Aberdeenshire
Get active this summer with the Ranger Service
The nights are getting shorter, the days are getting warmer and summer is just around the corner. This year get out and about, explore a bit more and improve your health and well-being at the same time, by going along to some of the Ranger Service events. The Rangers’ 2015 Summer Programme launches at Easter, with a mix of family favourites and new events for you to try across Aberdeenshire. ![ranger_logo[1]](https://kandmcommunities.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/ranger_logo1.gif){kind=logo}
Ranger Service Coordinator, Fiona Banks explains: “This year we will take you along parts of our coastal path where you’ll hear tales of smugglers and shipwrecks to a background chorus of kittiwakes and guillemots. We’ll be climbing the high peaks of Bennachie with rewarding views as far as the eye can see. If you prefer a shorter walk you can discover a different side to our countryside with our ‘Wild Food Walk’ or explore the local area’s prehistoric past on our ‘Stones, Great and Small’ walk.
“For our younger visitors we’ll be delving into the depths of ponds, rummaging in rockpools and, for the brave, we’ll be venturing out after dark to discover some of our night hunters.”
For those who are keen to be hands on with supporting the Rangers programme, the Service is also looking for volunteers to help with the James Ramsay wildlife garden. All volunteers will be rewarded with a tea party and if you can’t help at this time but would like to put your name forward for other projects please email bennachie.warden@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
The full 2015 Summer Programme is available to view on the council’s website under Rangers at www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/rangerservice
A sober affair – Transport and the Aberdeenshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP)
For most of us, getting to the doctors or a health appointment isn’t an issue. We might drive, get a lift with a friend or family member, or get the bus or train. We might be disgruntled over the frequency of the buses, or indeed the cost, but nonetheless we would get there.
But what if we weren’t able to get a lift, or couldn’t afford the bus? We hear about how transport is an issue for the ADP and an initiative they have come up with try and address it.
The APD – what is it?
Aberdeenshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) is a collection of public bodies and citizen activists seeking to draw together interested parties to collectively tackle the issues associated with problematic alcohol and drug use and support recovery from addiction.
Key Messages
The ADP’s three key messages are:
- Addiction can affect anyone. Difficulties with alcohol and drug misuse do not tend to occur because people have been hedonistic or irresponsible. They are more likely to occur because people are trying to cope with significant difficulties in their life and may also be affected by a range of fundamental disadvantages in life, including isolation.
- Recovery from addiction is possible. People should be hopeful that with support, they can follow a pathway of recovery that leads to a happy, fulfilling and contributing life. Some of the most inspirational and serene people you can meet are those who have pursued a recovery journey.
- Stigma and inequities in access to support can inhibit recovery and make addiction worse.
What does the APD do?
Aberdeenshire ADP works with communities on issues of prevention, public protection and recovery. The ADP has an active agenda to involve and engage citizens in improving support services and contributing to their delivery.
The ADP and Transport – what’s the link?
For the last few years, a common response from citizens has been that the availability and affordability of public transport in Aberdeenshire has been a barrier to people accessing the services and support of the ADP. Not only this, but it restrains people from regular aspects of community life which are necessary to engage with the wider community and pursue a journey of recovery.
Substance misuse services aim to support people who can afford to access their services but this isn’t always possible.
How are we resolving these issues?
The ADP’s 3 community forums have tried to support people in need by providing funding for bus passes but have struggled with obtaining funding. Meanwhile, the has ADP sought to influence Transport Scotland to open the existing concessionary travel scheme for older and disabled people to include those actively working to recover from addictions. The current criteria for entitlement are here: http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/public-transport/concessionary-travel-people-aged-60-or-disability
Similar requests from a number of other ADP’s across Scotland led to Transport Scotland agreeing in October to support a pilot project in Aberdeenshire to test whether temporary dispensations to the concessionary travel schemes would result in improved engagement and recovery outcomes for alcohol and drug clients in order to influence future policy.
How does the Pilot work?
The pilot commenced on 2 December and will run until end March 2015. The pilot enables certain staff in Substance Misuse services to assess whether difficulties in accessing affordable transport are a real barrier to someone making progress on one or more aspects of their agreed recovery plan.
If so, the staff member is able to authorise the person’s application for concessionary travel and will record their deliberations on a simple spreadsheet. This data will be evaluated at the end of the pilot to assess whether the rate of engagement in recovery activities such as care and treatment appointments, mutual aid, or other activities directly related to supporting recovery has increased and whether this has resulted in improvements in individual’s recovery progress.
If we can show that access to concessionary travel support enhances people’s recovery, we hope to persuade government to change eligibility for the scheme on a permanent basis. We hope the business case will stack up and that stigmatising views about people in recovery don’t get in the way.
For more information on the ADP please visit: http://www.aberdeenshireadp.org.uk/ or follow the ADP on Twitter: @abdnshireadp
Volunteers wanted….
Volunteer Open Morning at The Lifeboat House in Johnshaven 
on Saturday 11th April from 10-12am.
Join in for a friendly and informal morning to hear all about the project to renovate The Lifeboat House and how you can get involved with this exciting new venture.
The Lifeboat House is largely managed by volunteers and as they embark on our first season open to the public they urgently need more volunteers to help with a range of activities. This could include planning events, welcoming visitors on days the venue is open, organising small exhibitions and working with school groups. They are looking for volunteers with a range of interests and will provide training to suit to ensure a highly rewarding and social experience.
They will be joined on the day by Sandy Stewart from The Gordon Highlanders Museum in Aberdeen, who will be talking about his experience volunteering for over 15 years.
There will also be an opportunity to learn more about the project and the work of the Benholm and Johnshaven Heritage Society as well as a chance to have a chat with a cuppa and fine piece.
The project began after the society was gifted the Lifeboat House in order to store and display a growing collection of photographs and artefacts relating to the heritage of Johnshaven and Benholm. It is hoped the venue will not only provide a place for people to come and enjoy this rich heritage but also an exciting hub for talks, performance, art shows and much more!
If you would like to be involved in this project, they would love to hear from you. They are looking for volunteers to be involved in all aspects of running the heritage hub. Or, if you have memories of life in the Johnshaven and Benholm area which you would be happy to share they would delighted for you to get in touch.
Contact: Donald Marr, Chair of Benholm and Johnshaven Heritage Society, 01561 361658
“Alone We Can Do So Little, Together We Can Do So Much.”
Community Councils have been around for 42 years and they are statutory bodies representing the most local tier of representation in Scotland. There are 1,200 community councils in Scotland with an estimated 12,000 councillors.
Want to know more?
Read on to find out why Councillor Bill Howatson thinks we should all consider representing our communities. Read the rest of this entry »
Are You A Shedder?….
The Portlethen and District Men’s Shed is a new Scottish charity created to promote general wellbeing, continued life-long and life-wide learning and healthy lifestyles for retired men and men ‘with time on their hands’ who are looking to use this time constructively and enjoyably. They plan to do this by setting up a location or “Shed” where the men can go to engage in creative, enjoyable activities and meet and chat with other men. Various local government, NHS health, and volunteer groups in the community have identified a strong need for something like this. The Men’s Shed model has proven successful in Australia where there are over 1,000 in existence, New Zealand, Ireland, England and now Scotland. The first shed set up in Westhill, Aberdeenshire in 2013 has had over five thousand visits in a 18 month period with some of those men coming from Portlethen.
Read the rest of this entry »
KeyStone Award
Do you run a village hall or community building?
Then you may be interested in KeyStone – an award scheme that recognises the good work that you do and assists you in addressing any gaps in your current operation.
The KeyStone Award is a quality award scheme designed to give information, support and encouragement to people who manage village halls and community buildings. It will help you make sense of legislation and regulation, put systems in place to keep things running smoothly and allow you to concentrate on providing the best facilities possible.
KeyStone combines a guide to best practice with comprehensive information resources all supported by the encouragement and assistance of a mentor. It’s also a management tool that can be used to help you keep files, documents and information organised. The KeyStone Award provides recognition that you are doing things right, and can be used for promotion and publicity and as evidence of good practice.
Completing the KeyStone Award will help you to:
- be confident that you’re doing things right
- comply with legislation and regulation
- organise your files, documents and information to make life easier for you and future committees
- understand where to go for help
- promote and publicise your organisation and provide evidence of good practice
- secure a long term future for your facility
- engage with your community and other local organisations
- provide evidence to potential funders that you are a well run organisation
Some of the staff in Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action have currently undergone training in Mentoring organisations through the KeyStone process and so if you are interested in discussing this further or considering the KeyStone award scheme then contact:
Ed Garrett – Ed.Garrett@avashire.org.uk Tel: 01569 668055
Thinking of becoming a foster carer?
By choosing to become a foster carer you can make a huge difference to a child’s life – and yours.
The UK’s leading children’s charity, Barnardo’s believes that by providing the right help, committed support, and belief, even the most vulnerable children can turn their lives around.
If this makes you wonder if fostering is right for you, get in touch with Barnardo’s. They are urgently looking to recruit an extra 850 foster carers in Scotland to tackle the “critical” shortfall which leaves one in three children in care having to move homes more than twice a year. Read the rest of this entry »
There’s no ward like home.
The shape of Scottish society is changing. People are living longer, healthier lives and as the needs of our society change, so too must the nature and form of our public services. 
New legislation, in the form of the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014, came into force on 1 April 2014. The Act requires Health Boards and Local Authorities to integrate their health and social care services.
Local teams and professionals across health and social care will work together to deliver quality, sustainable care and services resulting in improved outcomes for the people and their families who use these services.
Those individuals with long-term conditions and disabilities, many of whom are older people, will get the joined-up and seamless support and care that they need to live safely and independently in their own homes for as long as possible.
So, that’s the background, but what will it mean to you & I? 
Read the rest of this entry »
Dementia Friends Scotland
Alzheimer Scotland and Dementia Friends
Dementia Friends is a Social Action Movement.
Dementia Friends is all about raising awareness and reducing the stigma
A Dementia Friends session is free and will last around an hour. It is interactive and informative.
The five key messages you should know about dementia which are :-
Dementia is not a natural part of ageing
Dementia is caused by diseases of the brain
Dementia is not just about losing your memory
It is possible to live well with Dementia
There’s more to the person than the dementia
These will be brought to life through a number of activities. At the end of the session you will be asked to sign up as a Dementia Friend. You will be given a badge to wear and a certificate. We will then be asking you to state a Call to Action which can be very simple, something as simple as helping the person who appears to be lost or being patient in the supermarket queue when a person is having difficulty. As a Dementia Friend we ask that you continue to talk about Dementia with family, friends and colleagues which will continue to raise awareness in the community thus creating a dementia friendly community.
For more information or to sign up for a session, please contact
Kirsteen Heneghan, Dementia Advisor, Alzheimer Scotland
Tel: 01467 530512 or mob: 07879 551831 or
Moira Watson Development Worker Dementia Friendly Communities
Mobile Number 07576305750
NEXT PUBLIC SESSION will be in Stonehaven on
Wednesday 18th of March at 11am Outside Hall Stonehaven Community Centre Bath Street
Please contact Kirsteen or Moira if you want to take part in one of the sessions.
Getting Into Health & Social Care.
If you are 16-25, unemployed and interested in a career in care, join the free training programme with the Princes Trust, where you can:
- Have the chance to gain qualifications such as food hygiene, emergency first aid or moving and handling
- Receive training in topics relevant to the sector, including dementia, health and safety
- Improve your teamwork and communication skills and boost your confidence, interview skills and CV
- Receive six month’s support after the programme to help you find a job
INTERESTED?
Contact:
For more information contact Lynne Martin on 01224 289729 / 07787 518392 or email lynne@elevatoruk.com or visit www.princes-trust.org.uk
Branching Out
Fancy trying something different……? 
That’s exactly what Branching Out is offering adults who use mental health services in Scotland. Over a twelve week period course members can try their hand at tai chi, bushcraft, willow art or photography to name but a few.
On completing the course, individuals receive certificates of completion, tool handling and, where applicable, the John Muir Trust Award.
The programme is currently available in nine NHS board areas, but hopes to expand into Aberdeenshire.
Like the sound of it, let us know and we’ll pass it on.
Brighter Breaks
A light lunch will be provided and transport may also be available. Those interested can e-mail brighterbreaks@grampianopportunities.org.uk or call VSA on 01779 490894 to book a space. If you are unable to attend a session, but would like to find out more, or you’d like to complete a short questionnaire please use the contact details above.
Mearns Academy, Aberdeen Road, Laurencekirk, AB30 1ZJ
Monday, March 2, 11am-1pm
Station Hotel, Commercial Road, Ellon, AB41 9BDTuesday, March 3, 11am-1pm
The Porty Cabin, Bruntland Road, Portlethen, AB12 4QLThursday, March 5, 11am-1pm
Dawson Court, Victoria Terrace, Turriff, AB53 4FP
Brighter Breaks also involves VSA (Volunteer Services Aberdeen), MS Society, CHSS (Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland), B.I.G. (Brain Injury Grampian) Group and GO (Grampian Opportunities
K&M Communities 