supported
accommodation
foyer learning
education +
training
foyer health
foyer restaurant +
cafe at His Majesty's
Theatre
News
ABERDEEN FOYER’S LATEST SOCIAL ENTERPRISE RECEIVES £15,000 BOOSTOil and gas exploration and production company, Oilexco North Sea Limited, has donated £15,000 to Aberdeen Foyer to support the new Foyer Restaurant at His Majesty’s Theatre.
Building on the success of the Foyer Restaurant + Gallery on Crown Street, the new restaurant, the Foyer at HMT, is now open for lunch and dinner, offering a la carte and pre-theatre menus with a strong focus on fresh and simple classic dishes, offering diners good food paired with excellent value and high quality service.
Canadian organisation Oilexco has been based in Aberdeen since 2002 operating exploration, development and production properties located in the UK North Sea.
Dave Marshall, Oilexco’s general manager, said “Aberdeen Foyer and the Foyer Restaurant have an excellent reputation in Aberdeen and beyond. It is tremendously encouraging to see Aberdeen Foyer’s social enterprises continue to flourish generating funds to support of the charity’s core objective of supporting our young people. We had no hesitation in taking up the opportunity to enter into this partnership, a partnership that will allow us to help Aberdeen Foyer have a positive influence on the lives of even more young people.”
Aberdeen Foyer’s, deputy chief executive, Edel Harris said, “Partnership working is very important to the Foyer. We are very happy to welcome Oilexco as a new Investor in the work of Aberdeen Foyer through the generous support of our latest social enterprise; the Foyer at HMT. The theatre is a well loved and beautiful building; it will be a pleasure to welcome customers at our restaurant and café bar in such a vibrant hub at the heart of the city.”
NEW APPOINTMENT FOR DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Aberdeen Foyer’s Deputy Chief Executive, Edel Harris has announced that she will be leaving the organisation in April to take up a new post as Chief Executive of Cornerstone. Nick Baxter, Cornerstone’s present Chief Executive is retiring in June.
Commenting on her appointment Edel said, “I have loved working at the Foyer, it is a great organisation to work for and has given me fantastic opportunities and experiences that I never thought I would have. I am thrilled to be appointed to the Chief Executive’s post of Cornerstone and know that my experience at the Foyer will stand me in good stead for the challenges that lie ahead. I will miss my colleagues at the Foyer and wish them and the organisation continued success.”
Edel has been with Aberdeen Foyer since November 2000 and over the past 7 years, as a member of the SMT, has been responsible for a wide range of innovation and business development. Some of the key areas of work Edel has pioneered were in establishing the Foyer’s Community Health Team, establishing and overseeing the Foyer Drive initiative, the Ben & Jerry's Partnershop and most recently the development of the Restaurant and Cafe at HMT. At a corporate level her contribution has also covered a lead role for HR, fundraising and marketing.
David Paton, Chairman of Aberdeen Foyer commented, “While I am saddened to see Edel leave us she should be very proud of all her achievements at Aberdeen Foyer and we are equally thankful for the lasting contribution she has made to the Foyer's success.”
Ken Milroy, Chief Executive at Aberdeen Foyer added, “I am delighted for Edel; she has been a great and supportive colleague to me over the last 7 years and will remain a close friend. I know Board members and staff join me in wishing her every success in her new role.”
ABERDEEN FOYER AND HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE ANNOUNCE A NEW VENTURE
Social Enterprise Foyer Restaurant and Gallery to operate the restaurant, café bar and private dining facility at HMT
From January 2008 Aberdeen Foyer will operate the restaurant, café bar and hospitality suite at the theatre, providing discerning diners an experience which has become synonymous with the word Foyer in Aberdeen; fine food paired with excellent value and high quality service.
Aberdeen Foyer's, Deputy Chief Executive, Edel Harris said, "Building on 9 years' experience of running the Foyer Restaurant & Gallery on Crown Street, this is an excellent opportunity to fulfil our ambition to expand our successful social enterprise. We look forward to opening the Foyer at HMT and working together with the team at Aberdeen Performing Arts on this exciting venture. The theatre is a well loved and beautiful building; it will be a pleasure to welcome customers at our restaurant and cafe in such a vibrant hub at the heart of the city."
Aberdeen Performing Arts Chief Executive Duncan Hendry commented, "This new partnership is an exciting development for The Foyer and Aberdeen Performing Arts. The Foyer at HMT will provide an excellent dining experience at His Majesty's and we are also delighted to be working with a company which has such a superb record as a social enterprise organisation."
ABERDEEN OILMAN’S GOLF ASSOCIATION (AOGA) SUPPORTS ABERDEEN FOYER
On behalf of AOGA, First Minister Alex Salmond hands over keys for a new van to Edel Harris, deputy chief executive of Aberdeen Foyer, following the Chamber of Commerce OE07 business breakfast at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre. Members of AOGA raised £29,000 at an annual dinner at Gleneagles for two vans, one for use in Aberdeen City and one to serve Aberdeenshire. The vans are an integral part of the Foyer’s Move-On initiative.
At the end of their tenancies with Aberdeen Foyer, the majority of young people are ready and able to move on to independent living. However in a few cases support needs continue beyond the Foyer period. The Move-On initiative provides help with moving in, making a home, adjusting to a new budget, establishing social networks, support and encouragement to continue at college, work or training. In addition the Move-On initiative provides a mentoring/befriending service, to help young people with the practicalities of independent living.
Edel Harris of Aberdeen Foyer said “I would like to thank the members of the Aberdeen Oilman’s Golf Association for providing financial support to enable Aberdeen Foyer to put two 'move-on' vans on the road in Aberdeen City and North Aberdeenshire. The vans will be of immeasurable value in order to carry out various services offered by the Move-On initiative. Often the transition to independent living needs to be a gradual process and some former tenants struggle when they find themselves cut off from all the services and support they had access to at the Foyer.'”
Mike Salter, AOGA chairman, said “AOGA has organised the event at Gleneagles for the last 29 years and about 5 years ago we introduced a charity element to the Friday evening dinner and since then have raised over £200,000 for local charities. At the outset we made it our objective to support charities working with children or young people in northeast Scotland, particularly those who are not 'mainstream' and may be overlooked in the normal course of events. It gives us great pleasure on behalf of the AOGA sponsors and their guests to make this donation to Aberdeen Foyer.
We have also this year been able to make further donations to Marlpool and Hazelwood schools in Aberdeen, as well as to Friends of Anchor. We look forward to being able to do similar things following next year’s event”
