healthy lifestyles
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.
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 »
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.
Meet Local Community Substance Misuse Worker – Beverley Cattanach
When we asked Beverley Cattanach, a Community Substance Misuse Worker in the Kincardine & Mearns area, if she could introduce herself to you all on the blog she said,
“Oh wow have pondered over this for a while and really wasn’t sure what to write that others would find interesting!”
Now, we know that she’s a vibrant and inspiring character (who is rarely seen without a wopping touch of pink in her outfit) and we wanted to introduce you to someone this month who tied together February’s Alcohol & Drug theme and March’s focus on Wellbeing , so we gave her a few questions to get her started. Read the rest of this entry »
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 »
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
Can You Drug Proof Your Kids?
“Parents are the strongest single influence in a child’s life”
If you don’t talk to your kids about drugs, who will? Help your kids make good choices about drugs and alcohol.
Drug Proof Your Kids (DPYK) was created in response to the needs of parents as you cope with the very real and complex issues of alcohol and other drugs. Read the rest of this entry »
Addiction isn’t a spectator sport. Eventually the whole family gets to play.
Substance misuse affects us all; many families in our communities have a loved one caught up in alcohol or drug addiction. The lives of these families are overshadowed by despair, worry and isolation.
Recovery is the hope on the horizon that keeps family members going, and it is the whole family that needs to recover.
The good news is, help and support is available, not only for the person battling addiction but for the whole family. However, the fear of being judged by friends and neighbours often consigns families to a life in secrecy and isolation and holds them back from getting the support that could make a difference.
Meeting others in the same situation or talking to someone in recovery from alcohol or drug addiction can help families to realise that recovery is possible and happens a lot more often than we realise.
Recovery – A Family Affair
Making recovery visible in our communities and celebrating the success stories was the aim of a recent Grampian wide event held by Grampian Family Support Forum, a local charity for family members affected by a loved one’s substance misuse. Read the rest of this entry »
February Focus – A Big Blether on Alcohol & Drugs
During February, the South Aberdeenshire Alcohol & Drug Forum is kick-starting local conversations on alcohol, drugs & recovery in Kincardine and Mearns and they are taking over K&M Communities to help them! Happy to have you here guys!
The Forum is a place for local people to come together to discuss local issues pertaining to alcohol and drug use. The South Forum covers Kincardine & Mearns and Marr and anyone living, working, studying or having an interest in alcohol and other drugs issues in these areas is welcome to come along.
They say:
There’s an excitement growing around the knowledge that recovery is possible, that people can change and friends, family and communities are crucial in supporting these changes. We’d like to start a local conversation to promote this and we’d like you to be part of it.
Read more about how YOU can join the conversation. Read the rest of this entry »
Kincardine & Mearns Community Plan
Priority 6 Healthy Lifestyles – 3rd review
Intended Outcomes:
People can readily access the most appropriate care and support options for their particular needs and more local residents are supported to maintain healthier lifestyles. Read the rest of this entry »
STAYING IN SHAPE Action Research in the Community
23 JAN 2015
9.30 – 4.00
The Park Cafe, Hazelhead Park,
Hazelhead Avenue, Aberdeen
AB15 8BJ
This all-day event – to be held on the 23rd January 2015 in Aberdeen – focuses on the idea of “staying in shape” as it applies to workers in the community and the work that we do. There are 3 objectives for the day: (1) explore how creativity can help us deal with the challenges of action research and how to nurture relationships; (2) to provide an opportunity to identify creative connections in action research; and (3) to explore how we can keep ourselves and our approach to action research in good, or better still great, shape.
A chance to:
• consider creativity in research, with Alison Urie of vox liminis (www.voxliminis.co.uk);
• dedicate time to making new connections, sharing experiences and building ideas;
• explore our own wellbeing, with the tree of knowledge
(www.treeof.com) in a fun, interactive and memorable way.
Please advise Karen McArdle if you intend to come along. Email: k.a.mcardle@abdn.ac.uk or Tel: 01224 274654
K&M Communities 