Team Fire are preparing to go head-to-head with their emergency service partners Team Police and, this year, Team NHS and Team SAS too all in support of the Battle of the Badges football tournament to help raise funds for the Archie Foundation, the official charity of the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital.

Taking place this Saturday June 10th at the home of Cove Rangers Football Club in Aberdeen, the annual match is a firm favourite day out for many families in and around Aberdeenshire. Expect face painting for the kids, a unicorn, fire trucks and a chance to beat Archie the bear in goals.

Barratt Developments, which includes Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes, currently donates £1,500 per month to local charities in its divisions as part of the homebuilder’s pledge to improve the quality of life of those living in the areas in which it operates.

Barratt and David Wilson Homes North Scotland, through The Barratt Foundation’s Community Fund activity, have previously donated £1,000 to The Archie Foundation’s neonatal unit in Aberdeen – an organisation that supports specialist staff, equipment, facilities and emergency grants to support patients and their families. Last year the total fundraising from the match amounted to £15,000 which this year the organisers are hoping to surpass.

Every footballer who plays in the tournament will have a designated mascot, who has been supported by The Archie Foundation through NHS Grampian or Dr Gray’s in Elgin. You can read more about the teams and their inspirational mascots here.

Cassie McGunnigle, fundraising manager at The Archie Foundation, said: “We’re looking forward to a fantastic day out with a stadium full of our supporters. This is a truly special event that brings together the superheroes of our communities.

“We are so grateful to Barratt and David Wilson Homes for getting on board with this event so we can make it the best it can be for the incredible children and the players that are involved.”

David Palmer, managing director at Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes North Scotland, added: “We are delighted to be supporting The Battle of the Badges 2023 although we all know that the real stars of the tournament are the outstanding mascots.

“We urge our local community to purchase a ticket from the Archie Foundation website for what is set to a cracking day out for all the family.

“Giving back to the communities in which we build has always been a priority for Barratt Developments, and we try our best to identify the charities most in need in our divisions with the help of our staff.

“This quarter we’ve donated to four fantastic causes that are supporting vulnerable or disadvantaged children in the North of Scotland. To be able to provide essential services in the current climate can be extremely challenging for charities. Hopefully, these donations will help them to continue the vital work they are doing in their local communities.”