Harbour Energy, the largest London-listed independent oil and gas company, has been announced as the main sponsor for eye catching umbrella installations which are set to act as a major attraction in the city centre this summer.
Coming to Scotland for the first time following huge success in other UK locations since 2017, the displays aim to raise awareness of and to celebrate the ‘umbrella’ term of neurodiversity, including ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyspraxia.
City centre BID Aberdeen Inspired is working with the ADHD Foundation on the three-year programme which will see the creation of temporary installations featuring multi-coloured umbrellas suspended across city centre streets.
Mavis Anagboso, Global Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Harbour Energy commented “Harbour Energy is pleased to sponsor the Aberdeen Umbrella Project to raise awareness of neurodiversity.
“Around one in five people in the UK are neurodivergent, so there is a critical need to focus on making our corporate environment more inclusive for neurodivergent individuals.
“We are also proud to be part of the global Institute of Neurodiversity, and together, we are working to raise neurodiversity awareness.”
Although the locations for 2022 are still to be confirmed the sponsorship ensures that two installations, featuring hundreds of colourful umbrellas, can be placed in both the East and West End of the city centre.
Commenting on the partnership with Harbour Energy, Adrian Watson, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Inspired said: “We expect the Umbrellas to become one of Aberdeen’s most exciting and anticipated installations, which will not only capture the hearts and minds of people from across the city but also raise awareness of the importance of the neurodiverse world we live in where one in five people are neurodivergent.”
“We are very grateful to Harbour Energy for getting behind the project and helping us and the ADHD foundation bring it to life. It’s pleasing to know they have a passion for raising awareness of Neurodiversity and we are delighted that these installations fit with their ambitions and plans in this area.”
A host of other cities, including Cardiff, London, Liverpool, Brighton, Glasgow and Edinburgh will also be hosting umbrella installations this year.
Aberdeen Inspired has also been awarded a grant of £12,500 towards the project – roughly the cost of one installation – through the Scottish Government’s Scotland Loves Local Fund II which aims to encourage people to think local first and support businesses and enterprises in their community.