News / Thousands flock to Ideal Homes show
MORE than 10 per cent of Shetland’s population spent part of their weekend at the Ideal Homes show raising around £15,000 for the islands’ Rotary Club to hand out to local charities.
Club president Dennis Leask said over 2,300 people visited the Clickimin over the three days for what many said was the best yet of the bi-annual shows, one of the Rotary’s biggest fund raising events.
“From when we opened at 5pm on Friday, there was a steady flow of people through the halls,” he said.
“We were a bit worried that, after a bumper day on Saturday, Sunday’s bad weather might put people off.
“In fact, it looks like people saw the show as a good place to go on a wet and windy day and we saw a good turnout all through the weekend.”
So busy was the event that people started parking their cars on the edge of the coastguard emergency helipad.
Next year’s president Andrew Archer said it will take a while to work out the final total raised, but it looked as if the final figure will be around £15,000.
“It’s a fantastic result,” he said. “All of the money that is raised goes to good causes, much of it to local charities and groups in Shetland.
“Lots of local groups are getting their funding squeezed and we are seeing more and more organisations asking if the Rotary Club can help them.
“Any group, big or small, that is doing good things for their community, can apply to Rotary for support.”
In the last few months the Rotary has supported funding applications from Disablilty Shetland, the Westside News Group, the Shetland Science Outreach Group, the Anderson High School physics trip, the Schools Music Festival and CLIC Sargent for children with cancer, as well as making a contribution to a childrens’ hardship fund that is run by Voluntary Action Shetland.
“Just in the last few days, we have started work with the Association of Community Councils on funding for activities for older people this Christmas,” Archer said.
“It’s the money that is raised at events such as the Ideal Homes show that allows us to help, so I would like to say thank you to everybody who braved the weather and came along and made it such a great weekend for us.”
The exhibitors seemed pleased as well. Lyle Williamson, of GTS Direct, said: “The show has been very worthwhile for us. As well as meeting and speaking to many of our existing customers, we also sold a wide range of equipment over the weekend.”
His view was echoed by Melissa Duncan, of Elise Jay Handpainted Vintage Furniture. “As a relatively new, small business, the Ideal Homes Show has been the perfect platform to raise our profile.
“It’s been fantastic to meet old and new customers and take the time to discuss future work.
“I’m really looking forward to the next show in two years’ time!”
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