As we build momentum to start the new school year, we pause and reflect on this time last year, and the journey that ACE Voices has undertaken. Last year, our 14th year, was filled with love, laughter, friendship and connection. We said our farewells, while at the same time we left the door open, as always, for our friends to return when their journey brought them back. We welcomed new friends with our whole hearts, and we said welcome back to old friends.

Back in September we were delighted to host Generations Working Together’s Intergenerational Learning Roadshow at Heathryburn School in Aberdeen. This was well attended, and highlights were ‘Conversations on the Couch’ with ACE Voices volunteers Gail Lough, Stuart Creighton, Lily Macdonald (and representing Aberdeen Youth Movement) and local councillor Martin Greig. We followed this with a Come and Sing/Play session where members of the public were invited to come along and sing with our intergenerational choir or attend our social session in the evening when we had a campfire and played games. Much fun was had!

This year also saw the introduction of the Ann Crombie Intergenerational Award (more info to follow) This year, the award was given to Ann Crombie (accepted on behalf by her widower and choir member, Ian Crombie) and Cummings Park Community Flat. Everyone involved really appreciated receiving these.

In October, ACE Voices were delighted to move into a permanent home at Absafe Community Hub at Balgownie Lodge in Bridge of Don after our first attempt in 2016-2018. It’s a beautiful building with beautiful grounds, and we are very happy here!
The 2nd Scottish Dementia Arts festival was held in Edinburgh in November and we were delighted to attend along with 12 Primary 7 pupils from Heathryburn and two youth leaders, Katie Fabel and Murray Davidson. We sang songs with the audience, watched a special dementia friendly pantomime and the children spoke wonderfully about their friends at Kingswood Day Centre who all live with dementia. It was a very special day.

At Christmas, the P7s said their goodbyes to our Kingswood friends, and we introduced an entirely new class of P6s to the day centre. They have had a wonderful time getting to know our friends, learning sign language from one of our Kingswood friends, learning to play new games and doing arts and crafts together.

The Torry I-gen project continued in partnership with Grace Banks from Silverhaar, and in January, the P7 cohort from Tullos Primary School enjoyed some sessions with Torry Heritage Group when amongst other things they took part in making an interactive map of what Torry means to the pupils now. These children have been part of the project since they were in P5 and they were presented with Saltire Awards for their volunteering endeavours and a small gift to celebrate them leaving school. The project will continue as they enter secondary school.

We welcomed Abbie Purves to ACE Voices as an Assistant Outdoor Learning Leader. This was a result of the Internship Programme at the University of Aberdeen Careers and Employability Service. We are indebted to Gayle Thomson and other staff for facilitating this. Abbie excelled in this role and was a real asset to us. We are so excited that she will be continuing with us as a volunteer!
March saw the return of Howes Road All Stars to the Beach Ballroom for the qualifying heats of the Glee Challenge run by the Frisson Foundation. Our Glee choir is a collaboration between Heathryburn and Orchard Brae schools and involved Makaton, singing, dancing, gymnastics and lots of love and laughter. We didn’t progress past the qualifying heat but memories were made that will last a long time.

In April, our ACE Voices Intergenerational choir celebrated its 2nd birthday. It was a very special day with special guests Anam Alba and a guest performance from Louise Andrews on marimba who joined ACE Voices at the age of 5 in 2011. She received a ‘Certificate of Excellence’ award for all her years of commitment to our communities! One of the success stories of the choir is the formation and development of an Intergenerational Leadership team consisting of choir members aged 15 upwards! Watch this space!

A highlight of the choir this year has been participating in a singing workshop with the Madisons Boy choir from Wisconsin, long-term friends since 2014 at Aberdeen International Youth Festival. We then had the absolute pleasure of listening to them in concert. We look forward to what happens next!

Our Outdoor Learning projects have gone from strength to strength this year at Abbotswell and St Joseph’s Schools including the growth of our youth outdoor leadership programmes, involving the whole-school community and nurturing collective confidence in riskier activities such as fire-lighting, cooking and wood chopping.

We finished the summer term with a bang! The Tall Ships Intergenerational Choir was formed in collaboration with Claire Abbott and Ferryhill Community Centre. The choir consisted of around 50 singers of all ages and abilities. We had the absolute pleasure of performing at the Torry Battery as the ships sailed in and then again at Petersons Yard on the big stage! It was a truly amazing time and the memories will last a lifetime.

Watch this space for whatever happens next!