AberNecessities receives £10k grant to help in its mission to ensure no child goes without

Aberdeen-based children’s charity, AberNecessities has received a £10,000 grant from the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation to support the charity’s Bright Future Project, an initiative aimed to help children and families from disadvantageous backgrounds through partnerships with local schools in Aberdeen.

Since its launch in 2019 AberNecessities has supported over 18,000 children through the distribution of essential and basic necessities that no child should go without, from maternity bundles for mother and baby to nappies, formula milk, clothing, toys and equipment for children aged 0-18 years.

The £10,000 grant will fund 660 care packs for families in need, containing breakfasts, snacks, toiletries, household items, and school supplies. These care packs will help ensure children attend school nourished, clean, clothed, and equipped with the basic supplies needed to learn, grow and thrive.

The Bright Future Project focuses on empowering children in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire by providing the resources they need to start each day positively. By ensuring access to essential items, the project helps children feel prepared, confident, and ready to engage fully in their education, giving them the tools to improve their academic performance and unlock their full potential.

Camille Thobois, Stop Hunger Foundation lead, Sodexo UK & Ireland said: “AberNecessities is transforming lives in the Aberdeen community. Our colleagues in our Aberdeen-based Energy & Resources team have been supporting the charity through skills based volunteering and we are pleased to be able to provide additional support to the charity with this grant for its Bright Future Project. Together we’re empowering families to break the cycle of poverty and build brighter futures.”

Danielle Flecher-Horn, Founder of AberNecessities, added: “We are incredibly grateful for Sodexo's continued support and the impactful initiatives we've had the privilege to collaborate on. Providing these care packs will not only support local families but also empower children to engage confidently in their education, helping them contribute meaningfully in school. This partnership is creating opportunities for brighter futures across our city, and we couldn’t be more thankful.'

Sodexo’s Energy & Resources team, based in Aberdeen, has been supporting the charity over the last year through skills-based volunteering. Volunteers have provided 127 hours of volunteering support to the charity including admin support, facilities and grounds maintenance, as well as helping out with donations and deliveries. The team also facilitated a donation of 26 refurbished bikes to Northfield Academy pupils, collaborating with the bike workshop at HMP Addiewell, which is managed by Sodexo.

Sodexo is the founding partner of the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation, a UK registered charity. Since 2005 the Foundation has been focused on empowering the most disadvantaged communities across the UK and Ireland to tackle the root causes of food insecurity and poverty.

The Foundation supports a number of projects and organisations focused on improving skills, supporting mental health, mentoring, providing education opportunities and building financial literacy and confidence from an early age.

Thanks to the financial support of Sodexo, 100% of donations made to the Stop Hunger Foundation will go directly to financing activities and sustainable solutions for disadvantaged communities to exit food insecurity.