Aberdeen City Council have been awarded £2.85 million from the Local Authority Covid Economic Recovery Fund, administered by the Scottish Government. The City Growth and Resources Committee agreed on 21 June 2022 that £1.9 million will be allocated towards the Aberdeen Gift Card scheme to relieve hardship and boost local economy, as we recover from the pandemic. This project will support low-income households by circulating pre-paid gift cards to be spent at local businesses, to provide immediate financial relief.
Eligible households
Data from the Council’s tax system was used to identify households entitled to Council Tax Reduction (CTR) as of 21 June who would be eligible to receive the Scotland Loves Local Aberdeen Gift Card. This will be households who are either surviving on benefits or low paid work and who have less than £16,000 capital or savings. The proposed funding will allow a gift card credited with £125 to be issued to eligible households totalling a value of £1,924,440.
Activation Process
You should receive your first letter from 30 November onwards. This will be your activation code, please keep this safe until your card arrives as you will need the information to activate your gift card. Your second letter will contain your gift card and instructions on how to activate it.
Step 1 – Your activation code will be sent to you by letter from 30 November.
Step 2 – To activate your card, please:
- Visit www.aberdeen22.scotlandgiftslocal.com
- Insert your 16 digit card number and unique 6 character activation code provided in initial letter, to activate your gift card; or
- Scan the QR code on the reverse of your card
Watch this short video for help activating your gift card.
Step 3 – Once you have activated your Scotland Loves Local Aberdeen Gift Card, you will be able to spend it at any participating business across the city. Visit the link below to see the full list of businesses.
www.aberdeen22.scotlandgiftslocal.com
You have until 31 March 2023 to activate your gift card. Once activated, your gift card will be valid for a period of 12 months.
Please note that if you lose your card once activated, we are unable to replace it if lost/stolen.
How to use the Scotland Loves Local Aberdeen gift card
- Once activated your gift card must be used within 12 months.
- There are over 200 businesses in Aberdeen currently registered to accept the gift card. It can be used to purchase a wide range of goods and services in the city centre.
See the full list of shops and businesses that accept the Scotland Loves Local Aberdeen gift card.
If you still have questions, please check our frequently asked questions below.