A New Beginning
Aberdeen Independent Multiple Sclerosis SCIO (AIMS), registered charity no. SC051225, is run by a small group of dedicated volunteers who offer help and support to those affected by MS and other related neurological conditions in Aberdeen and surrounding areas. We have no affiliation to the MS Society.
Activities
for physical and mental wellbeing
At AIMS we run a series of different activities to suit everyone, all are led by qualified and experienced instructors and can be tailored to the needs of each individual. If you would like further information on any of the classes listed or you have any other questions, please contact us via the Get in Touch button on the previous page,
Chair Based Exercise
Strength and Mobility
Exercises are modified to suit individual needs, each exercise has varying degrees of challenge, and can be performed seated or standing. Zoom classes are held every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday morning.
In addition, we have a face to face exercise class every Thursday morning at Trinity Church, Westhill with plenty of time afterwards for tea/coffee and some socialising.
Seated Yoga
Flexibility
Chair yoga is a general term for practices that modify yoga poses so they can be done while seated.
These modifications make yoga accessible to people who cannot stand, or lack the mobility to move easily from standing to seated to supine positions. Classes are held via Zoom every Wednesday morning.
Mindfulness
Emotional wellbeing
If you feel that you spend a lot of time caught up in your thoughts, worrying about the future, or dwelling on the past, or would like to learn how to respond to difficulties in a different way from how you may have approached things in the past, Mindfulness can help. Join our mindfulness coach every Friday morning on Zoom.
Art Class
Express yourself
Always wanted to try painting? Loved art at school but never had time to pursue it? Want to improve your skills or just try something completely new? Suitable for everyone. Classes held every Wednesday afternoon via Zoom.
Activities
promoting creativity and social interraction
Craft Class
Creativity
Be creative. Try something a bit different. Our craft class has skills in sewing, knitting, crochet, brooch making, card making, you name it, they can do it. Join them every Monday afternoon on Zoom.
Social Group
Tea/Coffee and a chat
Social gatherings may have been curtailed recently, but that doesn't stop us getting together every Wednesday afternoon on Zoom for a fun quiz, tea/ coffee and lots of chat ( and of course cake) .
Social Events
As well as activities on Zoom, we hold regular get togethers at various locations around Aberdeen city and Shire. A great opportunity to meet up and catch up with friends old and new.
Below are photos of some recent meet-ups in Aberdeen, Inverurie, Dyce, Stonehaven and Westhill. Fancy joining us? Check out our Facebook page and come along. Bring a friend too!
FUNDRAISING
As a registered charity, we are reliant on funding from a range of sources. This includes individual donations towards our activities, grant applications and fundraising initiatives. Since our inception in June 2021, we have been overwhelmed by the generosity of our class attendees in terms of both individual donations made and the various fundraising activities they have undertaken for the benefit of AIMS....we are truly indebted to every single one of you! Below is a selection of some of these initiatives.
Walking the West Highand Way
Nicola Crozier and Gemma Milne completed their Walk of the West Highland Way in support of AIMS, raising £2,360!
Normally this is a seven day hike, but Nicola and Gemma did it in an incredible four days, showing great determination and grit to fight through the pain barrier and to keep on walking despite nasty blisters, badly swollen feet, the dreaded midgies and some inclement weather at times. In effect they walked a total of 98.4 miles in just 4 days, pretty much the equivalent of one full marathon every day. An amazing effort ladies and one which was highlighted in a weekend feature in the local press.
Loch Morlich Swim
Maureen Thomson's daughter Nicola Park undertook a sponsored swim of Loch Morlich with her friends and donated the proceeds to AIMS in memory of her mother and all the work Maureen used to do to raise funds for MS through her arts and crafts. They raised over £1700! Thank you so much Nicola, your mum would be so proud!
Nicola's story was also picked up by the local press and an interview was aired on TV Scotland.
Banchory Beast Race
Sarah Bruce and her NHS team of intrepid daredevils, successfully tamed the Banchory Beast.
They kindly chose AIMS as their charity of choice
and raised almost £800.
Great work guys! Your support is very much valued
Oscar Wilde
“One is not always happy when one is good; but one is
always good when one is happy”
Buble and Bubbles
Irene, wife of our AIMS Treasurer John, retired from being a Zumba instructor just prior to Covid. She ran two classes a week for nearly 6 years. She did not have the opportunity to say a proper goodbye to her attendees before the pandemic struck. So, she decided to hold a Buble and Bubbles afternoon tea, one for each set of class members, and ask them to make a donation towards AIMS. Between the 2 teas, 29 ladies raised the brilliant sum of £600 which Irene donated to AIMS. Well done Irene and your Zumba ladies!
30 Day Exercise Challenge
Mary, one of our AIMS members, is wheelchair bound with limited mobility. She challenged herself to complete 30 minutes of exercise each day during November and in the process raised £1,500 for AIMS. Fantastic achievement Mary!
Arts and Crafts Fundraising
Our Art Group exhibited at both Bonnymuir cafe and Books and Beans, raising £600 in total for AIMS.
Our Craft class raised over £400 from craft and card sales at craft fairs at Bonnymuir and Oldmachar Church
GRANT FUNDING
In addition to the fundraising initiatives above, and thanks to our Chairman Ian Gourlay, we have also been successful in achieving significant grant funding.
A massive thank you to each and every one of you for supporting our new organisation!
Aberdeen Independent MS
