributing a further £2,386 through ticket sale contributions and donations on the matchday.
The AFCCT day was organised to coincide with the weekend’s game to highlight the inspirational work the charity does in the region, which includes delivering health and wellbeing, social inclusion and educational programmes throughout Aberdeen City and Shire.
Fundraising activities included a raffle, the sale of AFCCT merchandise, competitions and the auction of AFCCT Day warm-up shirts worn by the Dons.
More than 600 tickets were also given to 37 schools and community groups who enjoyed a seat at Saturday’s match to raise awareness of the Trust.
AFCCT was established as the official charity partner of the Club in 2014 with the aim of providing support and opportunity to change lives for the better throughout the North-east.
The charity engages with more than 17,000 participants each year across 60 programmes and initiatives, with volunteers from the organisation delivering more than 5,000 hours of free community support in their spare time.
Ally Prockter, Aberdeen FC Community Trust’s chief executive said: “We’d like to thank everyone who contributed to our fundraising campaign as part of our second Aberdeen FC Community Trust Day celebrations.
“We’re completely overwhelmed by the generosity of our fans and supporters of the Trust, this fantastic amount will allow us to continue to help communities across the North-east and reach even more participants of all ages and from different walks of life.
“The programmes we deliver are a lifeline to many of our participants and have helped them change their lives for the better. We couldn’t offer these services without the continued support of the Club and our dedicated staff and volunteers who go above and beyond to help others.”
AFCCT works with North-east local authorities and organisations including Life Changes Trust, NHS Grampian, Sport Aberdeen, Police Scotland, Aberdeen Sports Village and other members of the Active Aberdeen Partnership.
Last year, AFCCT won Europe’s Best Community and Social Responsibility Programme Award for the Trust’s Dementia Friendly Programme at the European Club Association awards in Geneva.
Attracting more than 100 participants each week, AFCCT’s Dementia Friendly Programme includes activities designed to increase mobility and social inclusion, as well as reducing isolation and anxieties for those living with the illness.