Jennifer Mitchell, Peter Bruce and Maggie Wilson
Aberdeen’s oldest charity is set to celebrate its 150th anniversary on the 10th March with a vintage afternoon tea party.
Aberdeen Association of Social Services, more commonly known locally as VSA, was founded on March 10, 1870, by two previous Lord Provosts; Provost Nicol and Provost Leslie. Over the past 150 years, VSA has helped change the lives of vulnerable children and adults across a range of residential and outreach community services.
The Lord Provost of Aberdeen will officially kick off a year of celebrations in recognition of the charity’s life-changing work that it has done in the city by holding a civic afternoon tea party for 100 of VSA’s volunteers, staff and people who use their services. The charity hopes that businesses and individuals across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire will join in with the celebrations by holding their own vintage tea party in aid of VSA.
Jennifer Mitchell, director of external relations, said, “2020 marks a significant historic milestone in our charity’s history, as we celebrate 150 years of providing vital support and services to the most vulnerable children and adults who live in our community. Today we launch our vintage afternoon tea party, and we very much hope that businesses and individuals will step forward to join us in our celebrations by holding their own tea party to help raise awareness of our vital work and hopefully raise some much-needed funds in aid of VSA.”
Jennifer added, “last year we launched our mental wellbeing campaign and we are aiming to raise £3.2m to build a new mental wellbeing residential facility in the heart of Aberdeen. Now more than ever, we need your support, and by holding a tea party, it’s a great way to connect with family, friends and work colleagues and take the time to talk, have a cuppy and have some fun; talking helps support a person's mental health.”
The vintage tea party has the backing of local businessman and CEO of Entier, Peter Bruce. Peter said, “We are delighted to be supporting VSA across their 150th anniversary year. It is vitally important to us as a local business that we support and give back to the local community. We have already signed up to take part in the vintage tea party and will be holding tea parties across all of our catering sites onshore and offshore; I would encourage others to step forward to take part in what will be a fun event for a fantastic cause. We will be supporting VSA across all of 2020 and we are aiming to raise £25,150 for the charity.”
From a person’s first breath through to their last VSA has stood next to the people of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire for 150 years offering care and support. People can sign up for a vintage tea party kit on the charity’s website www.vsa.org.uk or by calling 01224 212021.