It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that has brought joy to thousands and raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for Scotland’s leading children’s charity. And now, a precious few will be able once again to stand atop the iconic Forth Bridge to help raise money for Barnardo’s Scotland.
The charity’s ‘Your View’ event – now in its fifth year – affords members of the public one of the most sought after and unique experiences in Scotland; namely the chance to ascend 361 feet up the historic bridge and enjoy an uninterrupted 360-degree panoramic view of the Edinburgh and Fife coastline.
Your View 2023, which is run in conjunction with Network Rail and Balfour Beatty, will take place from 22-24 September, with tickets going on sale at 10am on Friday (30th June). To date, more than 4,500 visitors have experienced the event and there have been no fewer than nine marriage proposals on the vertiginous viewing platform.
Best of all, though, the event has raised more than £270,000 to fund the work of Barnardo’s Scotland. The charity supports children, young people and their families in more than 125 specialised community-based services across the country. It works with children, young people, parents, carers and communities to ensure that every child has the best possible start in life. To find out more, or to book tickets for the event, please visit: www.barnardos.org.uk/events/your-view-forth-bridge.
Martin Crewe, Director of Barnardo’s Scotland, said: “Your View is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for those lucky enough to secure a ticket. Not only is it a never-to-be-forgotten experience for those atop the iconic bridge, it is also a crucial fundraiser for Barnardo’s Scotland as we continue to support children, young people and their families throughout the country.
“As I am often reminded, tickets for Your View sell out very quickly indeed, so I would urge all of those keen to attend to sign up as quickly as possible. And, who knows, we might even get to enjoy a tenth Your View wedding proposal this year! Your View would not be possible without the generosity of Network Rail and Balfour Beatty, and I wish to thank both organisations and our wonderful volunteers for making this special weekend happen.”
Alan Ross, Director of Engineering and Asset Management at Network Rail, said: “We’re very excited to once again support Barnardo’s by hosting this special event, helping to raise funds for children, young people and families across local communities.
“Each year, participants are given access to this iconic structure to enjoy the breathtaking views from the top whilst supporting the charity’s drive to raise funds for their worthy cause.”
Colin Hardie, Construction Superintendent for Balfour Beatty, said: “At Balfour Beatty, we are committed to giving back to the communities we serve. The Your View event is one example of how we do just that, raising valuable funds to support disadvantaged children and families in Scotland.
“It has been an honour to work alongside Barnardo’s Scotland and Network Rail once again, to offer members of the public this memorable experience on one of the most iconic, unique and admired structures in the world – the Forth Bridge.”
Also featuring over the weekend will be the famous ‘Briggers’. The Briggers are a Forth Bridge research and presentation group of volunteers based in South Queensferry. Named after the bridge workers, the group was formed to identify the names of the 73 men and boys who died constructing the Forth Bridge, they provide details on the history of the bridge and the people involved in its construction.