Supporting Our Third Sector

When I sat down this morning to work on some more Celebrate Aberdeen tasks, I took a bit of time to reflect on what we've been working on these past 13 years or so - pandemic aside - and I came to the conclusion (to be fair, I knew it anyway!) that it really is a massive privilege to be part of our region's third sector, albeit on a small scale.

We have a huge range of charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups signing up to our Union Street parade on a daily basis just now, and it's a fantastic reminder of just how diverse the sector is and how important all these organisations are to Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. It's not possible to imagine where we'd be as a society without them all. In fact, it doesn't bear thinking about - not even for a split second.

There are so many people working tirelessly to help others, whether that's staff, volunteers or fundraising supporters. Over the years, I've had the opportunity to speak to quite a number of charity representatives and to say the experience has been humbling would be the greatest of understatements.

Perhaps one of the biggest takeaways I have from dealing with people in the third sector is just how selfless, positive and hardworking most are. I don't suppose it can be easy to be enthusiastic all the time, when budgets are being cut, demand for services is increasing, and the cost of living crisis continues to put pressure on both at work and at home.

But my experience is that the third sector is a resilient one and the people involved in it are passionate about their cause, dedicated and determined; basically the best the world has to offer.?

When our paraders take to the street at the end of August they come in high spirits and with huge smiles on their faces.?

In fact, when we brought the parade back after the pandemic I actually had several people come up to me and ask if I was okay and to check that everything was alright with my own family and homelife following lockdown. Now, that's community!

So PLEASE when you're going about your working lives, think of our third sector and how you might be able to support. It's not always about donations and fundraising - giving of your time, personally or professionally, can be just as valuable. Though don't get me wrong, money still talks!

And if you're about in Aberdeen on Saturday, August 26th, please come to Union Street at 11am and cheer on our paraders as they make their way down the Granite Mile. If you can't make it then you can still do your bit by giving us a follow on social (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Linkedin) and helping to spread the word.

More information about Celebrate Aberdeen and what we do can be found at www.celebrate-aberdeen.org