30 April 2020

Worthwhile causes in Buchan benefit from Community Resilience Fund

Here is a round-up of grants that have been given to worthwhile causes in Buchan thanks to the Aberdeenshire Community Resilience Fund.

Aberdeenshire Council recently approved the creation of the support mechanism in light of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

In just a few weeks of the fund being available, there have already been a number of grants awarded to worthwhile community groups across Aberdeenshire. 

Following the Scottish Government’s request for assistance with procuring Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Joe Skinner and his partner Nicki Mandok set up a Peterhead-based community group Protecting Essential Workers in the North East, which is producing 3D face protection masks for key workers. The group received funding from local businesses JBS Fabrications and AM Campbell which was spent on buying additional 3D printers to make more masks. More than 1000 face shields have been made for essential and key workers. Protecting Essential Workers in the North East has been supported by Peterhead Area Community Trust, who have allowed their pavilion to be used as a base for producing shields. Protecting Essential Workers in the North East has applied for funding to purchase four 3D printers which will help them make more masks more quickly.

Protecting Essential Workers in the North East has made an application to fund for assistance with purchasing four 3D printers which will help them make more masks more quickly. Protecting Essential Workers in the North East has set up a Go Fund Me page. If you would like to make a donation please visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/protecting-essential-workers-in-the-north-east?utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer&utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet 

Longside Community Coronavirus Support Scheme has brought Easter cheer to those in need. The 40 strong voluntary group distributed 67 Easter packs containing puzzle books, playing cards, packets of wild-flower seeds, leaflets with advice about staying fit and healthy, information on how to obtain audio books and on-line newspapers from Live Life Aberdeenshire Library Service, a recipe for Easter biscuits, a packet of tablet and an Easter card designed by local children. The packs were distributed by volunteers to mainly elderly people living alone and possibly feeling particularly isolated or lonely. The scheme members are planning a number of projects to support the morale and well-being of various groups in the community over these difficult times.

New Deer Community Help Group was created to provide assistance, care and support for local residents in response to the Coronavirus. The group produced a leaflet with contact details for two volunteers which was sent to every house in New Deer. The volunteers mentioned in the leaflet pass on requests to the group’s other volunteers, answer calls and even act as someone to talk to if that is required. The group also carries out a number of tasks within the community.

Buchan Community Radio has been making its listeners aware of updates from the UK and Scottish Governments as well as Aberdeenshire Council. It has also raised awareness of community resilience organisations and charities and is offering charities free advertising in place of the paid for content usually broadcast.

Constituted community groups, resilience groups and volunteering organisations can submit a single application form to Amanda Roe, Buchan Area Manager, with the implementation of the resilience fund following a similar approach to the existing Buchan Area Committee’s budget.

Each of the six areas in Aberdeenshire will have a £20,000 allocation, with the £80,000 balance being available to the whole of Aberdeenshire to be administered by the chair of the Community Resilience and Partnership Workstream.

Grants of up to £2,000 for community resilience work are available. As further community resilience funds become available from the Scottish Government, the value of grants and the criteria will be reviewed, however the principle aim at present is to be as flexible as possible for each individual community.

The Buchan Area Manager's team, along with Community Learning and Development, Public Health and Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action the Rural Partnerships and other partners, will continue to work with community resilience groups and volunteers in their areas to provide support and identify any gaps in provision. 

A coordinated approach is also being made with the Local Resilience Partnership and in particular with the British Red Cross, Aberdeen City Council and The Moray Council to ensure the maximum benefit, coverage and support is provided across the Grampian area.

You can access the form here: https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/communities-and-events/funding/community-resilience-covid-19/