An Aberdeenshire charity overloaded with work since the recent downturn in the oil industry has been given a boost by a group of car enthusiasts.
The Grampian Region of the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club held their 16th annual gathering and car show last month, raising £5,500 for the South West Aberdeenshire Citizens Advice Bureau (Swacab).
Hundreds of visitors visited Drum Castle for the show, admiring about 50 Jaguar and Diamler cars dating from the 1940s to the modern era lined up on the lawn.
The group nominates a charity each year to benefit from the event, and decided that Swacab was a worthy cause.
The charity provides free advice on various issues such as debt, energy, pensions and welfare.
Its main bureau is in Westhill, but there are seven outreach services in Banchory, Aboyne, Alford, Tarland, Lonach, Ballater and Braemar, and staff say their workload has doubled since the downturn in the oil and gas industry.
The funds raised at the car show will go towards helping the charity’s make their service in Banchory bigger.
Eveline Crossan, manager of the Westhill-based charity, said: “The bureau is most grateful that the Grampian Jaguar Enthusiasts Club chose South West Aberdeenshire Citizens Advice Bureau to be this year’s charity.
“We recognise just how much effort the committee puts in to organise and run the very popular event and are honoured to have taken part in it.
“The funds given to the bureau will be used to help fit out and furnish the new Banchory bureau, that will be opening this autumn to replace our current generalist advice outreach service in the town.”