Giving Tree 2018

Organised by Befriend a Child

Thank you for helping us give the gift of friendship this Christmas through our Giving Tree appeal. Big or small, your donation will mean that more local children look forward to 2019 with a sense of hope and excitement.

Story

The gift of friendship this Christmas will give children and young people across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire the opportunity to enjoy activities they would otherwise not be able to take part in due to their home circumstances. These children, through no fault of their own, are missing out on their childhood.

Each child that receives your support will have the chance to try new activities with their volunteer befriender who is both a role model and a friend. These experiences build confidence and self esteem and give children an opportunity to explore what life has to offer.

Your Christmas donation of:

£15 could pay for a visit to the cinema for a child and their befriender

£20 could pay for a tubing session for a child and their befriender

£30 could pay for a visit to the circus for a child and their befriender

£50 could pay for a cupcake decorating session for 15 children and their befrienders

The time spent with their befriender will give them memories to cherish.

Thank you

Have a wonderful Christmas!

ARRAN'S STORY

Arran was referred to Befriend a Child when he was nine. It was unpredictable and dangerous for him at home; his dad was often drunk, and he saw aggression and domestic violence towards his mum. Arran's childhood experience was severely limited; his life existed between home and school. He seldom left the house to play, visit or have fun.

Arran would come across as confident but dig deeper and you would see this to be a front. He had a lot of misery and pain in his life and little opportunity to escape.

Arran has now been seeing his befriender for over a year and has had a chance to try lots of things for the first time. Before, he had never been bowling, swimming or hillwalking, nor had the chance to get excited about and look forward to activities and outings like these. At school Arran has grown in confidence and self-esteem. He is also getting on better with his classmates who are more accepting of him. Importantly, the activities he enjoys with his befriender give him a common ground with his peers.

Arran always looks forward to seeing his befriender. Without Befriend a Child, he might still be stuck at home.