Garioch Community Planning E-Bulletin 8 January 2021 If you have information which you think we should include in a future bulletin, please e-mail or forward it to garioch@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

*PLEASE CHECK EACH SECTION FOR NEW AND UPDATED INFORMATION*

(Photo credit: Aberdeenshire Council Image Library)

Contents : (click on heading links below to skip to relevant section)

Guidance

Service Changes

Community Resilience

Support & Advice

Health & Wellbeing

Survey & Consultations

Funding

Guidance Links to national and local guidance

*NEW* Latest Update from The Scottish Government From Tuesday 5 January, mainland Scotland will move from Level 4 to a temporary Lockdown, with new guidance to stay at home except for essential purposes.

Here is a summary of what the First Minister announced:

• A stay-at-home order will be in place from midnight on 4 Jan 2021 and will become law just as it was in lockdown in March last year . It will only be permissible to leave home for essential reasons. • There will be no limit on exercise. However, outdoor gatherings are now going to be at a max of 2 people from two households. • Those people who were shielding and can’t work at home, are now being told not to go. The Chief Medical officer will be writing to everyone on that list. • Places of worship are to close from Friday unless for broadcast. • School settings - The First Minister confirmed that she is now extending the school closure until 1 st Feb soonest . This applies to nursery, primary and secondary schools. Home learning will happen until then, for all pupils expect vulnerable and children of key workers. The process for those families has already been published . The First Minister said that she was extending closure now, with the hope of ensuring that schools are the first to begin to re-open when the time comes.

All of the above will be in place for the month of January, at the earliest. The Scottish Islands in level 3 will remain in that level for the meantime, although it is being closely monitored.

Please see the video below for the full announcement.

*NEW* British Deaf Association - Guidance There are some very important videos on this page from the British Deaf Association on the latest news, lockdown, self-isolation support plus more.

Helpful Links The Scottish Government - Protect Scotland App NHS Inform - Website Page (British Sign Language and easy-read advice ) NHS Grampian Covid-19 Website - Staff Page Scottish Community Development Centre - Advice for Community Groups, Organisations and Volunteer Networks Ready Scotland Website - Advice and guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic

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Service Changes

*NEW* Aberdeenshire Council - Gritting Update We have to prioritise which routes are gritted and ploughed owing to the vastness of our road network totalling around 3,370 miles in length – that’s 10.3% of the non-trunk road network in Scotland. This means that in times of severe winter weather there may be a delay before we are in a position to treat more minor roads and residential streets.

It is impractical to provide a precautionary treatment to all of the roads in Aberdeenshire, therefore we have developed a Primary Treatment Network comprising mainly A-class and other busy roads linking our communities.

With regards to footpaths, people have to recognise the finite resources which are available to us as council and, as with our significant roads network, we have to prioritise the busy town centre areas where there is most pedestrian traffic.

We do provide grit bins so people can treat public areas not included on the usual gritter route, so please use them to treat your local area – just don’t remove vast quantities for your own personal use.

You can ask for grit bins to be refilled online here . You can check which routes we plan to grit here .

To read the full post, please click here .

*NEW* Aberdeenshire Council - Waste Services Our household recycling centres will remain open during the lockdown, staff levels permitting. Based on Scottish Government guidance, visiting a recycling centre is permitted as essential travel, however, please only travel to a recycling centre if absolutely necessary. Remember you need to book a time slot to visit a recycling centre - this is to maintain physical-distancing to protect both visitors and staff, to reduce waiting times and to avoid build-up of traffic on the neighbouring roads; the booking system is expected to be in place as long as physical distancing measures are required. To book your slot visit our website .

*NEW* Live Life Aberdeenshire - Latest Covid-19 Update All our sports and leisure facilities and most of our services will continue to be unavailable until at least January 31 as required by the latest Covid-19 lockdown. We operate sport and cultural services on behalf of Aberdeenshire Council and closed facilities and stopped most of our services for the festive break on Christmas Eve following the move to Level 4 restrictions. Subsequent to the announcement by the First Minister this week that areas subject to Level 4 restrictions will move to a temporary lockdown from Tuesday, January 5, all sports and leisure facilities and cultural venues across Aberdeenshire will remain closed until at least January 31.

For more information on the services being suspended and details for requesting a refund, please click here .

Aberdeenshire Council - Volunteer Snow Wardens We introduced the Volunteer Snow Warden Scheme to actively support members of the local community who wish to offer their spare time to manually clear snow from publicly-adopted footways and footpaths.

The scheme runs from approximately 1st November to 31st March. It requires groups of volunteers to nominate a snow warden leader who is responsible for carrying out duties assigned to them by the scheme.

To find out more about becoming a volunteer snow warden team member or leader, view our Snow Warden Scheme - welcome pack (pdf 380KB) . It also includes instructions on how to apply. Part of the application process includes taking council-approved Snow Warden Scheme - training (pdf 229KB) . View Snow Wardens Scheme privacy notice (pdf 82.2KB) .

Snow warden leaders can return their application form to their local Roads office by email:

• Banff and Buchan: [email protected] • Buchan: [email protected] • Formartine: [email protected] • Garioch: [email protected] • Kincardine and Mearns: [email protected] • Marr: [email protected]

Alternatively, you can post it to the addresses listed here .

Helpful Links Aberdeenshire Council - parentsportal.scot Aberdeenshire Council - myAberdeenshire

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Community Resilience

The Grampian Assistance Hub If you are told you need to self-isolate and need some support there is help available through the Grampian COVID-19 Assistance Hub. Launched back in late March, it remains open and offering advice to people across the area. Go onto the website www.GCAH.org.uk or call freephone 0808 196 3384 weekdays between 9am and 5pm.

Please be aware that if you'd like to offer to volunteer, you need to register on the hub.

Live Life Aberdeenshire - Knit a Cosy Bosie Do you or your friends like to knit? You could help some of the most vulnerable in our society this winter by contributing knitted garments to help keep them warm. Live Life Aberdeenshire has teamed up with colleagues in Aberdeenshire Community Planning to launch the initiative. It's a chance for people to be kind to others in a time of need, with donations of knitted or crocheted items such as hats, scarves, lap blankets, pairs of socks or gloves in any colours or sizes being sought. The items will then be gifted to someone who would benefit from a Cosy Bosie to help them get through the colder months ahead. Community groups who can help co-ordinate the distribution of Cosy Bosies in Aberdeenshire are also encouraged to get in touch. Donations of knitted items can be made by booking a time slot at one of the library service’s Click and Collect locations. See: https://bit.ly/CnCLLA If you’re a community group who would like to get involved please email [email protected] and a member of the project team will be in touch. For further details about how to get involved see: http://bit.ly/CosyBosie

The Garioch Partnership - Interactive Map The Garioch Partnership have launched a new interactive map to help you find out about support organisations and resilience groups operating in the Garioch area. It includes the areas which each group covers and contact details if you would like to get in touch with the groups.

Aberdeenshire Support Map - Click here to view The Aberdeenshire Rural Partnership Federation have published an Aberdeenshire-wide map compiling the 6 local maps together, including TGP's map above. If you click on your area, it will take you to your local map. By clicking on your area in the local map, you will find a list of the resilience groups near you who can provide support and help.

Community Councils There are 9 Community Councils which cover the Garioch area of Aberdeenshire. You can find contact details for each Community Council here .

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Support & Advice

*NEW* Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action - Operational Changes AVA would like to announce that with immediate effect, their Development Officers will support Third Sector and Community Groups within the below revised areas. Please take time to familiarise yourself with your new AVA Development Officer. In this new year they look forward to working with all of their partners both in the immediate future as the impact of Covid restrictions have to be managed, and in the longer term when thing settle and things go back to normal.

Aileen Longino (Development Officer for Garioch): Tel: 07824 096531 Email: [email protected]

*NEW* Aberdeenshire Council - ESOL If English is not your native language then these free classes might be just what you are looking for. Plus you could gain useful qualifications too. More information is available by visiting http://www.bit.ly/38ZSyyg

*NEW* Aberdeenshire Council - Educational Psychology Service With schools now open to the children of key workers as well as vulnerable families, and teachers preparing to deliver learning and teaching online from next week, our Director of Education and Children’s Services, Laurence Findlay is keen to offer reassurance, highlighting our Educational Psychology Service phoneline open to parents and carers once again from 7 January 2021. Read the full story, find details and helpful links at: http://bit.ly/3rZdrT2

*NEW* Aberdeenshire Council - Scam Awareness Covid-19 Vaccine Residents across the North-east are being warned about a dangerous scam related to the Covid-19 vaccine. A fake NHS text has been circulating, telling people they’re eligible to apply for the vaccine and asking for payment. The text message states: ‘NHS - We have identified that you are eligible to apply for your vaccine’, and asks people to ‘apply’ by clicking on a link. The link then takes you through to a convincing-looking but fake NHS website which asks for your personal details and bank account and card details. Cold calls about the vaccine are also beginning to take place, with people asked to pay for it over the phone. If you receive one of these calls, hang up. Find our more here .

*NEW* Bailies of Bennachie - Winter Programme School not back on? If you are a parent or teacher looking for inspiration check out the Bailies fun and learning online resources. Packed full of information, activities, stories and jokes it will give hours of ideas for inside and outdoors.

Advice on the EU Settlement Scheme CLD Partners have an important role to play in supporting eligible citizens to exercise their right to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme. The slides in the link from the Citizens Rights Project explain the process and where people can get support. Please also see the flyer below.

Garioch Know Where to Turn Leaflet (click to open full size)

Creative Aberdeenshire

Trading Standards Scotland - Scam Share Update 17.12.2020 As Scottish communities deal with uncertainty and isolation, there is a rapidly increasing variety of scams related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Read the latest edition here .

Winter Words Initiative Live Life Aberdeenshire has launched its annual Winter Words initiative , with a range of activities for all the family and all abilities. Normally the Winter Words initiative is purely a libraries-based event, but this year physical and cultural activities are included, widening the offer. Participants can check off the activities they complete and once they have completed eight are entitled to enter a prize draw. Activities include requesting a Book Bundle from your local Click and Collect library, downloading eBooks, eAudiobooks, eNewspapers, eMagazines and music. There are also arts and crafts and aquarium-related activities too – hopefully providing something for everyone. Participants can get involved individually, together as a family or a group of friends to keep occupied during the winter months. The Winter Words initiative started on Monday, December 7 and ends on Saturday, March 27, 2021.

Below are links to organisations, services, websites and opportunities we have highlighted in detail in a previous bulletin: Lets Talk - Energy Fund Get Safe Online - You, Coronavirus and keeping safe online No Recourse, North East Partnership - Support for Non-UK Nationals The Scottish Government - Kickstart Scheme Aberdeenshire Alcohol & Drugs Partnership - 3 Forums Winter Wellbeing Facebook Scottish Fire and Rescue Service - Update on Smoke Alarm Regulations Aberdeenshire Young Carers - Website

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Health and Wellbeing

*NEW* One Stop Shop Aberdeen - Late Autism Diagnosis Group

SAMH Introduction to Suicide Prevention Training SAMH are now pleased to offer a series of dates bookable through EventBrite for the 90 minute ‘Introduction to Suicide Prevention’ delivered via Microsoft Teams and available free of charge to all staff in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray. They have offered differing days and times for flexibility. SAMH will review demand and may be in a position to offer more regular courses in 2021. You can book a maximum of 4 tickets per booking for staff and colleagues. Spaces are limited to 12 participants per course. The dates for training are as follows: Friday 8 th January – 2pm Tuesday 12 th January – 2pm Wednesday 20 th January – 2pm Thursday 28 th January – 10am Friday 5 th February – 10am To register for the course, please visit the Eventbrite page here.

Are you feeling lonely, alone or isolated? Or are you worried about someone you know? The British Red Cross can help individuals connect with their local community and meet new friends, give guidance about coping with loneliness and offer tips to help others. See link to some helpful advice to combat this.

Alcohol & Drugs Action Alcohol & Drugs Action Recovery Groups have been an incredible support to many in terms of their Recovery and throughout the Covid Lockdown. If you would like to find out more information and joining details, please email [email protected] .

Mobile Testing Unit - Inverurie A mobile COVID testing unit will be available every Wednesday until further notice. The mobile COVID testing unit will be available in the car park at Gordon House. Anyone looking for information on COVID should refer to the guidance available online at www.nhsinform.scot .

Useful Helpline Numbers Age UK 0800 1244222 Breathing Space 0800 838587 Childline 0800 1111 ParentLine Scotland 08000 28 22 33 LGTB Youth Scotland 0131 555 3940 or Text Line (Mon-Fri) 07984 356 512 Combat Stress (Veterans) 0800 138 1619 Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247 Abused Men in Scotland 0808 800 0024 Icarus (Armed Services) 0333 987 5055 Mind 0300 123 3393 Papyrus 0800 068 4141 RSABI (Farmers) 0300 111 4166 Samaritans 116 123 (free call) SANE 0300 304 7000 The Silver Line 0800 4 70 80 90 Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs 08080 10 10 11 Disability Information Scotland 0300 323 9961 Shelter Scotland 0808 800 4444 Promis.Scot 0800 111 4191

Previous Highlights Aberdeenshire Peer Support - Newsletter #1 CLAN - In-person Appointments Live Life Aberdeenshire - New Service

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Survey & Consultations

*NEW* Aberdeenshire Alcohol and Drugs Partnership - Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Aberdeenshire ADP are offering a series of on-line discussions to consult on the design and implementation of new national standards for medication assisted treatment (MAT) for people affected by opioid use.

They invite people with a lived experience, family members, community activists and peer supporters, statutory, third sector and volunteer workers in Aberdeenshire to come along to any of the below one-hour sessions: Wed 13 Jan 11am Fri 15 Jan 11am Mon 25 Jan 6:30pm Wed 27 Jan 6:30pm

An online survey is also available for people to put their views across: https://surveys.publichealthscotland.scot/index.php/215544/lang/e n/newtest/Y

A detailed explanation and rationale for each of these standards can be found here: https://drugdeathstaskforce.scot/media/1164/sddt-mat- standards_for-consultation_nov2020.pdf

A brief 2min video explaining the reason for the standards can be found here: https://youtu.be/RKoqTuINlfM

Any questions or for more information please contact : Wayne Gault [email protected]

*NEW* Strengthening Scottish Charity Law Survey Closes 5 February 2021 The survey can be accessed here . This engagement follows on from a previous consultation in 2019 which sought views on potential improvements to the statutory charity regulation framework in Scotland. The consultation looked at proposals put forward by the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). The proposals broadly focus on improvements to charity law that would increase transparency and accountability in order to maintain public trust and confidence in charities and OSCR. They are restarting engagement with the charity sector to develop and refine the proposals consulted on in 2019. This will provide stakeholders with an opportunity to help Scottish Government formulate a position on the way forward with charity law.

Why The Scottish Government is consulting They want to hear from people working in and with the charity sector, members of the public, and anyone with an interest in charity law. The majority of respondents supported the proposals in the 2019 consultation, however the analysis report made clear that more policy development work and stakeholder engagement was required before we could bring forward any legislative changes. This engagement will build on the previous consultation responses and will assist the Scottish Government in deciding the next steps for charity law.

Energy Saving Trust - Electric Vehicles Survey Closes Sunday 10 January 2021 Do you have views about electric vehicles and charging technology? The Energy Saving Trust seeks to learn more about people’s views and experiences. You can help them by completing a survey on people’s knowledge and attitudes on electric vehicles. The information will help inform a study Transport Scotland has funded the Energy Saving Trust to deliver in all 32 Scottish local authority areas. Your input will help shape this work and ensure responses are accurate. Your personal data will not be shared as a result of completing this survey. The survey closes on Sunday, January 10, 2021. Here is a link to the survey: http://www.bit.ly/2JLIC2M

Aberdeenshire Council - Employability Support Survey The Employment Support Team are seeking your views on the type of Employability Support that is required in the communities. They would appreciate your feedback in order for us to tailor services to meet your needs.

Aberdeenshire Council - Food Poverty Survey Following raised awareness of a potential increase around hidden poverty in our communities due to Covid-19, statistics are being collated by the Council and partner organisations to identify areas requiring support. Below is a short survey to gather your understanding/experience of food poverty in the area you work or volunteer in.

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Funding Please find information on sources of funding below.

The Garioch Partnership - Funding Opportunities The Garioch Partnership manages funding schemes available to not-for-profit community groups or community-run organisations in the Garioch area:

Community Initiative Grant (CIG)

The Community Initiative Grant (CIG) Scheme is The Garioch Partnership’s small grants scheme, originally introduced in 2012/13, and supported by Aberdeenshire Council’s Garioch Area Committee.

Applications are open to not-for-profit community groups or community-run organisations in the Garioch area. Grants of up to £750 are available.

For 2020/21 the Garioch Area Committee has allocated £5,000 for this grant scheme.

Find out more about the Community Initiative Grant and How to Apply.

Resilience / Flood Recovery Fund

The Resilience / Flood Recovery Fund is administered by The Garioch Partnership on behalf of Inverurie & District Round Table. Donations were received following the flooding caused by Storm Frank in January 2016.

Applications are open to not-for-profit community groups or community-run organisations in the Garioch area. Grants of up to £750 are available.

Find out more about the Resilience / Flood Recovery Fund and How to Apply.

Applications to both schemes are reviewed by a grants panel of local volunteers, who assess applications and make recommendations to the Board of The Garioch Partnership.

Aberdeenshire Council - Community Food Fund Applications to a new Aberdeenshire Community Food Fund are now being accepted. Aberdeenshire Council has made funds available to support local projects tackling food security in north-east communities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Further information can be found here . Applications to this fund will be assessed by the local Area Manager's office and funds will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. If approved, funds will be awarded within 20 working days of the application being made. For information on the criteria and to submit an application, click here . If you need assistance or are unable to submit a form online, you can contact your local Area Manager's office by telephone on 01467 533200.

Aberdeenshire Council - Community Resilience Fund Applications are still welcomed from community groups in Garioch. Please go to https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/communities-and- events/funding/community-resilience-covid-19/ for more information on how your community/voluntary group can apply for a £2000 grant to help support your efforts to alleviate the effects of Covid-19.

Please note it is not designed to support community groups who may be affected because they cannot raise funds/income as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. Groups in this situation should visit SCVO at https://scvo.org.uk/support/coronavirus/funding/for- organisations/third-sector-resilience-fund

Comprehensive List of Funding Sources AVA has recently developed a file of Covid-19 funding information that can be downloaded and shared. It will be updated on a weekly basis and will show funds that are open at the time of publishing. The funding information previously listed here is contained within the above list. Please also view the funding page on the Our Aberdeenshire website for more sources of information.

Please be aware that funds can go out of date quickly so check that the fund is still open before putting together an application . If you require assistance, please get in touch with your local AVA Development Officer - Keith Anderson .

Previous Highlights The Scottish Government - Town Centre Fund The Robertson Trust - Various Grants Wee Grants Small Grants Large Grants Community Vehicle Grants Community Building Grants EventScotland - Events Recovery Fund Aberlour - Urgent Assistance Fund