It was a fun event that captured the imagination of the city in 2017, but organisers of this year’s Aberdeen Poppy Day are already hard at work behind the scenes to make it even bigger and better this time around. And to boost this worthwhile event further, they are sending out a plea in the hope of recruiting more volunteers.
Matt Fyfe, who is the Poppyscotland Area Organiser for Aberdeen, said: “We have a great team of volunteers here in Aberdeen, but we need a few more willing individuals or groups to come forward to lend a hand on the day.
“What’s more, we are on the lookout for any performers to step forward to offer their services to perform at lunchtime in St Nicholas Square. We also need corporate teams to collect for us by taking part in our ‘Corporate Raid’. We want to collect as much money as we can on the day to boost the Scottish Poppy Appeal, but the north-east has a proud military heritage and the public always responds well to our appeal.”
A Corporate Raid sees staff from various organisations competing against each other to see who can raise the most amount of money over the course of the working day. Many times this involves manning collections at key thoroughfares, although teams are also encouraged to come up with their own novel ideas of encouraging public donations. It is hoped that many employers, big and small, will get involved this year.
Mr Fyfe, who was awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List this year for services to veterans in Aberdeenshire, is a former Royal Highland Fusilier RSM and lives in Balmedie. Having collected for almost two decades, Matt and his fellow volunteers have raised more than £1 million and distributed in excess of a million poppies in the area.
Aberdeen Poppy Day takes place on the 8th of November from 8am to 6pm. Last year, the event featured a performance from the Robert Gordon School Pipe band and there was be a customised motorbike on show all day.
To take part or to volunteer at this year’s Aberdeen Poppy Day, please contact Matt Fyfe on 01224 707 768, or at britishlegionaberdeen@btconnect.com. Also helping to organise the event is Alistair Black, Poppyscotland’s Area Organiser for Banchory, who can be contacted on 07980 906 080, or at alec2247@sky.com. If you are a local business who would like more information on the ‘Corporate Raid’, please contact Poppyscotland Corporate Fundraiser Stuart Lang on 0141 338 6588, or at s.lang@poppyscotland.org.uk.
Frances Beveridge, Poppyscotland’s Regional Fundraiser for the North of Scotland and one of the organisers of Aberdeen Poppy Day, said: “Aberdeen’s first-ever Poppy Day was a great success, but we want this year’s event to be even bigger and better. To make that happen, I am calling on the people of Aberdeen and the surrounding areas to come out and support this event in any way that they can which will allow us to continue our ongoing work to help the Armed Forces community in Scotland.”
Poppyscotland’s volunteers form a 10,000-strong team covering every city, town and village in Scotland. They help the charity to pin more than five million poppies on to Scotland’s coats, jackets and jumpers. The Scottish Poppy Appeal raised around £3 million last year thanks to the support of the public and the dedication of our volunteers. For more information or to chat about this great opportunity, please contact Poppyscotland’s Volunteer Support Coordinator, Kate Jenkins, on 0131 550 1597 or 07458 016 089, or e-mail to volunteer@poppyscotland.org.uk.
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Notes to editors
- For further information please contact David A. Findlay, PR Manager at Poppyscotland, on 0131 550 1580 or 079797 35611, or email at findlay@poppyscotland.org.uk.
- Poppyscotland provides life-changing support to the Armed Forces community. Money raised from the Scottish Poppy Appeal and Poppyscotland’s year-round fundraising enables them to deliver support to members of the Armed Forces community in Scotland by providing tailored funding and assistance. The charity also funds services in advice, employment, housing, mental health, mobility and respite. Please note that we are known as “Poppyscotland”, and not “PoppyScotland” or “Poppy Scotland”. For more information, please visit us at: poppyscotland.org.uk.
