Home-Start Aberdeen have helped to launch a fantastic project in the city that is designed to raise awareness of the work of charities and gives people a place to meet and make friends.

Representatives from Blooming Big Aberdeen and Home-Start Aberdeen came together in Hazlehead Park to celebrate the colourful addition of a freshly-painted Home-Start Aberdeen bench.

Organisations in Aberdeen have been encouraged to create an eye-catching bench design that reflects their identity and activities, then work jointly with the other project partners to implement it. 

“We first heard about the friendly bench project some months ago and were instantly captivated by the idea,” says Georgette Cobban, scheme manager, Home-Start Aberdeen. “Our raison d’être is to provide city-based families who may be suffering from isolation with emotional and practical support. We hope that the bench will encourage parents who didn’t know about our services to consider getting in touch.” 

The sun shone over Hazlehead Park as the final touches were put to the orange and pink bench accompanied, by the celebratory skirl of bagpipes. Staff and volunteers from Home-Start Aberdeen were joined by families who are supported by the charity to celebrate it’s completion. 

 Georgette added, “I also anticipate that the bench will become a popular meeting point for our existing families and their volunteers, as many of them like to make use of the fantastic community spaces that we have here in the city.”

If you want to get in touch with your local Home-Start, you can find the location of all the Home-Starts along with their contact details, by clicking here.