25 February 2021

Webinar will help prepare your project ready for future funding

Aberdeenshire Council Economic Development Service will soon be hosting a virtual funding session to share ideas and tips to help grow and develop our towns and communities.

The ‘Community Development: Hints, Tips and Funding’ webinar on Wednesday, March 3 from 2.30-4pm will bring together key speakers from both national and local level to provide ideas and inspiration on how to ensure North-east towns and communities have the right tools, skills and knowledge in place to make their goals and visions become a reality.

Hosted by Councillor Peter Argyle, chair of Aberdeenshire Council’s Infrastructure Service Committee, the webinar line-up features:

• Phil Prentice, Scotland Town Partnership - Are you Ready for a New Future for Scotland’s Towns

• Carolyn Powell, Huntly and District Development Trust - Showcase of no.30 a Community Owned Redevelopment

• Rachel Kennedy, Banffshire Business Forum - Showcase of Successful Business Collaboration

• Jamie McNamara, Scottish Civic Trust - Developing Successful Community Projects

• Councillor Anne Stirling, chair of Aberdeenshire Council’s Communities Committee - Supporting Community Delivery

Looking ahead to the digital event, Cllr Argyle said: “It is vitally important that experiences are shared and that towns and projects help one another to understand and overcome the challenges which can often be faced in developing good initiatives to support our communities and places.

“We have a wonderful line-up of speakers who will share their vast experience on a range of projects and those attending can hear about the support both we as a council and our community partners can offer to help take projects forward.”

Phil Prentice, Chief Officer from Scotland’s Towns Partnership said “Despite the unimaginable consequences of the pandemic, the Scottish Government has recognised just how important the role community groups have to play in recovery.

“The BIDs Resilience Fund, Towns and Bids Resilience and Recovery Fund, Scotland Loves Local and the Town Centre Capital boost has supported more than 250 projects throughout Scotland. Moving forward, the Place Based Investment Programme will target projects where there are clear plans and a track record of collaborative cross sectoral partnership working.”

Rachel Kennedy of the Banffshire Business Forum and Banff CAVA Trail said: “The town centre toolkit is a brilliant resource packed full of great ideas, case studies and tips for other towns to be inspired by. I am excited to take part in the webinar and share the positive work we are doing collectively in Banff to support our community and economy.”

Registration for the webinar is free via https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/community-development-webinar-hints-tips-and-funding-tickets-141114283621