Local children’s charity Charlie House announces it has secured a two-year partnership with The Event Complex Aberdeen (TECA) - Scotland's brand new, state-of-the-art events venue opening in Aberdeen this summer replaces the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC).The partnership is set to assist in raising vital funds and awareness for the charity which supports babies, children and young people with complex disabilities and life-limiting conditions, and their families, in the North-east of Scotland.
Charlie House launched a public fundraising campaign in November 2018 to raise £8m for a specialist support centre being built on the grounds of Woodend Hospital. The 8-bedroom facility will vitally offer parents and carers the chance to recharge their batteries, safe in the knowledge that the children with complex disabilities will be in the care of specially trained medical staff. Set in four acres of land within Woodend Hospital, the centre will also enable the children and their families to make wonderful memories together with state-of-the-art spaces including a sensory room, library, spa pool, craft room, teen den, soft play area and therapy room. Crucially, the centre will have a dedicated private ‘Star room’ for families to spend precious time with their child after the have passed, treasure memories and receive visitors in a supported environment.
Speaking of the newly forged partnership, Susan Crighton, director of fundraising at Charlie House, says, “We are thrilled to announce this key partnership for 2019/20 and very much look forward to working with the team. There are key synergies between both organisations in terms of the AECC team, move into their new home at TECA this Summer and Charlie House currently fundraising to build its new home. They are bringing this amazing new facility to the North-east for the people of the North-east and that is exactly what we are planning with our specialist support centre, which will be the first of its kind in the North-east of Scotland.”
Susan continues, “Our corporate partnerships are vital to enable us to continue to deliver and expand our services to support families both in Aberdeen City & Shire and the wider North-east of Scotland. These relationships benefit both parties and staff can go on to become fundraisers, ambassadors and volunteers.”
Louise Stewart, Head of entertainment, sales and marketing, says, “The new venue is set to make concert attendance much more accessible for the families Charlie House support, with a specific changing place being installed which is essential to enable the families to spend extended time away from home. We are also thrilled to continue to be part of ‘Attitude is Everything’ which improves Deaf and disabled people’s access to live music by working in partnership with audiences, artists and the music industry to implement a Charter of Best Practice across the UK, while we work towards achieving our gold standard.”
To find out more about Charlie House visit www.charliehouse.org.ukor call 01224 313333. 
Louise Stewart - head of entertainment, sales & marketing at AECC, Nick Waight, MD at AECC, Susan Crighton, director of Fundraising at Charlie House