In honour of the return of Neurodiversity Celebration Week, Aberdeen-based PR and marketing specialist, ThinkPR, has announced a partnership with local autism support charity, Autism & Neurodiversity North Scotland (A-ND), to support and organise the charity’s first ever fundraising dinner.
The Think Different Golf Day and Dinner will take place on Thursday 25th of May at Meldrum House Hotel to raise funds for A-ND, allowing them to continue supporting the families who use its services, whilst supporting ambitious plans for major growth across the North-east.
A-ND, previously known as Grampian Autistic Society, was founded in 1987 by parents as a support group, since evolving into a registered charity that offers help and support to neurodiverse individuals, their families and wider support networks. With a team of 50, A-ND works with local communities to provide direct and ongoing services to over 150 individuals and their families across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, and the North of Scotland.
As it stands, A-ND require to raise over £180,000 a year just to exist and to continue providing its current levels of support to 150 individuals and their families. There are over 586,000 people in the Grampian region and we know that at least 1% (5,869) are autistic. The charity has high hopes to increase its service and aims to provide direct support to at least 10%, over 500 individuals and families by 2027.
Hoping to further its offering to wider groups and strengthen their accessibility is the introduction of their latest project, Binky; a refurbished double-decker bus donated by Stagecoach Bluebird and affectionately named by the children themselves. Currently in development, the bus is set to be transformed into an on-the-road sensory resource to reach children and young people across the North-east of Scotland and further afield.
Autism & Neurodiversity North Scotland CEO, Billy Alexander, has his sights firmly set on ensuring the event is a hit, commenting: “We are delighted this dream has become a reality. It simply could not happen without the support of Annabel and her team at ThinkPR. Day in day out, we see the difference the support we provide makes, and sadly continue to hear about the immense gap in support available throughout the North of Scotland, often due to dwindling funding, resource and stigma.
“In relation to the stats we are not even scratching the surface. Getting Binky on the road will help us reach at least a further 50 families every month throughout North Scotland. The support from local organisations is vital, now more than ever, and we look forward to spending an evening together raising awareness of what A-ND does and why it matters to families, whilst raising essential funds and celebrating the strengths of thinking differently.”
ThinkPR CEO, Annabel Sall, commented: “We are incredibly proud to be supporting the charity in what will be its first fundraising dinner. Having seen first-hand the work Billy and his team carry out across the North-east, we feel honoured to get the opportunity to support the vital difference A-ND make to the families they work with. Without the appropriate backing, so many families are left in an unimaginable position which is why events like this are so important, helping raise awareness for A-ND to allow them to continue offering a lifeline. This event is also a celebration of what it means to think differently and why that is something to be proud of. We’re all so excited for the evening and urge local companies to get involved and show their support.”
