local community plan
U3A (The University of the Third Age)
…is a UK-wide movement which brings together people in their ‘third age’ to develop their interests and continue their learning in a friendly and informal environment.
If you’re wondering what we mean by the third age – it is a time after you have finished working full-time or raising your family and have time to pursue your interests or just try something new.
As you get older, keeping your mind active and healthy can become a big challenge, but it’s well documented that keeping your mind active has a direct impact on physical health too.U3A has a ‘university’ of members who draw upon their knowledge and experience to teach and learn from each other but there are no qualifications to pass – it is just for pleasure. Learning is its own reward.
It’s all voluntary; a typical U3A will be home to many activity groups covering hundreds of different subjects – from art to zoology and everything in between.
Formed over 30 years ago, there are now over 1,000 U3As across the UK, with thousands of interest groups between them and more than 400,000 members nationally – plus it’s growing every day.
Want to join, click here https://www.u3a.org.uk/find
“We never had so much need of storytelling and its healing powers.” George Mackay Brown
Storytelling activities provide opportunities for the socially and educationally excluded to take part in cultural experiences that provide a platform for a sense of community, inclusion, and understanding. We all have a story to tell, and storytelling can provide a valuable means of self-expression and communication, as well as building confidence and self-esteem and combating feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Handmade Tales
Handmade Tales was an eight-week project that offered carers and those experiencing mental health problems some ‘time out’ in the form of storytelling sessions. Facilitated by storyteller Claire Hewitt, these Handmade Tales sessions gave the carers the opportunity to socialise with people going through similar experiences, have some much needed ‘me time’ and find a voice to tell their own stories. This helped them to reconnect and rebuild stronger relationships with family and friends – especially with the person the care for.
Claire led participants through a programme of storytelling and arts and craft activities all linked to the theme of spring. Whilst the hands were busy felting, stitching, thumping clay or making bread, stories were shared. Storytelling and the accompanying handwork gave participants the skills to express who they are, help them reconnect with forgotten dreams and celebrate life and the growth of something new. These sessions gave the carers the opportunity just to have a break away from their caring role, and act as a reminder that they too are important and they need to look after themselves.
This project was in collaboration with Support in Mind Scotland and the Scottish Storytelling Centre and supported by the Scottish Government ‘Short Breaks Fund.
Innovation in cycling and walking funding
Organisations can apply for a share of up to £470,000 for innovative proposals that encourage more journeys by bicycle or on foot. The Department for Transport (DfT) will fund up to £470,000 for innovative projects that lead to more walking and cycling. Proposals will tackle current barriers and encourage more journey stages to be made by bicycle or on foot. Innovations may include, for example, technology, infrastructure, manufacturing or behavioural change. Deadline: Wednesday 7th June. For more information, visit: https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/15/overview.
What Do You Think?
Aberdeenshire Council is engaging with residents, service users, community groups and staff about its budget for 2016/2017. Public sector funding is reducing across the country, and we need to live within our means. This means we have to consider delivering services differently in a way that will make us more efficient. As a result, some services may reduce, whilst others services may become a higher priority for us.
We need your help with this. Aberdeenshire Council still has a budget of £530m to spend. Your views are very important in helping us to decide what our priorities should be, how willing you are to see service changes which will save money and how best to spend the remaining budget.
This process will help to inform the decisions made by Aberdeenshire councillors in setting a balanced budget which will ensure that the council continues to deliver a range of valued local services to communities, highlight the Administration’s emerging priorities and reduce overall spending for 2016/17 by £18million.
The survey that starts the engagement process can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Shirebudget
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/
Creating Places
Place Standard Tool | Creating Places 
The Scottish Government has been working with partners NHS Health Scotland and Architecture and Design Scotland to develop a Place Standard Assessment tool. The aim of the Place Standard tool is to support the delivery of high quality places – which can be instrumental in reducing health inequalities. The tool provides questions for individuals and community groups to answer, to create a snapshot of built and social assets, and consultation is open regarding the format of the tool. To find out more and participate in the consultation please visit;
Latest Progress Update for K&M Community Plan!
We’ve just put the October 2014 progress update for the Kincardine & Mearns Community Plan up on the blog.
The updates capture what has been achieved by working together in the area with local communities during the past nine months. Read the rest of this entry »
Kincardine & Mearns Community Plan
Priority 12 Enable Inclusive, Multi-User Services and Facilities – 3rd review
Intended Outcomes:
Opportunities for the co-location of services/activities/organisations are to be explored and realised to enable greater access and increased sustainability. Moreover, accessible services and information are delivered that encourage social inclusion and integration among everyone in our communities Read the rest of this entry »
Kincardine & Mearns Community Plan
Priority 11 Online Engagement & Information Sharing Supports Our Partnership – 3rd review
Intended Outcomes:
Local partners are confident using social media to meet their needs of their communities and online platforms are developed to strengthen partnership and community engagement. Read the rest of this entry »
Kincardine & Mearns Community Plan
Priority Climate Change – 3rd review
Intended Outcomes:
Communities and partners in Kincardine & Mearns are more resilient and adaptive to current and future effects of climate change, including severe weather. Read the rest of this entry »
Kincardine & Mearns Community Plan
Priority 9 Engaged Communities – 3rd review
Intended Outcomes:
Local residents are actively involved in developing vibrant and resilient communities, of place and of interest, which support the needs of all their members. These communities are increasingly empowered by revitalising and broadening community engagement opportunities. 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 »
K&M Communities 