North-east house builder CALA Homes has today donated £3,000 to Aberdeen-based social care charity VSA’s Easter Anguston Farm Appeal, strengthening the partnership between the two.
The appeal, which is being backed by the Evening Express, has seen people from across Scotland step forward to donate and raise funds in aid of the much-loved facility which is at risk of permanent closure.
The farm, based at Peterculter, is one of many VSA services that has been badly impacted as a result of the global coronavirus pandemic. The farm has been closed throughout the duration of the pandemic and is facing a bill of £10,000 a week in costs and lost revenue.
VSA bosses fear that the loss in revenue may mean the farm won’t be able to open to the public again - unless the black hole can be filled.
Ross Maclennan, Land Director at CALA Homes (North), said: “We have had a relationship with VSA for several years and are very pleased to be able to support its urgent appeal to protect Easter Anguston Farm during the current crisis. We hope our donation goes some way towards maintaining the farm so that it can continue its important work and reopen as soon as possible for people in Aberdeen and beyond to enjoy.”
Easter Anguston is an operational farm and local community resource which serves as a training facility for adults with learning difficulties and other additional support needs. The farm has a café, garden centre, woodland walks and play parks for children which attracts over 20,000 visitors from across the area each year.
Jennifer Mitchell, Director of External Relations, said: “We are very grateful for the donation that CALA Homes has made towards our Easter Anguston Farm Appeal.
"This is a particularly difficult time as we are losing out on our regular sources of fundraising income due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
"We have been truly humbled by people's generosity in the face of such adversity and I cannot express enough how truly grateful we are to all of the people who have donated from across Scotland and have stepped forward to fundraise for us or have made a contribution to our appeal.”