Befriend a Child’s Enchanted Forest Ball, which took place on Friday the 17th of May 2024, raised £40,914 for local children the charity supports across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

Guests were immersed in a world of storytelling and magic with fabulous performances from Mark Cameron Dance/Corporate and hosted by the incredibly talented performer Kevin Littlejohn from Right Here Productions.

The evening was hosted at The Chester Hotel and supported by Platinum sponsor WM Donald, Print Sponsor Intro Creative Group and Sweetie Sponsor Enquest.

Sarah Misra, CEO at Befriend a Child said: “We are delighted about the sum raised on Friday and we couldn’t have done it without our fantastic sponsors, guests and supporters who all contributed to making the evening incredible. Fundraising events such as The Enchanted Forest Ball are essential to ensuring we are able to provide much needed support to children living in challenging life circumstances across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.”

The charity’s waitlist for its services is ever-growing and is currently sitting at 50 children and young people. The £40,914 raised on the night will fund 27 places within the charity’s 1:1 befriending programme for children living in challenging life circumstances.

The ball saw volunteer befriender, Charmaine Brown, share her heartwarming experience of befriending with the charity. Having started her volunteering journey in 2018, Charmaine has befriended Mackenzie for the past 6 years and said befriending is the best thing she has ever done. Her emotional speech highlighted the difference she has made to her befriendee and how befriending has positively impacted her life.

Befriend a Child supports children and young people living in difficult life circumstances across Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire through 1:1 and group befriending and mentoring programmes and projects. Over the years Befriend a Child’s provision of programmes and projects has grown and today the charity supports approximately 250 children annually.

Children can be referred to Befriend a Child for several reasons such as a lack of confidence or self-esteem, social isolation, lack of a positive role model and substance misuse in the family.

Jean Gordon, Head of Operations at Befriend a Child said: “Through our 1:1 support and group activities we aim to build new life skills and increase confidence and self-esteem. Through providing a positive adult role model, our befrienders help to reduce social isolation and improve the overall wellbeing and quality of life of the children and young people we support.”

To find out how you could support Befriend a Child by fundraising or volunteering simply visit www.befriendachild.org.uk or email info@befriendachild.org.uk.