Knight Property Group is delighted to confirm it has let Balmoral House in the heart of Aberdeen’s west end to children’s charity, Charlie House.
The charity has agreed a three-year lease of the building, which is located on Carden Place. Extending to 3,875 sq ft over four floors, it will provide an ideal hub for the charity’s wide-ranging support services and will be home to more than 50 staff and volunteers each year. The property also benefits from 16 car parking spaces.
Charlie House is a children’s charity that aims to improve the quality of life for babies, children and young people in the North-east of Scotland who have life-limiting or life-threatening conditions and provide support to their families.
Established in 2011, the charity provides activities and projects that enable families to gain confidence, engage socially, enjoy activities together, meet others in a similar situation, share information and get emotional and practical support when they need it.
In November last year, The Barrack Charitable Trust (funded by Knight Property Group) awarded £5,000 funding to the Charlie House ‘Big Build Appeal’, to go towards initial interior design costs at the Charlie House Specialist Support Centre, to be built on a four-acre site in the grounds of Aberdeen’s Woodend Hospital.
The purpose-built centre will have eight bedrooms, with additional family accommodation. It will also feature a sensory room, library, spa pool, craft room, teen den, soft play area, therapy room, star room, for end-of-life care & bereavement, outdoor play area and sensory gardens.
As well as being a haven and providing life-charging access to respite care, the centre will act as a hub from which all activities and support services provided by Charlie House will be coordinated.
Tracy Johnstone, Founder & Chairperson of Charlie House, said:
“Over the next three years, Balmoral House will provide us with a great base to deliver and grow the services of Charlie House, as well as promote the ‘Big Build Appeal’ which has currently reached almost 50% of our £8m target.
“We are very grateful for the continued support we receive from Knight Property Group and The Barrack Charitable Trust to help make this move possible.
“Through the generosity of others, we have been able to develop and grow our projects to support these wonderful children. With continued support we hope to be there when families need us most.
“We believe that every child should receive a smooth transition from hospital to home, practical and emotional support should be available for them and their family, and they should have access to inclusive activities so that they can live life to the full and make memories for the whole family to treasure.”
James Barrack, Founder & Chairman of Knight Property Group said:
“Balmoral House will provide a perfect base for Charlie House as a hub for the charity’s services and we are very proud to have such a worthwhile charity as a tenant and also to be able to support the vital services it provides, through the Barrack Charitable Trust.”
Established in 2009 by Knight Property Group Founder and Chairman James Barrack, the Trust aims to assist organisations cope with the decrease in charitable donations for specific projects due to the economic climate faced at the time. In recent times, this has been increasingly vital. Over the years, the Trust has donated more than £1.14m to 194 registered charities all over Scotland.
Balmoral House is located close to Queen’s Cross roundabout and within easy reach of the city’s public transport network and also offers immediate access to the main road infrastructure serving the city. The surrounding area accommodates a variety of occupiers from the energy, finance and professional sectors.
Graham & Sibbald and CBRE are joint agents for Knight Property Group at Balmoral House.
To donate to the Charlie House ‘Big Build Appeal’, click HERE
If you would like more information about the Big Build appeal, please call 01224 313333 or email: bigbuild@charliehouse.org.uk
