Local Blog
Scottish Government Flood Relief Fund
Affected by the flooding, please see the following statement and link to the flood relief fund.
‘We are currently working with the Scottish Government to put in place a mechanism whereby the recently announced government flood relief fund can be distributed to those affected communities. Anyone interested in applying to this fund should email floodrelief@aberdeenshire.gov.uk in the first instance. Please include your full name and/or business name, postal address and daytime contact number, residents/businesses will then be contacted once the fund is up and running.
Improving the Quality of Drug and Alcohol Service in Scotland
Small Test of Change Fund
The Scottish Government is making available small sums of money to encourage and support improvement in the quality of drug services. We are looking to invest in local small tests of change which contribute to our ambitions to build and strengthen recovery orientated systems of care (ROSC) across services throughout Scotland and support implementation of The Quality Principles: Standard Expectations of Care & Support in Drug & Alcohol Services.
A maximum of up to £3,000 (non-recurring) will be available per application (if successful). The concept of “small tests of change” stems from the Scottish Government 3-step Improvement Framework for public services. More detail can be found via: http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0042/00426552.pdf.
Partnership applications are welcomed. It is expected that the lead bidder will be a third sector provider. It is also expected that applications received will sit within at least one of the following priorities; Prevention, Education, Harm Reduction and/ or Quality Improvement.
All applications should be signed-off by the local ADP. It is expected that any funding application received will clearly align to an outcome agreed as part of a local improvement work underway in your area. The ADP team in your area should be able to support you with this
https://www.facebook.com/AberdeenshireAdp
Deadline for applications and review process
This will be a rolling fund with applications received on a quarterly basis. The closing date for this round of applications is: 29th January 2016.
All applications received will be reviewed and successful bids will be notified within 4 weeks. Light-touch feedback will be provided to any unsuccessful applications. Read the rest of this entry »
Holocaust Memorial Day 2016
Holocaust Memorial Day 2016
Please join us at the
Belmont Filmhouse, Aberdeen
Sunday 31st January 2016
Programme
14:00: Refreshment, welcome by the Lord Provost and Presentations
15:30: Screening of the Film Night Will Fall
16:45: Discussion
The event is free but booking is essential – Please contact:
Belmont Filmhouse Box Office -Tel: 01224343500
A 1945 documentary commissioned by the Allies and under the tutelage of Alfred Hitchcock that captured the atrocities in Nazi concentration camps.
Please note that this film contains harrowing images
Night Will Fall
Directed by: André Singer
Running Time:1 hr 15 min
Genre: Documentary
Release date:19 Sep 2014
Classification: 15 (U.K.)
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS – Monday 25th January 2016
Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action Training in partnership with NHS Grampian and Networks of Wellbeing is offering this course free of charge. The course is aimed at sufferers, family members and carers, staff in any organisation who deal regularly with people who are experiencing or have recovered from mental health problems. Employers and Managers who support staff who are experiencing mental health problems.
Course aims:
The aim of the course is to provide participants with an overview of the most common mental health problems. The workshop includes a number of small group exercises and includes video clips. Participants will gain greater understanding of the impact on sufferers and those around them.
Course content:
By the end of the course, participants will have covered:
- Mental Health in Scotland an overview
- Defining Mental Health
The major mental health problems and other issues/questions raised by participants:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Schizophrenia
- Bi-Polar Disorder
Time: 9.30am –12.30pm
Venue: Networks @ No 11, 11 Gordon Street, Huntly. AB54 8AJ
Cost: Free (however a £15 charge will be made for non-attendance once booking confirmed)
Trainer: Bill Murdoch
Please complete the attached application form and return to: training@avashire.org.uk or contact Shirley Leask on 01771 624589 for further information.
SUNSET SONG – SEE THE FILM THEN VISIT THE ABERDEENSHIRE LOCATIONS
Explore Aberdeenshire’s inspiring natural landscapes from the epic north east coastline, including the Banffshire coast, to beautiful Royal Deeside and the stunning Cairngorms National Park. The region has ancient castles, idyllic towns and villages and stunning countryside to explore, which is home to a variety of wildlife. Discover clifftops, coves and beaches and explore traditional fishing villages – or unravel a dramatic past through Scotland’s Castle Trail. You’ll find everything fr
om rugged ruins to grand fortresses and royal residences. Head into Aberdeen city to find award-winning restaurants, fantastic shopping and a vibrant nightlife. Aberdeen offers a wealth of history and culture including fantastic galleries, museums and historical buildings, as well as a superb beach just a short walk from the city centre. To find out more about Sunset Song and where it was filmed, visit:
http://www.ballogie-estate.co.uk
http://www.grassicgibbon.com
http://www.glentanar.co.uk
http://www.glenmuick.com
http://www.invercauld.estate
http://www.arbuthnottbervieandkinneff.org.uk/arbuthnott-history
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/fettercairn/fettercairn
Big Lottery Fund
Today we are opening our new funding offer to applications. We have £250M of life changing Lottery funds to commit in Scotland over the next five years.
We want to ensure that our Lottery funds support people and communities most in need across the country so we have designed our new funding here in Scotland to best achieve that aim. We’ve learned from our previous work and spent time talking to many of you as we’ve developed our new plans – so to everyone who took time to join our conversations, thank-you.
For the first time we are asking communities to tell us how their approach to what they want to do is people-led, strengths-based and/or connected.
We’ll focus our Lottery funds to work with groups that are improving lives, as we know that many people experience challenges at some point in their lives and we want to support activity that helps them overcome these difficulties and become more resilient. And we’ll support community-led activity with funding that aims to work with communities to bring real improvements to the places they live and the wellbeing of those most in need.
Maureen McGinn, Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair explains why we’ve chosen this approach: “We have refreshed and redeveloped our approach and focus so we will work with communities and organisations to support activity which is people-centred, strengths-based and has good local connections. We are sure our new approach will ensure our Lottery funds make a truly life-changing and inspirational difference to people across Scotland.
“In these challenging times we hope this new Lottery money will open the door to support activity which puts people in the lead at the heart of their communities.”
Over the next five years we will make grants of £10,000 to over £1 million – with a streamlined single-stage process for all grants up to £150,000 which should be able to go from application to award in four months. For organisations and groups looking for more than £150,000 we have a more proportionate two stage process which should be able to go from application to award in six months.
For more information on our new plans, eligibility and how to apply please go to our website or you can email advicescotland@biglotteryfund.org.uk
Healthier Scotland Engagement Fund
As part of the national conversation about the future of health and care services in Scotland (Creating a Healthier Scotland – What matters to you) VAF is delighted to announce the launch of the Scottish Government’s new Healthier Scotland Engagement Fund.
From August 2015 to Spring 2016 the Scottish Government is holding a national conversation on improving the health of the Scottish population and the future of health and social care services in Scotland.
With £26,000 to give out in grants the Healthier Scotland Engagement Fund is part of this conversation. It aims to help small voluntary organisations and community groups in Scotland run an event or engagement activity to gather views of people who would not normally participate in a consultation of this nature.
Grants of up to £500 (or exceptionally up to £1,000) are available to support an event or engagement activity with a group of five or more people.
We are particularly keen to fund events or engagement activities that will involve seldom heard or hard to reach groups or communities. Applications that will gather the views of these groups will be considered a priority as will applications from groups with an income under £100,000.
Applications should be received by VAF by 5pm on Friday 11 December 2015. Applicants will hear the outcome of their application by Thursday 7 January 2016. A short report on the event or activity should be returned to Voluntary Action Fund by Thursday 18 February 2016.
Further information, including the guidance and application form, is available on the VAF website at www.voluntaryactionfund.org.uk or click on this link: http://www.voluntaryactionfund.org.uk/funding-and-support/healthier-scotland-engagement-fund/
The Voluntary Action Fund receives funding from the Scottish Government.
Scottish Charity number SC035037. Company Number SC261186.
Community Shares
For major projects it may be worth considering community shares as an option. Last week Applecross Apple Juice Hydro Scheme reached their £750,000 investment to construct a Hydro Scheme, amazing result for a population of 225 people.http://www.applecrosshydro.scot/news/ Closer to home, Huntly has opened a share issue to construct a windturbine which will fund community projects http://www.huntlydevelopmenttrust.org/wp-content/uploads/GRE-panels-low-res-for-web.pdf
Share issues can be used for any projects, not only energy schemes, it is worth having a look if you have a large project – http://communitysharesscotland.org.uk/
Brave@Heart
At a recent Brave@Heart awards, Stonehaven’s Crew Manager Gavin Strachan received an award form First Minister Nicola Sturgeon for outstanding bravery in exceptional circumstances.
Gavin was part of a crew responding to assist the Scottish Ambulance Service gain entry to a property to reach a casualty. SFRS arrived prior to the ambulance crew, gained access to the property to be confronted by a woman in the late stages of labour.
Gavin and another member (Tim Hull) of the SFRS prepared to deliver the baby and within minutes he successfully delivered the baby. They cleared the airway and the baby started to cry loudly much to the relief of the mother and the SFRS crew.
Other crew members were John Strachan, Alec Gordon, Matthew Crabb and Neil Innes.
Problems in your community? Let us help
We all want to be able to enjoy our own home, though sometimes it’s not easy. So many things can cause conflict between neighbours – noise, children, pets, parking – that a situation can easily get out of hand. That’s where Aberdeenshire Community Mediation service comes in.
Mediation is a means of resolving conflict where discussion between parties to a dispute is facilitated by a mediator. The aim is to help those involved to move forward and where possible, find an acceptable and workable solution to the dispute.
Aberdeenshire Community Mediation Service is managed by Sacro and funded by Aberdeenshire Council through housing and Community Safety monies. The service has been working with communities since 2004 and has received over 1,200 referrals. The Community Mediation Service is available to all residents of Aberdeenshire, regardless of tenure type, with referrals being received from partner agencies or directly from those involved in a dispute.
Mediation is free, voluntary, confidential and is carried out by trained and impartial mediators. If you feel you could benefit from involvement with the Aberdeenshire Community Mediation Service, or if your group would like a presentation, please contact Irene Reid on 01224 560572. Sacro, 110 Crown Street, Aberdeen, AB11 6HJ.
Where there is muck there is brass…
Community Resources Network Scotland (CRNS) is the network for projects that Reuse, Recycle and Repair. There are many local projects which divert waste from the skip and I am sure there is room for many more. Composting, 2nd hand goods, furniture restoration, swap shops……..the list is endless. If you are interested in developing a project that can reuse, recycle or repair this may be the link for you http://crns.org.uk/about/mission-vision-and-values/
What Do You Think?
Aberdeenshire Council is engaging with residents, service users, community groups and staff about its budget for 2016/2017. Public sector funding is reducing across the country, and we need to live within our means. This means we have to consider delivering services differently in a way that will make us more efficient. As a result, some services may reduce, whilst others services may become a higher priority for us.
We need your help with this. Aberdeenshire Council still has a budget of £530m to spend. Your views are very important in helping us to decide what our priorities should be, how willing you are to see service changes which will save money and how best to spend the remaining budget.
This process will help to inform the decisions made by Aberdeenshire councillors in setting a balanced budget which will ensure that the council continues to deliver a range of valued local services to communities, highlight the Administration’s emerging priorities and reduce overall spending for 2016/17 by £18million.
The survey that starts the engagement process can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Shirebudget
K&M Communities 