AAB helps raise over £100k at first AABIE charity ball held in Northern Ireland

AAB hosted over 450 guests at the AABIE Charity Ball, held for the first time in Newry on Saturday night (June 8) 

Held in the city’s Canal Court, the Ball raised an astonishing £100,369 for the AABIE Charitable Initiative (known as ‘AABIE’) with all funds going directly to the charity.   

Feargal McCormack, AAB Managing Partner – Ireland commented “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who played a part in making the AABIE Ball such a success. To our connections who made such generous donations, our table hosts and guests who joined us on the night and to every person that made our event possible, thank you so very much.  

“One of the driving forces behind joining AAB back in 2022 was the synergy across both our teams. Being active members of our local communities and giving something back through AABIE is key to this. We are truly thrilled, and incredibly proud, of what we have achieved together for AABIE this weekend.” 

Formed in 2016, AABIE is AAB’s very own charity, and is the platform which enables everyone across AAB, including AAB team members, to invest in their local communities through grant funding and volunteer time. This approach means that the support AABIE provides is varied and widespread, and the charity is well-placed to help many people.  

To date, AABIE has supported over 180 charities across the United Kingdom and Island of Ireland. The latest grant round (ended 31 March 2024) saw AABIE pledge over £38,000 to 28 different charities, the largest amount the charity has ever pledged in a single grant round.   

Some of the recent charities AABIE has supported include donating over £10,000 to Down Right Brilliant (Newry and Mourne), Fighting Words Northern Ireland (Belfast) and the Gary Kelly Cancer Support Centre (Drogheda). The funding enabled Down Right Brilliant to provide an overnight residential trip to an outdoor activity centre for adult members of DRB, and to provide a workshop for siblings of members with Down Syndrome. Fighting Words Northern Ireland ran an after-school creative writing course for local teenagers with their funding, and the Gary Kelly Cancer Support Centre was able to cover the cost of therapists providing three months of reflexology therapy for clients who have a cancer diagnosis. 

Following these donations, AABIE reached the milestone of pledging over £300,000 of vital grant funding since the charity was launched. Another recent milestone achieved by AABIE was reaching over 6,000 hours of volunteer time delivered. All AAB team members are entitled to a day of volunteer leave each year to support community projects and causes close to their hearts.  

Sheena Anderson, AABIE Chair said “When we launched AABIE in 2016 we only had one community we worked within, which was Aberdeen, and it is fantastic to see how we have managed to increase the reach and impact AABIE has in new and different communities as AAB has grown.  

“Raising over £100K is a wonderful result and will enable AABIE to continue to support so many charities and worthy causes across the United Kingdom and Island of Ireland. It is a privilege to work with my fellow AABIE Trustees and see what a significant impact grant funding and volunteer time can have on the lives of so many people.”   

Emma Lancaster, AAB Chief Executive added: “AABIE is a very special charity, and the way we operate is that bit different. Everyone across AAB is involved with AABIE, and it is our team members who truly make the work AABIE does possible through volunteering and raising almost all money donated through grant funding. 

“We are very proud of AABIE, and proud of the work our teams do to ensure AABIE is successful. But we know there is so much more we can do to continue to support the communities we operate in, and we can only do that if AABIE has the funds available to support the charities and worthy causes who need our help. Achieving what we have this last weekend will enable this amazing charity to continue to carry out its great work, and we are so thankful to everyone for their support and generosity.”  

The current AABIE grant round closes on 30 June 2024. More information on how to apply for funding or volunteer time can be found at aabgroup.com/about/aabie/.