News

2011 has been a great year for us. In order to meet the demand for our breaks we have extended our Programme by two weeks and plan to give over 350 children with a much needed break at Ardvullin this year. Our season started on Monday 4th April and it will continue until Friday 4th November. We have worked with 3 women’s aid refuges, 4 young carers groups, 2 family support organisations, 2 schools, one HIV support centre, one football academy, and 17 community based groups to provide vulnerable children with a break.

We are delighted that Angus MacLellan has remained in post as our Project Leader and his dedication and tireless enthusiasm and energy ensures that each child has the best possible HopScotch experience in the safest environment.

Activities this year have included making delicious Belgian chocolates at the Chocolate Factory in Oban; horseriding, canoeing, indoor climbing, and old favourites such as visiting Ardtoe Beach, the Sea Life Centre and the Gondola trip to Aonach Mor.

We purchased an inflatable Human Table Football thanks to a grant from Hymans Robertson. It is a fantastic team activity which works on the same basis as a traditional table football but the children are the players!

Whilst we have extended our season it has also been a challenging year for us financially as the current economic climate becomes more difficult for everyone and all charities are now competing for less money. We feel it is more important than ever to help vulnerable children and we are always continuing to strive to find ways of reaching those who are most in need, and to seek funding to enable our work to continue.

Thanks to donations from the Peoples Postcode Lottery, SpiFox, the Awards for All, Michael Bargeton Memorial Fund, and the Tartan Army Children’s Charity we upgraded our kitchen and shower facilities at Ardvullin. The new kitchen has ensured that the young people have a much more enjoyable and safer cooking and eating experience which in turn helps to develop young people’s social and cooking skills.

This year we have commissioned a consultant to undertake a research project to identify the short and long term benefits of a HopScotch break on young people. All groups visiting us this year have contributed towards this research, along with former participants, and the results of the research should be published in early 2012.

As we look forward to 2012 we plan to run another 31 week programme, funding permitted, and fundraise for a purpose-built indoor games room.

We are very grateful to all the Trusts, Companies and individuals who gave so generously to our cause in 2011, without them we would not be able to provide one young person with a much need break away.

“The majority of the children have never been away from their Mums and never been on a holiday. We feel they massively benefited from this amazing environment and location, gaining confidence, overcoming fears and achieving many personal goals. They also benefited from the well structured programme and Angus was a very positive, calm, patient male role model.”
Claire Jolly, East Dunbartonshire Women’s Aid

“On Tuesday we went to the beach and we made bread on the BBQ – it was so much fun! The whole week was amazing and Angus was very nice and good to talk to.” Ashleigh

“I liked the party at the end and playing with lots of people. I loved playing football and the Chocolate Factory. I LOVED the whole week. Josh

“I loved coming to Hopscotch. I thought the house was going to be a lot smaller but it was huge when we got showers I was like’ wow’! We went indoor climbing and it was fun, all I can say is thanks and I enjoyed it.” Keira

“The HopScotch break entailed many benefits for the children involved; they were able to expand and build on their peer relationships whilst enjoying their freedom and space to play. In terms of our group of children being Young Carers, building relationships isn’t always something that comes easily to them, and HopScotch as a setting enabled this.”
Vicky Anderson, Midlothian Young Carers/Children 1st
A group of intrepid Scotland Supporters recently walked from Altnafeadh to Glen Nevis culminating in climbing Ben Nevis, and raised an incredible £5,500 for HopScotch.
Carey McEvoy from TACC said “This was one of the 3 TACC Kiltwalks that took place, and we’re delighted to be able to donate £5,500 to HopScotch. HopScotch is a fantastic charity that means a lot to the guys who took part in this grueling challenge.”
Our 2010 season got underway on 5th April with a group of young carers from Aberdeen who had a fantastic week canoeing, climbing, on nature walks, decorating pottery and having BBQs. We are delighted that our team at Ardvullin remains the same. Angus MacLellan has rejoined as Project Worker and Barry and Elaine continue to deliver caretaker and housekeeping duties. We look forward to welcoming 26 further groups throughout the year including Rowanfield School in Edinburgh, Dunfermline Women's Aid and Findlay Family Network in Glasgow.
St James Place Foundation and the Robertson Trust have funded our Project Workers salary for 2010.
For the 2nd year running the Barbara Ward Foundation for Children has covered our transportation costs.
In October 2009 The Wooden Spoon generously funded a new Play Area at Ardvullin at a cost of £15,000. It includes a slide and a climbing wall and compliments our existing Adventure Playground. It was officially opened on 15th October 2009 by Steuart Howie, Chairman of Trustees at Wooden Spoon.
HopScotch took delivery of a new Mercedes bus in July 2009 kindly donated by Eagle Aid, National Lottery Awards for All, First Group, the Barbara Ward Foundation and Concept Group.
North British Hotel Trust awarded us £5,670 which funded activity costs for our 2009 season.
May 2008 - Lloyds TSB and the Robertson Trust funded our Project Workers salary for the 3rd year running. A huge thank you to both these organisations for their continued support.
In April 2008 Children in Need kindly awarded us £9,937 towards the running costs of our minibus for our 2008 respite programme.
HBOS at Sighthill in Edinburgh raised £1,688 in April through dress down Friday. A big thank you to all involved.
In March the Charity Committee at HSBC Securities Services in Edinburgh (part of the HSBC Group) awarded us a cheque for £10,320 after being chosen as their Charity of Year in 2007. A huge thank you to all the staff who took part in lots of energetic and fun activities!

We are currently fundraising for a new kitchen at Ardvullin and we plan to undertake a research project which will determine the long and short term benefits a HopScotch breaks has on the children.

For further information please contact us on 0131 336 5554.