AVA Magazine - September 22
Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action Magazine.
Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action Magazine.
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<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>.