community
Transport in Kincardine and Mearns – What’s the latest?
An overview of transport in Kincardine and Mearns by Nestrans’ Marketing and Communications Co-ordinator Lucy Johnston.
Access to Laurencekirk
What is it?
In December 2013, Nestrans commissioned an ‘Access to Laurencekirk’ study in partnership with Transport Scotland, Aberdeenshire Council and Tactran. The study is being undertaken in the form of the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) assessment, which will consistently explore potential options to address the Laurencekirk transport problems through a detailed consultation process.
Local Transport Initiatives in Kincardine & Mearns
Mearns Community Transport (MCT) runs a variety of different transport schemes, available to the residents of the Kincardine and Mearns area.
MCT believe community transport is more than getting folk from A to B. It is about social inclusion, tackling isolation, providing independence and opening opportunities.
The primary service run by MCT is the Community Minibus, which is a fully accessible minibus available for hire to all community groups and organisations in the Mearns. The vehicle is a Mercedes Sprinter minibus which can carry 15 passengers and is available for hire to all community groups and organisations in the Mearns and can be used by these groups for outings or events etc.
“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 »
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
How Does Your Garden Grow?
Trellis National Conference
Date: Tuesday 12th March 2015 
Time: 9.30 to 16.00
Venue: Bield at Blackruthven, Blackruthven House, Perth PH1 1PY
Cost: £50 or £40 for Trellis members (including lunch and refreshments) Read the rest of this entry »
see me….
Opportunity for budding writers, poets, and song writers 
Aberdeenshire Youth Council in partnership with a local publisher would like young people to send in any short stories, poems, or songs around mental health issues which young people face.
These could be based on real life events or with a bit of creative writing added. All entries will be anonymous unless the young person clearly states that they would like their name added at the end.
Entries will be chosen to feature in a book which will be published and sent to each person who sends in an entry and also copies will be sent to all schools and community centres.
All young people sending in an article will receive 250 Young Scot points, authors of articles chosen to be included in the book will receive 1000 Young Scot points.
Closing date – 27/02/15
Please send all entries to dialogueyouth@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
or Aberdeenshire Youth Council
Wyness Hall
Jackson Street
Inverurie
AB513QB
K&M Communities 