AVA Magazine - September 22
Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action Magazine.
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<strong>AVA</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong><br />
<strong>September</strong> 20<strong>22</strong><br />
• <strong>AVA</strong> Launches two new funds • Magpie news<br />
• Member Spotlights• Our new Mediation service •
join<br />
us<br />
<strong>AVA</strong> Membership<br />
<strong>AVA</strong> members come in all sorts of<br />
(organisational) shapes and sizes.<br />
From small community-based<br />
organisations working to support<br />
a small number of people in a<br />
restricted geographic area, to<br />
large charities delivering services<br />
within Aberdeenshire that are<br />
sometimes a small part of a much<br />
wider portfolio. Community and<br />
third sector organisations are<br />
invited to join <strong>AVA</strong> as full members,<br />
and people who either work or<br />
volunteer for those organisations<br />
are invited to join as affiliated<br />
members. Volunteers are the<br />
lifeblood of our sector and those<br />
who volunteer on a regular basis<br />
are invited to join <strong>AVA</strong> as associate<br />
members.<br />
Apply here H<br />
www.avashire.org.uk/join-ava.html<br />
When you join <strong>AVA</strong>, you and your<br />
organisation will have access to the<br />
following benefits:<br />
• Enhanced communications through<br />
specialism networking and information<br />
mailing lists<br />
• Priority access to news, updates and<br />
information<br />
• Free and priority access to <strong>AVA</strong><br />
membership and specialist forum events<br />
• Priority access to <strong>AVA</strong> Training resources<br />
• Priority access to <strong>AVA</strong> services and<br />
facilities<br />
• Access to discounted rates for <strong>AVA</strong><br />
Office Support Services<br />
• Access to professional services offering<br />
discounted rates to members
<strong>AVA</strong> |<strong>September</strong> 20<strong>22</strong> 3<br />
Supporting resilient<br />
communities<br />
Dan Shaw<br />
<strong>AVA</strong> Chief Executive<br />
Officer<br />
I’m delighted to introduce this latest edition of<br />
our magazine full of news and useful reflections<br />
that I hope everyone enjoys reading. At a time<br />
when so many challenges seem to dominate,<br />
whether they be around the impending arrival<br />
of the darker nights and the winter weather, or<br />
the cost-of-living crisis that is already affecting<br />
us all, <strong>AVA</strong> continues to support some of the<br />
amazing groups and organisations who work<br />
tirelessly to support so many people across our<br />
communities.<br />
Our brilliant staff team continue to work hard<br />
on making sure that they are as up to date<br />
as possible in their knowledge so that they<br />
are offering guidance that will be valuable to<br />
groups. Our new colleagues have been making<br />
their presence felt by working hard to develop<br />
their networks and contacts, and some of their<br />
work is highlighted for you to see in this edition<br />
which might hopefully help you to think about<br />
how they could potentially help your group in<br />
the future.<br />
We’ve also been getting<br />
ready for the two funds<br />
that we are about to<br />
administer; you will find<br />
more details of the Just<br />
Transition Participatory<br />
Budgeting fund and<br />
the second year of the<br />
Communities Mental<br />
Health & Wellbeing fund<br />
in this edition. We’re<br />
really proud that both<br />
funds will provide groups with the opportunity to<br />
secure grant funding to enable them to do more<br />
to help their service users.<br />
We are always keen to hear from you about<br />
what we are doing well, and what we could be<br />
doing better, so please don’t hesitate to get in<br />
touch with us if you would like to.<br />
Finally, <strong>AVA</strong> is unfortunately losing two of our<br />
colleagues this month. Sandra McGuigan has<br />
been a pioneer of our networks model by building<br />
a very successful Children & Families network,<br />
and Lesley Lawrinson has helped us to transform<br />
our communications outputs. We’re confident<br />
that both work strands will continue to go from<br />
strength to strength with new colleagues, but<br />
Sandra and Lesley really will be missed by us all.<br />
With very best wishes<br />
Dan and the entire <strong>AVA</strong> Team<br />
Dan.Shaw@avashire.org.uk<br />
Contents<br />
12<br />
15<br />
Alford Community Railway<br />
reach milestone with new lease<br />
Keeping you informed<br />
New Governance Guidance<br />
4-5<br />
Magpie<br />
Awarded grant funding<br />
16-17<br />
Members Spotlight<br />
Aboyne Men’s Shed<br />
6-7<br />
Mental Health & Wellbeing Funding<br />
Round 2 of the CMHW fund<br />
18-19<br />
New <strong>AVA</strong> Member<br />
Tyred N Cranky<br />
8-9<br />
10-11<br />
Networks of Wellbeing<br />
New premesis in Huntly<br />
New Service for community groups<br />
Introducing <strong>AVA</strong>’s new Mediation<br />
Service<br />
20-21<br />
<strong>22</strong><br />
Spotlight<br />
Aberdeen Independent<br />
Multiple Sclerosis (AIMS)<br />
Generations Working Together
4 <strong>AVA</strong> | <strong>September</strong> 20<strong>22</strong><br />
Magpie|Reducing our<br />
carbon footprint with<br />
funding success<br />
Lesley Lawrinson<br />
<strong>AVA</strong> Communications Officer<br />
<strong>AVA</strong>’s social enterprise, Magpie, was recently awarded funds<br />
from the Vattenfall Unlock Our Future fund to upgrade the<br />
lighting in our shops to improve energy efficiency - one of many<br />
steps in the pipeline to work towards reducing our carbon footprint<br />
whilst still delivering the same great service. Magpie Manager, Marie-<br />
Anne Brown (middle), attended a ceremony earlier this month at the<br />
Garioch Heritage Centre, along with several organisations awarded<br />
grants to improve energy efficiency.<br />
Other fund recipients include Charlie House for funding towards their<br />
Big Build project; a state of the art specialist care facility for children<br />
with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, Inverurie Loco<br />
Football Team who received funding to help towards the installation<br />
of energy efficient LED floodlights and Newton Dee Store; a social<br />
enterprise that works with adults with special needs, who received<br />
funding towards the purchase of an electric delivery vehicle to allow<br />
staff and service users deliver goods around the Camphill community.<br />
The event also served as an opportunity for like-minded organisations<br />
to network and gain some valuable feedback from similar projects<br />
and past recipients of the Vattenfall Unlock our Future Fund.<br />
Magpie would like to thank the Vattenfall Unlock Your Future Fund for<br />
the grant that we have been awarded. It will make such a difference<br />
to the lighting in the shops by reducing our energy costs, our carbon<br />
footprint and making it an overall better working environment. It was<br />
great to be invited to the Garioch Heritage Centre to be awarded<br />
the grant, meet the other delegates and hear how the fund has<br />
helped other local projects previously. We will certainly hope to use<br />
the fund in future for other projects.<br />
Marie-Anne Brown<br />
Magpie Manager<br />
Tillybrake Industrial Estate,<br />
Banchory, AB31 5UN<br />
Tel: 01330 823800<br />
Email: magpie@avashire.org.uk
6 <strong>AVA</strong> | <strong>September</strong> 20<strong>22</strong><br />
Following the successful delivery of the first round of the<br />
Community Mental Health & Wellbeing programme by<br />
Third Sector Interfaces across Scotland in 2021/<strong>22</strong>, a further<br />
£15 million for Year 2 of the Fund was announced on 7th May<br />
20<strong>22</strong>. This funding reflects the importance placed on community<br />
support as part of our overall mental health infrastructure and<br />
the commitments given by Scottish Ministers to increase direct<br />
investment, in both the NHS Recovery Plan and this year’s<br />
Programme for Government.<br />
Lindsay Allardyce<br />
<strong>AVA</strong> Communications &<br />
Membership Manager<br />
<strong>AVA</strong> will have £639,855.99 for distribution to groups and<br />
organisations across Aberdeenshire by the 31st March 2023<br />
where projects supported during this round of funding must be<br />
complete by 31st March 2024. <strong>AVA</strong> worked hard to build robust<br />
partnerships with the previous round of the fund and we aim to<br />
build on that experience with our assessment teams comprising<br />
of <strong>AVA</strong> staff and a small number of external, public sector, third<br />
sector and lived/living experience panel members working within<br />
cognisant areas. We are particularly keen for those with lived and<br />
living experience to be part of that process to ensure the funds<br />
are reaching the right places.
<strong>AVA</strong> |<strong>September</strong> 20<strong>22</strong> 7<br />
Ongoing support, delivered by our team of<br />
Development Officers, will be available to<br />
groups and organisations who are eligible to<br />
apply for the funds.<br />
The overarching aim of The Fund is to support<br />
community-based initiatives that promote and<br />
develop good mental health and wellbeing,<br />
and/or mitigate and protect against the impact<br />
of distress and mental ill health within the adult<br />
population, with a particular focus on:<br />
1. Tackling priority issues within the Transition<br />
and Recovery Plan such as suicide<br />
prevention, social isolation and loneliness,<br />
prevention, and early intervention.<br />
2. Addressing the mental health inequalities<br />
exacerbated by the pandemic and the<br />
needs of a range of ‘at risk’ groups locally.<br />
3. Supporting small ‘grass roots’ community<br />
groups and organisations to deliver such<br />
activities.<br />
4. Providing opportunities for people to<br />
connect with each other, build trusted<br />
relationships and revitalise communities.<br />
5. Supporting recovery and creativity locally<br />
by building on what is already there, what<br />
was achieved through the pandemic, and<br />
by investing in creative solutions.<br />
The Fund will be sympathetic to applications from<br />
groups and organisations that are specifically<br />
seeking to support local priorities such as lack of<br />
employment; addictions; the rising cost of food/<br />
living; geographic and technological isolation,<br />
or reduced access to medical services for<br />
example.<br />
Due to the ambition of The Fund being to support<br />
local community activity, it is anticipated that<br />
the majority of applications will be considered<br />
under funding levels 1 and 2 with a a smaller<br />
proportion of bids up to the maximum value of<br />
£50,000. The Fund will be open for applications<br />
in two phases.<br />
Phase 1<br />
Round 2 funding levels:<br />
1. £0 to £2000<br />
2. £2000.01 to £10,000<br />
3. £10,000.01 to £50,000<br />
Phase 1 will open for applications on Tuesday<br />
11th October 20<strong>22</strong>, and close on the following<br />
dates:<br />
• Funding level 1 applications will be<br />
accepted until midnight on Friday 2nd<br />
December 20<strong>22</strong>.<br />
• Funding level 2 applications will be<br />
accepted until midnight on Friday 4th<br />
November 20<strong>22</strong>.<br />
• Funding level 3 applications will be<br />
accepted until midnight on Friday 18th<br />
November 20<strong>22</strong>.<br />
Phase 2<br />
Phase 2 will open for applications in January<br />
2023 if money remains available after phase<br />
1, and close to all funding levels on Tuesday<br />
14th March 2023 (or once all funds have been<br />
allocated, whichever is sooner).<br />
Keep an eye on our social media<br />
for the launch of the fund
8 <strong>AVA</strong> | <strong>September</strong> 20<strong>22</strong><br />
Member Spotlight|<br />
Networks of Wellbeing<br />
Sharon Francis<br />
<strong>AVA</strong> Development Officer,<br />
Specialising in Supporting<br />
Independent Living with<br />
Sandra Brantingham, Chair<br />
of NoW<br />
The 15th of August 20<strong>22</strong> marked the opening<br />
of the new Networks of Wellbeing (NoW)<br />
premises at 34 West Park Street in Huntly.<br />
The journey has been a long and winding one<br />
for NoW and the atmosphere was exhilarating<br />
and positively happy, all the staff were bustling<br />
around meeting all their guests. The challenging<br />
work involved finding suitable premises and fast<br />
forwarding to today at the opening ceremony,<br />
and there was a real sense of relief for all those<br />
involved from the board, the staff team and the<br />
volunteers.<br />
After such a difficult period due to Covid it was<br />
lovely to see so many people in one place,<br />
chatting and meeting with acquaintances they<br />
had not seen for a while. Standing back and<br />
watching, I thought, this is what it’s all about, how<br />
our communities have missed the opportunity to<br />
come together and connect. Whilst waiting for<br />
the cutting of the ribbon, Robert, a piper, played<br />
a few tunes whilst people continued to arrive,<br />
making it feel very welcoming.<br />
Networks of Wellbeing is an inclusive and<br />
diverse organisation that lies at the heart of<br />
Huntly and the surrounding area, providing<br />
mental health and well-being support within<br />
the community.Their ethos is based around the<br />
Five Ways to Wellbeing and they offer various<br />
opportunities and projects including: Chilling<br />
Women, Counselling, Peer Support, Silver Singers,<br />
Dementia Support, Mindfulness to name but a<br />
few.<br />
Sandra Brantingham, the chairperson for NoW<br />
opened the ceremony with a speech which<br />
included her journey with NoW, joining the<br />
board in 2011 and becoming the chair in 2012.
<strong>AVA</strong> |<strong>September</strong> 20<strong>22</strong> 9<br />
Sandra joked that in all that time one of the main goals<br />
was to move from the Industrial Estate, which raised a<br />
few laughs and smiles of satisfaction after finally getting<br />
there after 5 years. Sandra went on to describe the new<br />
building as ‘a sanctuary for people who find life getting<br />
tough’.<br />
The Provost of Aberdeenshire, Judy Whyte, officially<br />
opened the new headquarters with an overwhelming<br />
cheer from the crowd. Judy stressed the importance<br />
of our physical health alongside emotional and mental<br />
wellbeing and that charities like Now are so important<br />
to communities especially in times of crisis.<br />
One of the volunteers, Fiona, came forward to thank<br />
Fiona Alderson, the Service Manager, adding that<br />
Fiona likes to stay out of the limelight, but she wanted<br />
to highlight that without her at the helm and her team<br />
behind her none of this would have happened. The<br />
volunteer, Fiona, had been supported through NoW<br />
herself and at the beginning of her journey, couldn’t<br />
leave her house but now had stood in front of a crowd,<br />
thanking Fiona and her team for all their hard work.<br />
Fiona now supports the groups that she attended,<br />
starting slowly with tea and coffee to now being fully<br />
involved.<br />
Spending time in the new premises, you could sense<br />
the excitement for the opportunities this has opened<br />
for NoW, the community and other community groups,<br />
as NoW have always worked collaboratively with other<br />
organisations in the area, allowing more diverse ways of<br />
working and coming together.<br />
Fiona Alderson, spoke fondly of Alastair and Janets<br />
rooms, both very dedicated to the works of NoW, and<br />
how she felt it important to have both Alastair and Janet<br />
recognised and not lose the sense of them and the work<br />
they both carried out, always having the community at<br />
the heart of everything they did. The rooms are lovely<br />
and airy and have a warm welcoming feeling to them,<br />
and I am sure Alastair and Janet would be so proud<br />
to be at the heart of the work being carried out within<br />
them.<br />
A beautiful spread of sandwiches and cakes were on<br />
offer, whilst everyone tucked in the room had a lovely<br />
sound of chatting and laughing. Fiona Alderson, cut the<br />
beautiful cake to mark the celebration but also to wish<br />
NoW a ‘Happy 30th Birthday’.<br />
Speaking with staff on forthcoming plans for the building,<br />
enthusiasm was oozing in the conversation, so watch<br />
this space folks - Networks of Wellbeing are at the heart<br />
of the Marr community, offering individuals such an<br />
important service and are always looking at new ways<br />
to support the community. Thank you for all the hard<br />
work you do in your community and for the third sector.
10 <strong>AVA</strong> | <strong>September</strong> 20<strong>22</strong><br />
New <strong>AVA</strong> Support Service|Mediation<br />
Aileen Longino<br />
<strong>AVA</strong> Development Officer<br />
specialising in Social Enterprise<br />
Here at <strong>AVA</strong> we are always listening to what<br />
you want and the support you need. We<br />
are now launching a new string to our<br />
bow, our Mediation Service.<br />
Working with organisations large and small we<br />
know things don’t always go smoothly. We know<br />
the people involved in voluntary groups and<br />
charities are very passionate about what they<br />
do and as a result, sometimes disagreements<br />
might arise that groups are unable to resolve<br />
themselves.<br />
Within our Development team we now have<br />
two qualified Mediators, Keith Anderson and<br />
Aileen Longino (right). They have recently<br />
undertaken an extensive two-week training<br />
course qualifying them as Workplace Mediators.
<strong>AVA</strong> |<strong>September</strong> 20<strong>22</strong> 11<br />
“Mediation is a flexible process that can be used to<br />
settle disputes in a whole range of situations.<br />
Mediation involves an independent third party,<br />
the mediator, who helps people to agree a solution<br />
when there is a disagreement. The mediator helps<br />
parties work out what their issues and options are,<br />
then uses those options to work out an agreement.”<br />
We want to provide you with:<br />
In the Third Sector, mediation can be used in<br />
a wide variety of situations and is especially<br />
useful when disputes have arisen or there are<br />
relationship difficulties between board members,<br />
committee members, employees or volunteers.<br />
The very passion, drive and commitment that<br />
draws people into the third sector can heighten<br />
issues and very quickly escalate disagreements<br />
into major disputes. This is not only stressful and<br />
unpleasant for everyone involved but can lead<br />
to the loss of valuable individuals who choose to<br />
walk away from the stress and in some cases can<br />
jeopardise the future of the whole organisation.<br />
The need for third sector organisations to<br />
collaborate and work in partnership can also<br />
give rise to difficulties. An independent <strong>AVA</strong><br />
mediator can help people work out and express<br />
what their issues are and then explore what<br />
options might be available for moving forward.<br />
• Ample chance for both parties to speak<br />
• Confidential mediation<br />
• A safe environment for both parties<br />
• Impartial, open, neutral and respectful<br />
discussion<br />
• Complete transparency of process to you<br />
• Notes that will be destroyed afterwards<br />
• Summarise and ask questions to clarify<br />
What we won’t do is:<br />
• Take sides<br />
• Enter into any arguments<br />
• Manipulate the conversation<br />
• Tell anyone what has been discussed<br />
• Make the decision for you<br />
If you think you might need help from us in<br />
resolving some differences please get in touch<br />
with our Mediation team. The great news for<br />
<strong>AVA</strong> members is that this service is free if you<br />
are a member. For non <strong>AVA</strong> Members the cost<br />
is £250. To find out more please email enquiries@<br />
avashire.org.uk and see how we can help or fill<br />
in our Support Request Form on the <strong>AVA</strong> website<br />
here.
12 <strong>AVA</strong> | <strong>September</strong> 20<strong>22</strong><br />
Member Spotlight|<br />
Alford Valley Community<br />
Railway moves forward<br />
Alford Valley Community Railway (AVCR)<br />
are delighted to announce that after<br />
much hard work and commitment by<br />
the Board and its associates, they have finalised<br />
their lease with Aberdeenshire Council and<br />
now have the keys to the Railway Station,<br />
Engine Shed and Railway Line. This is fantastic<br />
news and they have now started the hard<br />
work of physically bringing this much loved<br />
and treasured attraction back to life. AVCR<br />
extended their thanks to Aberdeenshire Council<br />
and the Marr Area Office for their support during<br />
the long journey to reach this milestone. The<br />
group also expressed their appreciation for the<br />
support they received from Grampian Transport<br />
Museum Trust, Alford Golf Club and Donside<br />
Community Council.<br />
The good news continued as AVCR also have<br />
a benefactor who has purchased the majority<br />
of Rolling Stock so they will be able to bring the<br />
Hamewith, The James Gordon and Carriages<br />
back to use - and in addition, The Braw Lass is<br />
on permanent loan from a second benefactor.<br />
AVCR are extremely grateful to these individuals<br />
for their ongoing support.<br />
AVCR would like to express their sincere<br />
gratitude to the community of Alford and the<br />
surrounding areas for their unshakable faith in the<br />
project. To hear about future activities, events,<br />
membership, volunteering and information,<br />
please visit the AVCR Facebook Page or visit<br />
their new website at: www.avcr.org.uk.
<strong>AVA</strong> |<strong>September</strong> 20<strong>22</strong> 13<br />
Thrive<br />
on-line training<br />
E-Learning Hub for groups, clubs and<br />
organisations in Aberdeenshire.<br />
NOW FREE FOR<br />
<strong>AVA</strong> MEMBERS<br />
<strong>AVA</strong> offers both members and nonmembers<br />
access to the Highland<br />
and Island e-learning platform.<br />
And <strong>AVA</strong> members can now access one<br />
free E-Learning user licence per member<br />
organisation!<br />
This online training resource offers over<br />
40 courses which are grouped into topic<br />
areas such as Workplace Development,<br />
Compliance, Finance, Communications,<br />
Wellbeing, Self Management and IT Skills.<br />
The topics covered span a wide variety<br />
of subjects that are suitable for your work<br />
colleagues, including your volunteers.<br />
The online training courses are designed to<br />
be fully intuitive and easy to use. Learners<br />
can navigate the system simply. You can<br />
track and report on your own or you team’s<br />
progress. It allows you to quickly see who<br />
has completed courses, set deadlines and<br />
create reports. As a manager it is easy to<br />
find out how many users need to finish a<br />
module, their score percentage and much<br />
more.<br />
self-management<br />
communications<br />
IT skills<br />
compliance<br />
finance<br />
workplace development<br />
Sign up here<br />
wellbeing<br />
H<br />
<strong>AVA</strong> can offer one free E-Learning user<br />
licence per member organisation. Cost<br />
for any additional licences will be £40 for<br />
<strong>AVA</strong> Members and £70 for non-members.<br />
Organisations are free to buy as many<br />
licences as needed. A free trial period<br />
can also be arranged. Please contact<br />
Training@avashire.org.uk for more<br />
information or complete the online user<br />
licence application by filling out the form<br />
here: https://tinyurl.com/vpjm3zy5
New Funding for Aberdeenshire<br />
The Just Transition Capital Fund will support Scotland’s Northeast economy<br />
in its just transition to net zero and £333,333 will be available to third sector<br />
groups in Aberdeenshire. The capital fund is now open to applications from<br />
constituted grassroots community organisations and funds will be allocated<br />
through a Participatory Budgeting process – meaning the whole community<br />
has a say where the money is spent.<br />
✻<br />
Applications can be received for grants of up to £50,000.<br />
Aberdeenshire groups can apply for capital funding for equipment, land or<br />
property that will make a positive impact on your community in reducing the<br />
harmful emissions that have caused climate change.<br />
Applications can be accepted from a range of community, voluntary,<br />
and third sector ‘not for profit’ organisations, associations, groups and<br />
clubs or consortiums/partnerships who have a strong community<br />
focus for their activities.<br />
✻<br />
Support is available from the <strong>AVA</strong> team for completing the application form.<br />
This support can be accessed by filling in a Support Request Form on the <strong>AVA</strong><br />
wesbite and selecting ‘Just Transition Fund’ from the options list.<br />
Visit: www.avashire.org.uk/just-transition-fund
<strong>AVA</strong> |<strong>September</strong> 20<strong>22</strong> 15<br />
Guidance|Keeping you informed,<br />
with all things Governance<br />
Rhona Davidson<br />
<strong>AVA</strong> Lead Development Officer<br />
(Specialising in Governance,<br />
Training and Strategic Service<br />
Development)<br />
At <strong>AVA</strong> our staff try their best to keep<br />
abreast of the ever changing and<br />
evolving support routes useful to those<br />
involved in the Third Sector, relating to the<br />
management of your group or organisation.<br />
Rhona Davidson, our Lead Development<br />
Officer specialising in Governance, Training<br />
and Strategic Services Development, has daily<br />
conversations with a variety of community<br />
groups, organisations, facilities, and individuals,<br />
pondering the merits of becoming a charity,<br />
whether through the creation of a new charity,<br />
moving their current group towards charitable<br />
status or who are seeking answers to the various<br />
questions relating to these process paths.<br />
To this end - we wanted to highlight the very<br />
recently refreshed “Setting Up A Charity”<br />
guidance written by Scottish Council for<br />
Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) and which<br />
you may have been guided towards previously<br />
through your connection with Rhona, as a good<br />
process tool. The guidance covers everything<br />
from; considerations before starting a charity,<br />
how decisions will be made and how the charity<br />
will be managed longer term, summarising the<br />
different structures available to you, before<br />
describing how to make an application to<br />
become registered with the Office of the<br />
Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). The new<br />
guidance was launched at a webinar, which<br />
was attended by Rhona on the 7th <strong>September</strong><br />
and included presentations from both OSCR<br />
and law firm, Gillespie MacAndrew who were<br />
both involved in the re-fresh and were able to<br />
answer direct questions from the attendees on<br />
relevant matters. You can watch this specific<br />
webinar on YouTube here.<br />
Rhona would love to hear from you and can<br />
offer you 1-2-1 Governance support. Just<br />
complete the support request form on our<br />
website here, or contact her by email at<br />
Rhona.Davidson@avashire.org.uk or by calling<br />
07724 617648. Rhona has had nearly 150<br />
communications with groups over the summer<br />
on this very specific topic alone – lets keep her<br />
busy!
16 <strong>AVA</strong> | <strong>September</strong> 20<strong>22</strong><br />
<strong>AVA</strong> Office Services<br />
<strong>AVA</strong> members can access office services at very competitive rates.<br />
Payroll services<br />
<strong>AVA</strong> can provide<br />
monthly payroll services,<br />
including production of<br />
monthly payslips, HMRC<br />
submissions and end of<br />
year returns, assistance<br />
with auto enrolment<br />
compliance and pension<br />
file uploads.<br />
Independent<br />
examination<br />
of accounts<br />
Receipts and Payments<br />
Accounts examination<br />
is available for noncompany<br />
charities<br />
and groups with a<br />
gross annual income of<br />
<strong>AVA</strong> |<strong>September</strong> 20<strong>22</strong> 17<br />
Member Spotlight|Aboyne<br />
Men’s Shed<br />
Aileen Longino<br />
<strong>AVA</strong> Development Officer<br />
specialising in Social Enterprise<br />
The 2nd <strong>September</strong> 20<strong>22</strong> was a very very big<br />
day for one of our Members, Aboyne Men’s<br />
Shed as they officially opened the Aboyne<br />
& Mid Deeside Community Shed. In April 2016,<br />
our Development Officer, Aileen, started at <strong>AVA</strong><br />
and on her first day, she attended a meeting on<br />
a wet evening in Aboyne at the local Bowling<br />
Club. The room was packed, as this was the very<br />
first meeting of the Aboyne Men’s Shed. Some six<br />
and a half years later, their dream came true.<br />
Mike Brooks Chair of the Men’s Shed spoke of<br />
the herculean effort by him and his team of<br />
Trustees to make their dream a reality and the<br />
Earl of Aboyne cut the ribbon to the premesis<br />
surrounded by trustees, members, service users,<br />
funders and supporters. Over £400,000 was raised<br />
to make the Aboyne Community Shed which sits<br />
nestled amongst the trees like it has always been<br />
there. The attention to detail is exceptional. The<br />
workshop is downstairs and the community space<br />
upstairs has is light and airy feel with a fantastic<br />
craft room used by Aboyne Artist in Residence<br />
Deeside & Donside Communities, Steph Vandem.<br />
This eco-friendly and highly efficient building is<br />
very calm and collected.<br />
<strong>AVA</strong> has been by their side through the ups<br />
and downs of pulling a massive project like this<br />
together. There has been much blood, sweat<br />
and tears to get the job done, but not even covid<br />
could stop this dedicated team of volunteers.<br />
Aileen said today, “I was delighted to be part of<br />
the day but I can’t express enough the effort of<br />
Mike, Phil, Dave, Brian, John, and other trustees<br />
over the years in persevering - when the going<br />
got tough, the tough most definitely got going!<br />
It has been one of the greatest privileges of<br />
my time at <strong>AVA</strong> to work with them and use this<br />
exceptional resource they have given to the<br />
Aboyne and surrounding community. “<br />
Huge congratulations and a massive pat on the<br />
back for a job very well done from everyone at<br />
<strong>AVA</strong>.
<strong>AVA</strong> |<strong>September</strong> 20<strong>22</strong> 19<br />
New <strong>AVA</strong> Member|<br />
Tyred n Cranky<br />
Aileen Longino<br />
<strong>AVA</strong> Development Officer<br />
specialising in Social Enterprise<br />
We are delighted to feature one of our<br />
newest <strong>AVA</strong> members and innovative<br />
Social Enterprise, Tyred n Cranky in this<br />
edition of the <strong>AVA</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>, working with them<br />
to spread the word of what they do. In this age of<br />
‘make do and mend’ they are Aberdeenshire’s<br />
answer to the ‘The Repair Shop’, and great fun<br />
to work with.<br />
Tyred n Cranky are a Community Interest<br />
Company (CIC), bike and cycling social<br />
enterprise set up by two long term cycling<br />
enthusiasts in the North East of Scotland. Based<br />
essentially near Huntly but operating on a mobile<br />
model, Tim & Darren hope to bring something<br />
unique and fitting to the area. Having both<br />
been cyclists for many years, their interests span<br />
road, touring, bike packing, mountain biking,<br />
commuting, and riding with their young families<br />
too - making their skills and experience broad<br />
reaching.<br />
So far since they were incorporated in January<br />
as a CIC, they have brought a one-off pop-up<br />
bike shop to small rural communities with no such<br />
facilities nearby. They offer mobile bike servicing,<br />
and Dr Bike services working with the likes of<br />
Outfit Moray, Cycling UK, and are currently in<br />
discussions with Love to Ride. Tyred n Cranky don’t<br />
plan to stop there though, with a portable bike<br />
track at their disposal, and plenty of enthusiasm<br />
to promote all things cycling for everyone in the<br />
local area, it might not be long before you see<br />
them at an event near you.<br />
Tim says, “We’re both passionate about not<br />
only cycling, but about where we live and<br />
the cycling facilities and infrastructure that’s<br />
around us. Although this is growing, there are still<br />
many gaps and opportunities, and plenty more<br />
folk that could enjoy the benefits of cycling for<br />
whatever purpose in this beautiful part of the<br />
country.”<br />
Darren added “At Tyred n Cranky we are<br />
responding to the changing economic situation,<br />
over the last few years bikes have grown in<br />
popularity, but bike shops have either closed or<br />
do not exist especially in the smaller and more<br />
rural towns and villages where car use is at its<br />
highest; being deliberately uncomplicated we<br />
can respond quickly and uniquely and adapt<br />
to the emerging needs of the area.”<br />
We wish Tyred n Cranky every success for<br />
the future! Find out how you can get Tyred n<br />
Cranky involved in your community by emailing<br />
tyredncranky@gmail.com find them on<br />
Facebook at Tyred n Cranky.
20 <strong>AVA</strong> | <strong>September</strong> 20<strong>22</strong><br />
Spotlight|<br />
Aberdeen Independent<br />
Multiple Sclerosis (AIMS)<br />
Last year, a group of people within the multiple<br />
sclerosis community took the decision to<br />
break away from the MS Society to create<br />
a new group, Aberdeen Independent Multiple<br />
Sclerosis (AIMS) who now run the exercise and<br />
social activities previously provided by the MS<br />
Society. AIMS was established on 16th June 2021<br />
as an unincorporated body and after applying<br />
for charitable status they received approval<br />
from the Scottish charity regulator, formally<br />
becoming a charity on 30th August.<br />
AIMS is run by a small team of volunteers and<br />
has five trustees. Ad-hoc people are called on<br />
to assist, mainly when face to face activities<br />
take place and they have the support of friends<br />
and family members to assist at larger events<br />
when appropriate. Services offered are mainly<br />
online and generally run by qualified personnel.<br />
Chair-based Exercise: With a face-to-face chairbased<br />
exercise session operating in Westhill on<br />
a Thursday morning, Ian leads a digital class at<br />
the same time for those who are unable to get<br />
to the live session and he has no qualification<br />
other than enthusiasm.<br />
AIMS has a geographic spread of participants,<br />
reaching as far as London for exercise sessions<br />
and New York for yoga. Others join us digitally<br />
from Coventry, Dundee, Edinburgh, London<br />
and Portknockie.<br />
Mindfulness is run on a Friday morning which<br />
gives an opportunity for participants to relax<br />
their minds ahead of the weekend.<br />
Art and Crafts: AIMS runs a crafts session<br />
on Monday afternoon and an arts class<br />
on a Wednesday afternoon. These attract<br />
enthusiastic amateurs who are interested in arts<br />
and crafts and are as much a social occasion<br />
as hard work. There is a qualified leader on hand<br />
to offer assistance to anyone requiring help with<br />
a project.
<strong>AVA</strong> |<strong>September</strong> 20<strong>22</strong> 21<br />
A Social Group operates on a Wednesday<br />
afternoon for those who wish to chat and take<br />
part in a quiz over coffee from the comfort of a<br />
participant’s own home.<br />
It costs around £20,000 annually to operate<br />
AIM’s services and class participants are asked<br />
to make a donation towards the cost. However,<br />
if a person can’t afford to make a contribution,<br />
they are not turned away.<br />
Now that Covid restrictions have been<br />
removed, face-to-face get-togethers for lunch<br />
or coffee and a chat have been organised in<br />
Aberdeen, Stonehaven and Westhill and are<br />
much appreciated by participants.<br />
AIMS is available to anyone with multiple<br />
sclerosis or a similar neurological condition,<br />
their carers and family members - join them<br />
digitally from anywhere across Aberdeen and<br />
Aberdeenshire.<br />
AIMS<br />
Email: info@youraims.org<br />
Website: www.youraims.org<br />
Facebook: www.facebook.com/<br />
aberdeenMSsupport
<strong>22</strong> <strong>AVA</strong> | <strong>September</strong> 20<strong>22</strong><br />
Are you an older person who feels out of<br />
touch with the younger generations that<br />
you once felt so connected to? Are you a<br />
younger person who feels as though you can’t<br />
relate to people in older generations? Or perhaps<br />
you have simply observed a breakdown in<br />
relationships between generations? Either way,<br />
that’s absolutely fine. But we want to change<br />
it. The post-industrial shift to independent living<br />
over the last three decades has acted to divide<br />
generations who were once so connected.<br />
As a result, cultural walls have grown and<br />
opportunities for intergenerational relationships<br />
have dissipated.<br />
At Generations Working Together, our primary<br />
goal is to make Scotland the first intergenerational<br />
nation. What do we mean by this? We want<br />
everyone to have the opportunity to form<br />
meaningful intergenerational relationships,<br />
which will generate opportunities to learn<br />
from each other, break down age barriers,<br />
challenge stigma and ageism and generally<br />
make Scotland a nicer place to live, where<br />
people of all generations can flourish.<br />
There exists a narrative that looks upon<br />
intergenerational practice as ‘a nice thing to do’.<br />
And it is. But we want to challenge this narrative,<br />
because whilst it’s true, it’s not enough. Instead,<br />
we want to see intergenerational practice<br />
accounted for as a necessary component of<br />
community development, urban planning,<br />
education and more. There’s extensive research<br />
that demonstrates its effectiveness in combating<br />
loneliness and social isolation, and subsequently<br />
improving health and wellbeing. Re-engaging<br />
communities in this way is particularly important<br />
after two years of lockdowns and ought to be<br />
a policy priority for local councils and national<br />
governments.<br />
Each year, Generations Working Together<br />
comes together with 10 other countries to<br />
celebrate Global Intergenerational Week.<br />
This is an amazing week whereby exciting<br />
intergenerational projects from all over the<br />
world are showcased, expert speakers offer<br />
deep insights on all things intergenerational and<br />
opportunities for learning and networking are<br />
presented. We are looking to recruit volunteers<br />
for Global Intergenerational Week 2023, which<br />
will take place between Monday 25th April and<br />
Sunday 1st May!<br />
Volunteers will be fully trained to take part in<br />
a range of activities related to the promotion<br />
of intergenerational week across Scotland.<br />
Activities can be done from home. Volunteers<br />
will be required to work independently with<br />
support from GWT’s staff. If you would like to get<br />
involved, please visit our website here.<br />
Intergenerational work is an essential ingredient<br />
to creating a fair, equal and thriving Scotland.<br />
If you would like to learn more about what<br />
we do at GWT, visit our website or feel free to<br />
contact our Policy Officer, Ruairidh at ruairidh@<br />
generationsworkingtogether.org.
the ava<br />
website<br />
H<br />
bringing you more of the<br />
resources you need...<br />
Funding search<br />
We are delighted to<br />
have teamed up with<br />
Funding Scotland to<br />
bring you a fantastic new<br />
funding search engine<br />
- from small grants to<br />
funding for big capital<br />
projects, we can help<br />
you track down the<br />
funding you need. It’s so<br />
easy to use, and you can<br />
also subscribe to the new<br />
weekly funding bulletin<br />
there too.<br />
Organisation search<br />
Search for Third Sector<br />
groups and organisations<br />
across Aberdeenshire.<br />
Our search engine will<br />
show you a range of<br />
information for each<br />
organisation as well<br />
as any volunteering<br />
opportunities they have<br />
on offer.<br />
Our Magpie Online Shop<br />
Shop online with<br />
Magpie! Magpie is<br />
also on Facebook and<br />
Instagram, so give us a<br />
follow.<br />
A-Z of <strong>AVA</strong> Members<br />
Our A-Z of <strong>AVA</strong> Members<br />
has links to their websites,<br />
or social media – get an<br />
overview of the scope of<br />
our membership, as well<br />
as useful links with fellow<br />
members.<br />
Volunteering Forms<br />
Let us know if your<br />
organisation has any<br />
volunteering roles and<br />
we can upload them to<br />
our system for sharing.<br />
Subscribe to our new<br />
Volunteering Bulletin<br />
published every 2<br />
months with the latest<br />
opportunities across<br />
Aberdeenshire.<br />
Nominate a volunteer for<br />
an <strong>AVA</strong> Award<br />
Use our nomination<br />
form to recognise<br />
individual commitment<br />
to volunteering for 1,<br />
5, 10 and 15 years and<br />
for volunteers who<br />
have given 20 years<br />
or more there is a<br />
Lifetime Volunteering<br />
Achievement Award.<br />
Support Request Form<br />
Get in touch with us via<br />
our Support Request Form<br />
and we’ll make sure the<br />
right person gets back to<br />
you.<br />
Volunteering<br />
Opportunities<br />
Use our search engine<br />
to search for local and<br />
national volunteering<br />
opportunities.<br />
Resources<br />
Find a range of links<br />
to useful pages and<br />
organisations – and Quick<br />
Guides for new groups.<br />
See the latest Covid<br />
guidance, <strong>AVA</strong> Office<br />
Services for members,<br />
and read past and<br />
present newsletters/blogs.<br />
Training<br />
We have partnered with<br />
Highland Third Secor<br />
Interface to provide<br />
<strong>AVA</strong> members with a<br />
discounted extensive<br />
training programme,<br />
including over 30<br />
e-courses in a range of<br />
subjects.<br />
www.avashire.org.uk
24 <strong>AVA</strong> | <strong>September</strong> 20<strong>22</strong><br />
PROFILE |<br />
Getting to know those who work hard<br />
in your Third Sector Interface<br />
Who are you?<br />
Hi, I’m Aimi Blueman Community<br />
Support Co-ordinator for the Hospital<br />
Homecoming Project. I’ve been<br />
with <strong>AVA</strong> for a year and I’m halfway<br />
through the project. I’ve had an<br />
eclectic career which includes Crime<br />
Intelligence Analysis, Research, HR<br />
and OD Consultancy and Gardening!<br />
Its fair to say I like variety and a<br />
challenge! In my spare time I love<br />
cooking, gardening and hill walking. My challenge for 20<strong>22</strong> is<br />
to climb <strong>22</strong> munros – nearly there!<br />
What is your job?<br />
My job is to co-ordinate a project that will see speedier<br />
discharge from hospital for those people who are isolated<br />
and lonely and require additional support when they return<br />
home. The support for patients will be for up to 12 weeks<br />
and will be provided by community groups and volunteers;<br />
support will include things like shopping, prescription pick up,<br />
transport to appointments and friendly chats/check ins. It is<br />
anticipated this support will prevent readmission. The project<br />
is in three pilot areas in Aberdeenshire and also in pilot sites<br />
across Aberdeen City and Moray. I am working with the<br />
NHS, Health and Social Care Partnership and colleagues<br />
in Aberdeen and Moray to identify pathways for suitable<br />
patients and looking to make the project sustainable in the<br />
long term.<br />
How did you end up working with <strong>AVA</strong>?<br />
Nosiness! I am a trustee of Braemar Care and I sent for the<br />
application pack to see what the project was all about. I<br />
read the job description and thought it sounded like a<br />
worthwhile challenge that I wanted to be involved in!<br />
What does a typical day look like?<br />
It starts with coffee and can be very varied! Typically I can be<br />
speaking to the NHS and Health and Social Care Partnership,<br />
raising awareness of the project and looking at patient<br />
pathways, Community groups about the support they can<br />
offer and to patients about their support needs. As this is a<br />
test of change project I am recording data as I go along<br />
at every stage. I’m currently looking to expand the project<br />
into new geographical areas and looking at potential new<br />
referral pathways that will take the project down a more<br />
proactive path.<br />
How has Covid-19 affected your job?<br />
Positively! I live in a remote and rural place, Covid 19 and<br />
working from home has enabled me to take up this position<br />
which I wouldn’t have been able to consider if it had been<br />
office based.<br />
Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action is a<br />
charitable company limited by guarantee.<br />
Company number: SC137343.<br />
Scottish Charity Number: SC014<strong>22</strong>3<br />
Registered office: 45 Queens Road,<br />
Aberdeen, AB15 4ZN<br />
Tel: 03718 110008<br />
Email: enquiries@avashire.org.uk<br />
Website: www.avashire.org.uk<br />
Follow us on Facebook<br />
AberdeenshireVoluntary Action1<br />
Twitter @<strong>AVA</strong>Shire<br />
Instagram @magpieshops<br />
YouTube <strong>AVA</strong> Shire<br />
We want to hear from you!<br />
Give us feedback, suggestions,<br />
whatever - fill in our form here.<br />
<strong>AVA</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> available in large print<br />
H<br />
Read previous editions<br />
Read previous editions<br />
of the <strong>AVA</strong> newsletters,<br />
bulletins and magazines<br />
on our website at:<br />
www.avashire.org.uk<br />
If you’re an <strong>AVA</strong> member and<br />
would like to contribute to future<br />
magazines, please get in touch<br />
with Lindsay Allardyce at:<br />
Lindsay.Allardyce@avashire.org.uk<br />
www.avashire.org.uk