community
Indoor mobile coverage for rural community hubs
Vodafone UK are calling all community hubs, rural pubs and village halls to apply to their 3G mobile Community Indoor Sure Signal (CISS) programme. This scheme will enable up to 100 rural community hubs, from pubs to village halls and community run shops, to receive reliable, indoor 3G mobile coverage and internet access. Following a successful pilot at The Bear and Ragged Staff pub in Bransford near Worcester, Vodafone is calling for applications from rural community centres, such as independent or community run pubs and shops, village halls, scout huts, doctor’s surgeries or visitor centres, that do not have reliable mobile coverage, to apply for the programme. Coverage will bring both 3G voice and data ensuring both employees and visitors at the community hubs will be able to make both calls and use data on their Vodafone mobile phones or tablets.
For more information and an application form, visit: http://mediacentre.vodafone.co.uk/pressrelease/vodafone-unveils-programme-give-indoor-mobile-coverage-rural-communities-centres/
Rural Scotland in Focus 2016
The SRUC Rural Policy Centre has launched its Rural Scotland in Focus 2016 report. The report has three main sections: section 1 focuses on changing land management in the agriculture, estates and forestry sectors; section 2 focuses on reviewing evidence about the characteristics of rural Scotland’s economies beyond the land-based sector and highlights where there are gaps in our evidence; section 3 reviews community empowerment policies from 1999-2016, and discusses the need for data to underpin on-going assessments of whether, where and how these policies deliver. You can download several documents from the SRUC website including the summary brochure, the full report and the individual sections. 
http://www.sruc.ac.uk/downloads/download/1202/rural_scotland_in_focus_2016
Mearns Cycle Hub (Formerly Benholm Bikes)
Mearns Cycle Hub are seeking volunteers to run bike maintenance classes one evening a week, and to help keep the Hub open 2-3 hours at the weekend, subject to volunteer availability, so that people can book their bike in for repair, or hire a bike stand so they can do their own repairs. Volunteers will also be responsible for taking bookings, working with children and adults on their bikes, selling spares, dealing with money, keeping the shed tidy, opening up and locking up. Volunteers will potentially be working with children and may therefore need to be disclosed.
Mearns Cycle Hub plans to open in Laurencekirk in Spring 2017. They want to help more people get out on their bikes, and want to help them learn how to repair and maintain their bikes. The hub would like volunteers to have a keen interest in bike mechanics, and preferably some experience of working on bikes. This does not have to be in paid capacity, a bike hobby is perfectly acceptable. They are looking for people who have the capacity to support and mentor others to learn how to maintain bikes. Volunteers are welcome with little or no experience of any of the following but people would be very welcome with experience of cycling/ cycle ride leading/ people with disabilities / older people/ bike mechanics/ events/ fundraising/ good communication skills, particularly face-to-face/ and a good role model.
For more details on this opportunity contact: mearnscyclehub@gmail.com. The hub are planning to hold a volunteer meeting in early 2017 as part of their preparation for the Spring launch.
Galaxy Hot Chocolate Fund
Apply to the Galaxy Hot Chocolate Fund. The fund is looking to help small, local community projects and groups through our GALAXY Hot Chocolate Fund. Each week until February 26th 2017, it is seeking to award a total of seventy £300 donations to help community groups and people across UK and Ireland. Five donations will be awarded each week, four by its panel of judges and one through the People’s Choice award to the organisation with the most weekly votes. http://www.galaxyhotchocolate.com/
Have Your Say
This year there is a brand new approach to simplify and illustrate the challenges faced – make your voice heard.
Each year, Aberdeenshire Council engages with staff and local residents on budget plans to ensure the voice of communities comes through in any and all budget setting decisions.
This year, in place of traditional surveys and written text, is a suite of infographics. Each paints a picture of a different part of council budget setting. Attached to each infographic is a short set of questions, in some cases just two questions, where you can share your views. Please respond to as many topics as you feel passionate about.
The engagement process is open now to anyone who lives and works in Aberdeenshire. It will close at the start of January, giving enough time for the results to be passed to councillors who in turn will use them to inform their decision making for the coming financial year.
https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/budget-engagement
Our Mearns
The “Our Mearns” initiative was established last year in response to information and knowledge gathered by the Kincardineshire Development Partnership. KDP had identified many community projects and initiatives across the Mearns at various stages of development and saw the value of bringing these initiatives together to facilitate the collaboration of these groups and projects to contribute to a bigger picture. In addition, as an area affected by the current economic climate there is a need to raise the profile of this part of Aberdeenshire and capitalise on its other assets. A successful event was held on 19th November 2016 to launch the Our Mearns Tourism Association, whose aim is to create an Arts, Cultural and Heritage Tourism Destination of the Mearns. The event opened Membership of the Association inviting groups, individuals and business to become part of the movement. Membership at this exciting stage is free and expressions of interest in joining the committee to take the strategic plan forward are also being considered. For more information please contact Jacky Niven at jniven@kincardineshiredp.org 
Marie Curie Helper service
The Marie Curie Helper service is provided by trained volunteers who offer
one – to – one support to people with a terminal illness (cancer and other illnesses), completely free of charge. This support may also continue for their carers and families after bereavement. The service was launched in Grampian last August and is now operational with over 30 volunteers across Grampian now trained and ready to offer support.
Marie Curie Helper volunteers support people in their homes, offering a few hours of their time each week to provide a listening ear and companionship;
give families and carers a short break from their caring role; offer practical support, such as accompanying individuals to appointments or simply going out for a coffee; or help with sourcing information on other available support.
A Marie Curie Helper does not provide any nursing or medical care or advice.
Our Helper volunteers are provided with training and support to enable them to undertake their roles.
There are trained volunteers available now in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray.
If you are interested in finding out a little more about this service or know someone who might benefit from some support please contact:
Ingrid Penny, Helper Service Manager for Grampian on 0800 304 7024
Email: grampianhelper@mariecurie.org.uk
The Marie Curie Helper Service
is funded by Text Santa
Can you help? Transport volunteers wanted.
The hunt is on for community stars to help some of the most vulnerable people in their area. 
A Grampian wide volunteer recruitment drive is being launched to find generous people to help support community transport operators across the region.
Volunteers are needed to help people to get to and from vital appointments such as health and social care.
Recruiting people with the passion and time to volunteer for a cause is a constant struggle for many organisations and the recruitment drive hopes to assist that process.
Volunteer roles can range from driving minibuses, using their own cars to transport people (for which they will receive a mileage rate) or acting as escorts to help passengers in and out of vehicles, providing support during the journey.
Volunteers can gain a huge amount of satisfaction from contributing their time and efforts;
Chris Rowe, who started volunteering 2 years ago said “I get satisfaction knowing that I help others to get to their appointments, shopping or visiting friends”.
Madge Forsyth has been volunteering for 14 years: “The smile on people’s faces when I pick them up to take them to their appointments is all the reward I need”.
As well as helping recruit more volunteers, the aim of the project is to establish and build relationships with partners across the health, social care and transport sectors. These relationships are essential in delivering the objectives of the Health and Transport Action Plan (HTAP), designed to improve partnership working across a range of transport and health related issues with access to services being a key issue.
HTAP Programme Manager, Andrew Stewart, said “The recruitment drive is one example of how partner organisations can support each other in achieving improved access for residents.”
Anyone interested in finding out more about volunteering opportunities should contact the Transport to Health Information Centre (THInC) on (01224) 665568. THInC can also provide information on how to get to health and social care appointments by public transport.
For more information on the recruitment drive, please contact Andrew Stewart, HTAP Programme Manager on 01224 664092 or by emailing mailto:andrew.stewart@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Mental Health Provision
SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) has been appointed to provide a brand new service in Aberdeenshire.
The new pathways to recovery service called MyLifeDynamic, will launch in January 2017 and is designed to support people living with mental health problems towards recovery and engagement in the wider community and working world.
SAMH has a long history of delivering services in Aberdeenshire and the surrounding areas; from work in suicide prevention to housing support and outreach.
Over the next few weeks SAMH will be running a series of community engagement events to promote the new service and in particular invite people using current services to find out more about the service and referral routes. Events will run in Stonehaven, Peterhead, Banff, Inverurie and Ellon.
South event – Stonehaven, Community Centre, Friday 25th November, 1pm -2pm
The service which was commissioned by Aberdeenshire Council will focus on integration and recovery. The service team will support people to engage with existing community facilities and services to promote a sense of purpose and social inclusion. Delivery will be across Aberdeenshire including support for people living in rural areas.
Free Magazines Available for Download
Did you know Aberdeenshire Libraries offers free download of a large range of popular magazines?
See here https://www.rbdigital.com/aberdeenshire/service/zinio/landing 
Autumn Events for Ambitious Communities
New Rights, Resources and Revenues:
Autumn Events for Ambitious Communities.
Rights – Asset Transfer is at the heart of the work of the Community Ownership Support Service (COSS), who, since 2011, have built up considerable experience in asset transfer processes working with community groups, local authorities and other public bodies.
The Community Empowerment Act brings new rights for communities and places them in a central role. There are considerable new rights in terms of public and privately owned assets. We will explore these first.
Resources – Beyond the right to request an asset, there are the issues of where the money will come from to purchase it and develop it, as well as keep the many services going. This part of the event will be led by a ‘been there: done that’ facilitator, focussing on ACCESSING & SUSTAINING FUNDING: tips and practical suggestions on how to maximise your chances of successfully securing funding from both grant and non-grant sources.
Revenues- Is there a market in that gap? In the community sector we need to be enterprising on many levels. This part of the event will focus on exploring how different types of assets could become sustainable.
Event schedule: All places are Free and booked via Eventbrite. Communities will be given first preference. Agencies and Advisors are welcome where space allows.
Aberdeen – 26th October 2016- Aberdeen Arts Centre. Book Here
Oban – 10th November 2016 – The Argyllshire Gathering. Book Here
Glasgow – 16th November 2016- Maryhill Burgh Halls. Book Here
Inverness – 30th November 2016 – Eden Court. Book Here
Edinburgh – 7th December 2016 – Out of the Blue. Book Here
KDP Community Cash!
How could your group use £300? 
Our next Community Cash event will be held on Wednesday 23rd November 2016 at 6.45pm for 7pm in the Jubilee Hall, Portlethen. This event is open to community groups, projects and organisations covering the Community Council areas of Stonehaven, Newtonhill, Muchalls & Cammachmore and Portlethen. Registration for the event closes on Monday 14 November 2016.
For more information contact officesupport@kincardineshiredp.org or phone and leave a message at 01569 763 246
K&M Communities 