The charity CLAN do incredible work in supporting people in Orkney, Shetland and the North East of Scotland. CLAN provides emotional and practical support for anyone affected by cancer.

CLAN Haven the charity’s Bed and Breakfast accommodation in Aberdeen had 415 guests over the last year with 117 of them (that’s 30%) coming from Orkney.

To provide this vital support takes money and CLAN has 7 fixed hubs in the North East, including the premises in Victoria Street, Kirkwall.

Light The North

To raise significant funds for their future work CLAN are aiming to Light the North with a sculptural trail. Inspired by the huge success of the Oor Wullie trail this year, CLAN hope to raise money through the auctioning of 30 – 70 lighthouse sculptures.

The project is in the early stages of development and at a presentation on Wednesday 27th of November at the Pickaquoy Centre, Kirkwall the audience heard about this exciting initiative.

The painting of the lighthouse sculptures will be open to artists to apply for. These sculptures will go on display in locations across Orkney, Shetland and the North East during September and November  2020 and will light up. How many there will be depends on business and organisation sponsorship of £6,000 +VAT each. This may seem a lot of money to many SMEs across the region but businesses can collaborate to jointly sponsor. The sponsors logo will be  at the base of the lighthouse with an QR code taking folk on the trail to their website or other information.

An education pack will also be available with free resources and its own mini lighthouse sculpture. ‘Shine A Little Light On The North‘ will also mean schools and youth groups can be part of a mini lighthouse trail where they live.

In the first week of December the Lighthouses will be gathered together for a big auction.

Light the North has already attracted 18 sponsors but it will need a minimum of 30 to get it going.

Lighthouses have been so important to Scotland’s coastal and island communities. But more than that just like CLAN itself  ‘A lighthouse signifies hope’. What a great project let’s hope it gets the backing to succeed.

by Petra Jochen Bruckhaus

Reporter: Fiona Grahame