Local Blog
Fundraising Masterclass
AVA are ho
lding a Fundraising masterclass event, Getting It Right, in Ellon on the 22nd of March.
The objectives are as follows:-
- To update participants on the changing context of fundraising
- To improve skills and knowledge on making good funding applications
- To improve knowledge and understanding of funders expectations
- To improve the development of fundraising strategy.
To book, contact;
Donna Speed
Funding Officer
Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action
72a High Street, Banchory
Aberdeenshire, AB31 5SS
07964 036821
01330 700 757 or 03718 110008
‘Early Days and Changing Ways’
Developing Capacity in Scottish Communities through our workshops
Join us at a venue near you
Learn about social investment in the morning : Take part in a practical workshop in the afternoon
14th March 2017
Register your free place here.
Laurencekirk Survey
Greetings Everyone – even if you are not a resident of Laurencekirk.
There are two websites links in this email, www.laurencekirkab30.co.uk, our community website, which gives information about the town and a current survey constructed by Sarah and the board of The Laurencekirk Development Trust; https://sarahleigh.typeform.com/to/xPTqEHk
The issues listed were identified during successive public engagements over the past six years and the objective of this survey is to establish the priorities for the community so that we can focus on these.
As Aberdeenshire Council’s plans will see the current population of the town double once more we want to grow the community in a balanced way with economic, social and sporting developments which are supported by those of us who live in Laurencekirk.
Please take a few minutes to complete the survey and share it with your friends and neighbours.
Many thanks.
Council to set budget for the year ahead
Aberdeenshire Council will meet to set its budget on Thursday, February 9.
Read here to find out about the role your feedback played.
Councillors will have the chance to consider a package of savings worth over £24 million and debate a potential Council Tax rise in order to deliver a balanced budget.
As the budget report sets out, the council will receive £7.4 million less from Scottish Government than in 2016, with no provision for increased demand on services or inflation.
A package of savings has been developed which includes procurement, treasury management and re-profiling the Capital Plan, along with service proposals covering delayed recruitment to vacant posts, the ongoing process of re-designing services, increasing charges and disposing of properties.
Councillors will also have the opportunity to decide whether to pass across all the funding for the Integrated Joint Board, which supports health and social care services.
The budget has been informed by the major engagement exercise which took place in December 2016. The campaign reached an audience of almost 180,000 through social media, with 3,514 visits to the budget webpages.
Councillors have used the responses from the engagement to inform their budget proposals, which include raising charges for some services and investing in renewable energy and solar panels. Raised charges will impact on things like the letting out of council buildings, buying community bedding plants, and out of school clubs and sports and physical activities.
The engagement activity also advised that respondents were generally supportive of raising Council Tax, and supported a range of savings proposals including streamlining waste collection routes, cleaning bus shelters every eight weeks instead of four, and reviewing the school transport network. The full engagement results can be found on the council’s website here.
For the first time in nine years, councils will be given the opportunity to consider raising Council Tax up to 3%. Any rise would come on top of an additional £8.3 million generated through Council Tax reform at a national level which affects bands E to H and has already been legislated for.
Community Collection Point Volunteers
About Opportunity 
We are looking for volunteers (age 18+) to help run local collection points for a couple of hours a week to promote and market NESCU, provide information about the services and benefits of Credit Unions/NESCU. A great opportunity to help in the local community, make a positive difference and any help you give will be greatly appreciated. Application form and references will be required. For more details please contact:
Andy Farquhar, Volunteer Coordinator. e-mail: Andy@nescu.co.uk / tel: 01224 899688
About NESCU: North East Scotland Credit Union
NESCU is a financial co-operative. We’re owned and controlled by our local members, as a ‘not-for-profit’ social enterprise. NESCU offer their members an easy and convenient place to save and access to low cost loans. We offer valuable services to everyone, from business people, families, employed and unemployed to young people and those who have retired. Read the rest of this entry »
Volunteer Vacancies
Kincardineshire Development Partnership are introducing ‘Volunteer Vacancies’. Please get in touch with them if you are looking for volunteers, or know of people interested in volunteering opportunities.
KDP Office: officesupport@kincardineshiredp.org
Tel: 01569 763246
Community Cash
KDP’s next Community Cash event will be held in Johnshaven at 6.45pm on 16th February. £300 is available to groups or organisations in the Kincardine & Mearns coastal villages. We have already had a lot of interest in this event, so please contact us soon to stake your claim!
KDP Office: officesupport@kincardineshiredp.org
Tel: 01569 763246
E:CIGARETTE EVENT
0915-1600, Thursday 9 February 2017, Inverurie Town Hall
Aberdeenshire Local Tobacco Alliance (ALTA) is to hold an event focusing on E:cigarettes. The event will provide an awareness of e:cigarettes and the impact they are having on society and policies whilst identifying the challenges they are creating within key priority groups. It’s anticipated that the event will be an excellent opportunity to provide future recommendations and create a uniform wide response to this emerging product, the e:cigarette.
ALTA is delighted to welcome keynote speaker Professor Linda Bauld, Professor of Health Policy, Director of the Institute of Social Marketing and Dean of Research at the University of Stirling. She is also Deputy Director of the UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies, a UKCRC Centre for Public Health Excellence covering 13 Universities. In August 2014 she also took on the role of Cancer Research UK’s cancer prevention champion (the CRUK/BUPA Chair in Behavioural Research for Cancer Prevention). This involves a part-time secondment to CRUK to lead their new cancer prevention initiative.
The event will provide the opportunity for individuals to contribute to two breakout sessions. The focus of the sessions will be:
| Number | Title | Theme |
| 1 | Young People | The impact of e:cigarettes on young people |
| 2 | Pregnancy | Is there a role for e:cigarettes in supporting pregnant women who smoke? What do we know and what are the challenges? |
| 3 | Mental Health | Does e:cigarettes have a role in Mental Health? |
| 4 | ADP | E:cigarettes are a shared responsibility. What are the challenges and how do we progress? |
| 5 | Policy Development | Grampian stand towards e:cigarettes and influencing policy |
To book a place, please complete the attached booking form. Read the rest of this entry »
Prince’s Countryside Fund
The Prince’s Countryside Fund will re-open for applications in January 2017. Each year the fund makes £1 million available, and organisations and charities that are helping to protect and sustain Britain’s farming and ru
ral communities are able to apply for funding of up to £50,000. To be considered for funding, projects need to contribute to one of three countryside issues: Improve the prospects of viability for family farm businesses; Sustain rural communities and drive economic vibrancy; Support aid delivery in emergency and building resilience. To find out more, visit: http://www.princescountrysidefund.org.uk/grant-giving-programme/grant-programme
Community Food Initiatives North East (CFINE)
Improving Health and Well-Being: Business for Community Benefit
CFINE is looking to recruit an effective and efficient administrator
Post: Finance and Produce Administrator
Salary: £9 – £10.50 per hour depending on experience and qualifications.
Hours: 30/week.
Responsibilities:
- Support and supervision of colleagues (3 at this time)
- Pricing and invoicing
- Recording data for cost collations
- Cash handling, reconciliations and banking
- Stocktakes of produce
- Ordering produce for customer orders
- Cost comparisons and price negotiations with suppliers
- Dealing with any customer complaints
- Filing and organisation of the sales and finance paperwork
- Other administrative duties as required, including emails, answering the telephone and taking customer orders
For more information to receive the job description which includes how to apply and further information, please contact CFINE on 01224 596156/ info@cfine.org
Closing date for applications: 5pm, Friday, 13/1/17.
Interviews will be on: PM Monday, 16/1/17.
Tackling Poverty: Building Resilience
Scottish Veterans Fund 2017-18 Now Open
The Scottish Veterans fund will provide £600,000 of funding over the next three years to a wide range of projects which support veterans, including projects relating to employability, housing, befriending and wellbeing. Charities and other organisations can apply for funding for projects that will help to break down barriers which prevent people who are leaving the armed forces from transferring their skills and disciplines to business, this in turn will make the transition to civilian life easier. For the first time funding for strategic projects will be available for up to three years. Please see the website for further details: http://news.gov.scot/News/Scottish-Veterans-Fund 
North East Scotland Credit Union (NESCU) in Stonehaven.
NESCU will be opening a collection point in The Housing office on Allardice Street, Stonehaven on a Tuesday from 3pm – 4pm. NESCU urgently need volunteers with financial and cash handling skills, providing a great opportunity to help in the local community and make a positive difference. For more details please contact Andy Farquhar, Volunteer Coordinator by e-mail Andy@nescu.co.uk, or telephone 01224 899688.
K&M Communities 