Burns Supper a Great Succes for VSA's Linn Moor School

Manchester United Manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, was out and about in Midsomer Norton in Somerset at the weekend during a visit to the area as a guest at the home of Stuart Le Gassick of aAIM Group.  Sir Alex and a number of other Scots joined English guests for a belated Burns Supper on Saturday 24^th March, hosted by Stuart, with the aim of raising funds to kick-start an appeal for VSA's Linn Moor School, a national resource for children with complex additional support needs, which is based in Aberdeen and part of local social care charity VSA (formerly Voluntary Service Aberdeen). The weekend was a great success, raising more than GBP100,000!

This extraordinary event came about when singer and broadcaster, Fiona Kennedy, offered herself and BBC Radio Scotland's broadcaster, Mark Stephen, as a Burns Night Auction prize at a VSA fundraising event last November. Stuart Le Gassick bid a large sum which prompted after-dinner speaker and diarist, Peter Mitchell to throw in his services too. The Burn's Supper had to fit in with the commitments of special guest of honour and great Burn's fan, Sir Alex Ferguson, which is why it was taking place long after the traditional date.

Fiona was Mistress of Ceremonies, entertaining guests with her charm and delightful Scottish songs, while Peter supported her as Master of Ceremonies and Mark performed a stirring rendition of Tam O' Shanter.

Light-hearted rivalry was the order of the evening and while Peter cracked a few jokes about the English, he met his match in former MP, businessman and broadcaster, David Mellor, who had a few cutting words to say about the Scots when he responded on behalf of the English - all in the very best of humour, of course!

With a traditional haggis supper prepared by English celebrity chef Brian Turner, and the presence of special guest Sir Alex - already a keen supporter of VSA - this was a fantastic high profile event to launch Linn Moor School's fundraising Appeal.

On Sunday morning, Scotland lined up against England for a clay pigeon shoot and archery competition as part of an early St George's Day celebration, and a team of Scots, led by Sir Alex, won the day! This truly English day continued with a traditional lunch prepared by Brian Turner and entertainment by the Wurzels.

Stuart Le Gassick said, "I have spent many happy times in Aberdeen, and was delighted to be involved with this worthy cause.  This weekend was an opportunity to both raise funds for VSA and to return some of the wonderful hospitality I have received over the years from my Aberdonian friends."

Linn Moor School, which is the beneficiary of fundraising at the weekend event, is an excellent residential and day facility based in Aberdeen, where children and young people with complex additional support needs from all over the UK receive first class education and care. All the students have severe learning difficulties, many demonstrate challenging behaviour and most are further challenged by autism, but Linn Moor truly believes that their needs should not become barriers to their potential to learn.

The School's aim is to provide a safe, secure and enabling environment, with a friendly, relaxed and calm atmosphere, where students can live, learn and achieve their maximum individual potential. It recognises and promotes individual ability, encourages the creativity of students, and makes learning fun!

Kenneth Simpson, Chief Executive of VSA, said, "Funds raised through Linn Moor's Appeal this year will be invested into improving the facilities at the School to ensure that we can continue to offer the highest standards of residential care, education and fun activities to the students. We are therefore delighted that Stuart Le Gassick organised this event at his own home to kick start the Appeal and would like to thank him warmly for this initiative. It was a great weekend which I thoroughly enjoyed, and which has raised a fantastic GBP100,000 for Linn Moor. Naturally I was supporting the Scottish contingent!"

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