Group’s takings push charity ball sum past £100,000

A charity ball has raised more than £100,000 for vulnerable people across Aberdeen.

The event on behalf of the city-based social care charity VSA raised £100,550, and almost £20,000 of that was raised by generous customers at three Aberdeen pubs.

Signature Pubs sponsored the annual charity ball, and has committed to sponsoring the next two, with the aim of raising £100,000 in total for the charity over three years.

Ticket sales for the ball, a raffle and an auction raised £81,800 and Signature Pubs donated Saturday night’s takings from The Illicit Still, The Bieldside and the Paramount bar.

Garreth Wood, co-owner of the Signature Pub Group, was among the 300 guests, dressed in black and gold for the Golden Ball theme at the Beach Ballroom on Saturday night.

He said: “We’re delighted that so many people visited Paramount, The Bieldside and The Illicit Still throughout the day and night on Saturday, knowing that the busier we were the more money we’d be able to donate to VSA.” The money raised will be used to support a variety of VSA’s projects, including Easter Anguston Farm at Culter, which provides training for workers with learning difficulties, as well as its Young Carers scheme for youngsters who look after relatives.

VSA events officer Sheila Munro said: “We are absolutely blown away by the incredible amount raised at the Golden Ball and would like to thank everyone who so generously supported us.

“The annual ball is our main fundraising event of the year and this £100,550 will make a huge difference to the lives of all the people we support.”