UK. Aberdeen International Airport has selected Kayleigh’s Wee Stars and We Too as its new charity partners.
The Scottish airport company invited charities to suggest potential partnerships at the end of last year. A staff vote at the airport led to Kayleigh’s Wee Stars and We Too being appointed following the charities submitting a joint bid.
The partnership will see the airport commit future fundraising events and donations to the charities.
Kayleigh’s Wee Stars, which is based in Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire, provides support to families with a child who has a terminal illness. Its mission, through financial grants, is to ensure families can “make precious memories together”.
Since 2012, Kayleigh’s Wee Stars has built strong connections in hospitals and hospices across Scotland to ensure families know about the cause. The organisation works closely with dedicated health professionals and to date over 350 families have received support, with over £750,000 (US$978,000) paid in grants.
We Too is a parent-driven organisation, based in Aberdeen and covering the Northeast of Scotland, to empower families of children with disabilities.
It produces a free, quarterly What’s On Guide for families with ASN (additional support needs) children. The charity also offers peer support, organises a monthly children’s club and a school holiday programme as well as bespoke ASN/Customer Service Training to organisations and six-week parent/carer and sibling courses.
Aberdeen International Airport Operations Director Max Beveridge said: “We are delighted to announce our official charity partnership with Kayleigh’s Wee Stars and We Too. Our charity partner is chosen by our own airport staff with a remarkable majority voting for the unique joint bid the charities submitted.
“We look forward to working with both charities in the coming year and hope that our fundraising efforts will contribute to the continuation of their life changing work in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.”
We Too Chief Executive Phionna McInnes commented: “We are absolutely delighted and want to say thank you to Aberdeen International Airport staff for choosing us as a charity partner.
“Being part of a joint application with Kayleigh’s Wee Stars was an exciting prospect and we are looking forward to working together with the airport and its staff.”
“We believe that as two small organisations, we’re stronger together and each can bring something unique to the partnership with Aberdeen International Airport” – Kayleigh’s Wee Stars Co-founder Jonathan Cordiner
Kayleigh’s Wee Stars Co-founder Jonathan Cordiner added: “We’re thrilled to have been chosen by Aberdeen International Airport staff as one of their charity partners of the year. This is our 10th year and the partnership will make a huge difference to our ambitious target to raise £100,000 (US$130,000) to ensure our longer-term viability and will give us confidence that we will be able to continue supporting families until 2023 and beyond.
“And to be part of a joint application with We Too is really special too. We know this is an unusual approach, but we believe that as two small organisations, we’re stronger together and each can bring something unique to the partnership with Aberdeen International Airport. We’re excited to see what we can achieve together.”
Aberdeen Airport noted that tens of thousands of pounds were raised through its previous charity partnership, with Befriend a Child, which came to an end in 2020.
