On Wednesday 11th April, 20 children, young people and families enjoyed a day out at Edinburgh Zoo as part of the Wild About Scotland Day. The children and young people are involved in our Options Services in Fife and The Borders. Options offers a safe, homely environment for child with disabilities to come and stay for a day, for a short break or to live in a residential setting.

Janet Parker, Co-ordinator, Aberlour Options Adventures said: “The children absolutely loved their time at the zoo. They were beaming with smiles all day long. It was lovely to see, particularly as some of the children are non-verbal and it meant we knew they were having a great time. We’d like to say thank to Royal Zoological Society Scotland and Clydesdale Bank for making the day possible. They’ve given the children and young people Aberlour works with the chance to enjoy something out of the ordinary!”

Barbara Smith, RZSS Chief Executive Officer, said: “Our Wild about Scotland days at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo are wonderful opportunities to celebrate the success of our programme, with our team travelling the length and breadth of the country to engage children and communities with Scotland’s amazing wildlife.

“We are delighted to be able to provide a wide variety of charity partners with free tickets to the zoo, allowing people from all backgrounds and young people in particular to connect with nature and native biodiversity.“It is always fantastic to see the smiles on everyone’s faces as they discover more about the amazing animals in our care.

“We also highlight the importance of conservation and sustainability, the threats faced by animals and how we are helping to protect threatened species here in Scotland and around the world.”

Helen Page, Propositions and Marketing Director at Clydesdale Bank, said:
“RZSS makes a vital contribution to the conservation of Scotland’s wildlife, both through direct preservation and its commitment to educating the public on endangered species, habitats and ecosystems.

“We’re proud to be supporting the campaign, particularly as the bus gives pupils and communities that may not otherwise have the opportunity, the chance to engage with expertise from RZSS on Scottish conservation. We are pleased to extend this opportunity to even more families through partnerships with key charity organisations.”

Aspiring Communities Consultation