inclusion
Community travel grant available
Outdoor activity is recognised as good for our mental and physical wellbeing.
While many can easily get out to enjoy Scotland’s wonderful nature it can be more difficult for those with limited independence; the elderly, those with disabilities and people with a long-term illness, for example.
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) wants to help everyone have the chance to enjoy what many people take for granted and is offering 50% travel grants to community and similar groups through the Buchan Countryside Group. Many people simply need some practical help to get their first taster of the outdoors and can use the confidence gained from this first adventure to continue exploring.
The grant is open to groups operating in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray and the Cairngorm National Park. Attractions include nature reserves, wildlife centres, country parks and a network of footpaths that link up our open spaces.
For more information and application details. see the Buchan Countryside Group website.
Scottish Natural Heritage is the government’s adviser on all aspects of nature and landscape across Scotland. For more information on SNH please visit their website.
GRAMPIAN FAMILY FUN DAY
GRAMPIAN FAMILY FUN DAY Saturday 14th May, 2016 11am – 2.30pm Portlethen Other Activities : Adult size Bouncy Castle, Candy Floss Machine, Balloon Modeller, Sound & Light Beam, Storytelling, Animates Please note that this event is primarily for people with disabilities, their families and carers. Booking is essential http://grampian-fun-day.eventbrite.co.uk Or contact 01569 764221 to book a ticket or therapy slot |
Academy AB12 4QL
Scottish Mental Health First Aid: Young People
Scottish Mental Health First Aid: Young People
Tesco Community Room – Inverurie
Tuesday 24th May 2016
The Spark now has a trainer able to deliver the above course in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. If you require an in-house course or would like to take part in an open course please get in touch with Emma Cameron at The Spark on e.cameron@thespark.org.uk or 07760257038 for more information. We have an open course on Tuesday 24th May 2016 in Inverurie.
For those working/support or volunteering with 11 – 17 year olds, this is an evidence learning course for adults to provide initial support; in a crisis and non-crisis situation.
This course does not train you to become a counsellor or mental health professional. It is designed to teach you to better understand mental health and how it affects young people, as well as learn mental first aid skills such as:-
- How to recognise the signs of mental health problems or distress
- How to ask about mental distress
- How to provide initial support
- How to guide a young person towards appropriate professional help
The course also aims to show how mental health first aid can be applied in a crisis situation involving a range of common mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, eating disorders, self-harm, suicide and substance misuse.
This 14-hour training course is designed to increase understanding of
mental health and how it affects young people. The course requires several hours of personal CPD both before and after the training day in order to complete the course requirements. The personal learning part of the course is done through the e-learning zone on the SMHFA –YP website.
The Cost is £75 per participant for the 14 hours CPD (including 1 day training).
Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action AGM
Notice of the first Annual General Meeting
of Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action
Monday 22nd February 2016
St Mary’
s Centre, Inverurie
7.00 – 8.00pm
A G E N D A
Welcome and Apologies
Chair’s Report
Chief Executive’s Report
Finance Report
Appointment of Auditors
Election of Directors
Close of AGM
Following the AGM, there will be an opportunity to hear about some of AVA’s achievements over the last year, including the work of our Area and Volunteer Development Officers, Community Health in Partnership (CHiP) Initiative, Magpie and the Learning Project.
Refreshments will be served
Please confirm your attendance by contacting:
jacquie.milne@avashire.org.uk or telephoning 01771 624787
SVQ Unpaid Carers
SVQ
Social Services &
Healthcare – Level 2
(Unpaid Carers)
Who is this SVQ For?
This project has been set up to enable any unpaid carers, who care for a loved
one, friend, neighbour, etc, to gain an SVQ Level 2, while carrying out their
caring role at home. The skills, experiences and knowledge a carer has can be
transferred into an SVQ qualification.
What is involved in gaining this SVQ?
• The carer will be allocated an SVQ Assessor who will assess them against
nationally set standards (National Occupational Standards). The assessor will
come along and observe them in their caring role. • The carer will also provide written work to explain their work practices and
knowledge within their caring role.
What are the benefits to the carer?
• The carer will have increased confidence in their caring ability enabling
them to cope in a more relaxed manner.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE CARER HAS THE CONSENT OF THE PERSON THEY ARE CARING FOR.
For an informal chat and to gain further information please contact:
Sandra Baxter (SVQ Assessor – Unpaid Carers)
EMAIL: Sandra.Baxter@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 01466 794 272
Mobile: 07770 684 369
People’s Postcode Community Trust – Community Grants Programme
The Community Grants Programme accepts applications for projects that meet one or more of the following funding themes: advancement of community development, advancement of health and environmental improvement. Applications may be submitted at any time. More
Community Anchor Organisations
Community Anchor Organisations are community bodies which may act as a focal point for community groups in a localised area. The benefit of having a community anchor in your area is that it may take the lead in large projects or initiate new projects. Often the problem when initiating a new project is the creation of a constituted group and finding office bearers. A small community can only have so many treasurers and secretaries! Once created the ‘community anchor’ can invite local people to come forward with their project ideas without the necessity of them becoming an office bearer. There are many examples of ‘community anchor organisations’ throughout Scotland to inspire you. http://www.localpeopleleading.co.uk/anchor-orgs/
Let’s Celebrate!
This free event will be a great opportunity for Third Sector Organisations, Community and Voluntary
Groups from across Aberdeenshire to come together and celebrate the difference they are making
for people of all ages in towns, villages and communities across all of Aberdeenshire. The day will
consist of a variety of workshops, stands for local groups and organisations and delegates will be
entertained by a Children’s Choir from Kellands Primary in Inverurie in the afternoon.
Workshops:
Grampian Autistic Society Volunteering and Support Needs – raising awareness
Alcohol and Drug Partnership – Good Practice in Partnership Working
AVA Learning & Training – Motivate and keep your Volunteers
Volunteer Scotland PVG Awareness – raising awareness, information and guidance
Education Scotland – How Good Is Our Third Sector Organisation
Penny Downes Art in our Communities – inspiring art in our communities
Cornfields – Social Enterprise in Practise
Book your space at the conference by emailing: central@avashire.org.uk or call Ruth on 01467
626060. Booking forms for attending the conference are also available on our website at:
http://avashire.org.uk/events.html
Creating a Fairer Scotland – Planning Events
The Scottish Government is inviting you to have your say on what a Fairer Scotland should look like
in 2030, and what should be done to make this vision a reality. In addition to the conversations that
are already happening, the Scottish Government wants to work with a broad mix of people across
the country to prioritise practical steps that can be taken to create a fairer Scotland.
To do this, a series of local Planning Events will be taking place to allow a broadly representative
audience to hear, discuss, prioritise and take action on ideas to create a Fairer Scotland. These
planning events provide a chance for people to think about and prioritise ideas that will help make
Scotland a fairer place to live and make a real impact on Scotland’s future.
The priorities that come from these planning events will feed into a final Fairer Scotland Forum in
December. The Fairer Scotland Forum will host a broadly representative audience made up of
people from across the country who will work with policy makers, experts, and political representatives
to create a series of recommendations on how we can all work to create a Fairer Scotland.
Dundee, Thursday 5th November
Inverclyde, Tuesday, 10th November
Glasgow, Tuesday, 17th November
Register your interest here: http://www.scdc.org.uk/news/article/creating-fairer-scotland-planning-events/
More information on Creating a Fairer Scotland is available here: http://fairer.scot/about/
Register your interest in The Crucial Conversation Cafe
Wednesday, 25 Nov 2015 or Friday, 27 Nov 2015, 10 am – 12.30 pm or 1 pm – 3.30 pm
Venue to be confirmed depending on interest
An opportunity for you to share your views and ideas on 
the new strategy for Integration for Health and Social
Care. Good integrated care can reduce: Confusion,
Repetition, Delay, Duplication & Gaps in service
delivery and, People getting lost in the system.
Integrated care will achieve: better planning, free
access to good information and personal involvement of the person using the services.
To note your interest, date and time preference, please contact:
Carla Angus on 01358 720824. Website: http://www.vsa.org.uk
National Conversation – Creating a Healthier Scotland: What Matters to You?
From August 2015 to April 2016 the Scottish Government is holding a 
national conversation on health and social care services in Scotland. The
conversation is seeking views on what a healthier Scotland should look like in
the next 10-15 years from now and how people in Scotland can be
supported to be as healthy as they can be. To help get the conversation
started three broad questions have been issued:
• What support do we need in Scotland to live healthier lives?
• What areas of health and social care matter most to you?
• Thinking about the future of health and social care services, where should
our focus be?
A facilitation pack is now available to help you host local conversations. This material is designed to give you a bit more background on the current situation in Scotland, where there have been successes and some of the long term challenges we face.
Join in the discussions online at: http://healthier.scot/
Twitter: @scotgovhealth #healthierscotland
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/healthier.scot
Email: healthier@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
K&M Communities 