80:20 and BP Donate Bonus to Help Local Children's Charity
October 2009
Charity is the winner after a leading energy sector company gave up a four-figure bonus to help Aberdeen support group Befriend A Child.
80:20 Procurement Services had significantly increased spending with a local engineering products supplier Brammer over the past 12 months to earn enough 'points' to receive £2,700 worth of free goods.
In keeping with its business ethos, Aberdeen-based 80:20 Procurement Services reported the rebate to its main client BP and both companies agreed it should be donated to charity. 80:20 passed on the benefits of 'vouchers' to clients by purchasing stock and then donated more than the value of the bonus to charity after deciding to round up the figure to £3,000.
Befriend A Child supports children who are in need of a role model to improve self-confidence. Befrienders spend five or six hours every month with the children, taking them to a range of attractions from a museum to the beach, providing a chance for many to escape difficult and stressful home lives.
Befriend A Child also provides a range of activities at its Base Unit in Bon Accord Square, offering youngsters the opportunity to take part in cooking, arts and crafts, board games and pool.
Duncan Peter, Communications and Funding Officer at Befriend A Child, said: "We are delighted with the generous donation of £3,000 from 80:20 and BP. We're grateful they considered our work with deprived and vulnerable young people in Aberdeen to be a worthwhile cause.
"We are constantly seeking funding to allow us to match adult volunteers with youngsters from the city, and this donation will allow us to support a new relationship for a whole year."
Befriend A Child was formed in 1975 with just half a dozen volunteers and two part-time staff members. Today, the organisation has more than 120 volunteer Befrienders and was able to 'Turn A Frown Upside Down' ? the charity's motto ? for 152 young people aged between 5 and 18 last year. Currently there is a waiting list of 29 children for the service due to a lack of funds.
80:20 Director Mandi Dorward said: "We're delighted to help such a worthwhile charity such as Befriend A Child. I was extremely impressed with everyone at the charity and their commitment and passion to helping children in Aberdeen.
"The bonus due to 80:20 was a major surprise to us as we do not take rebates from any of our suppliers thus ensuring that we provide a value-for-money service for our clients. After discussions with BP, we both agreed that the right thing to do was to make a donation to local charity.
"80:20 has decided to make Befriend A Child our nominated charity and we will continue to support them in any way we can in the future."
Befriend A Child recruits caring adults to support children on a one-to-one basis. Many of the children referred to the charity are among the most vulnerable and deprived in the community. Referrals are accepted, with the child and parents' permission, from agencies within Aberdeen such as the Social Work Department, educational psychologists and health visitors.
To find out more about the Befriend A Child contact Duncan Peter on +44 1224 210060 or e-mail duncan@befriendachild.org.uk is based at 9 Bon-Accord Square, Aberdeen, AB11 6DJ, UK.
80:20 Procurement Services is based at the city's East Tullos Industrial Estate and employs 14 staff.
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