Golden Games partners named as finalists in national awards

The groups behind Aberdeen’s Golden Games are in the running for a national award.

The Golden Games Partnership – comprising Aberdeen Health and Social Care Partnership (ACHSCP), Aberdeen Football Club Community Trust, Sport Aberdeen, Aberdeen Sports Village, Aberdeen City Council and NHS Grampian – has reached the finals of the Scottish Charity Awards 2016. Organised by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), the awards celebrate the life-changing work of charities, community groups and individuals dedicated to making Scotland a better place to live. The Golden Games organising groups have been shortlisted in the ‘Perfect Partnership’ category, which will be judged at the awards night on 09 June in Edinburgh. The Golden Games was launched in 2011 as a series of free events for over-65s, with 10 activities across two days and 80 participants in year one – and had grown to 71 activities across five days and 425 participants by last year. The 2016 Games this June will run for seven full days of free activities. Councillor Len Ironside CBE, chair of Aberdeen’s Integration Joint Board which has strategic responsibility for integrated health and social care services in the city, said: “The Games team really has been the perfect partnership, bringing big health benefits and new friendships to hundreds of older Aberdonians. “From the care homes pentathlon to the individual activities at 30 venues across the city, the Golden Games has inspired older folk to get active, get healthy, get independent and meet new friends. “The Games set out in 2011 to address the health inequalities associated with ageing by focusing on fun and friendship, and on what people can do rather than what they can’t. The event has emphatically achieved its aims. The number of participants was up five-fold in five years by 2015, the number of activities was up seven-fold, and the range of venues now spans the whole city. “We have challenged public perceptions of what older people can and want to do – and by generating interest through the annual summer Games, we have established year-round opportunities for active ageing.” ACHSCP Chief Officer Judith Proctor said: “It’s an honour to be shortlisted for the Perfect Partnership Award as we head into the sixth year of what has proved to be an inspiring initiative, which has drawn interest from colleagues across the UK and among our European twin cities. “Partnership working between the public and third sectors has brought a winning team together to make a big difference to the lives of so many older people in Aberdeen. I am proud of what has been achieved and delighted that hundreds of older people will be enjoying the wellbeing the Games have brought for very many healthy years to come.” SCVO Chief Executive Martin Sime said: “Year after year Scottish charities and voluntary organisations prove themselves to be beacons for creativity, tenacity and innovation. This year’s Scottish Charity Awards finalists demonstrate these qualities in abundance and are shining examples of how people can work together to make Scotland a better place.” All shortlisted entries will also compete for the People’s Choice Award which will be decided by the public via online voting at www.scvo.org.uk/charity-awards