In advance of the registered charity and social enterprise’s milestone birthday next year, and to coincide with Challenge Poverty Week, plans have been unveiled for Empower Aberdeen.

The free-to-attend one-day expo and series of presentations at Aberdeen Music Hall on Monday, October 7th is being spearheaded by Scarf and backed by Vital Energi, Poverty Alliance and Aberdeen City Council Community Planning. The event, which is believed to be the only one of its kind in the area, will bring together almost 40 not-for-profit and third-sector organisations and over 100 professionals offering a range of advice from energy efficiency, finances and housing to food banks, neurodiversity awareness and wellbeing.

The creation of the drop-in day is seen as an important extension of Scarf’s work to deliver impartial energy saving advice to help lower fuel bills and carbon emissions to householders, communities and businesses throughout the North East of Scotland.

Commenting on preparations, Scarf’s contracts & commercial manager Dave Sims said: “As part of Challenge Poverty Week which runs from October 7th to 13th, we have been working hard to bring together, in one place, as many organisations as possible to facilitate easy access to a range of quality advice.

“We hope that visitors will be able to establish and grow their support networks to help them in a variety of ways whilst heightening awareness of the range of assistance that exists in and around the city.”

Scarf Co-CEO Lawrence Johnston added: “As Scarf looks ahead to its 40th anniversary in 2025, it is a fitting time to highlight how and where to access help and advice, and we are delighted to create a platform to bring together a range of help.”