ACVO News November 2021

ACVO NEWS

NEWS FROM ABERDEEN'S THIRD SECTOR

Scottish Government Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund: ACVO TSI to act as lead partner for the distribution of the fund in Aberdeen Applications opening November, read more on p.4

NOVEMBER | 2021

Your ACVO News magazine is now coming to you monthly.

Look out for news of our new look, mid month highlight bulletin coming very soon bringing you all the recent funding, volunteering and job opportunities in Aberdeen and beyond as well as highlights from our new community events calendar!

ACVO News 3 November 2021

CONTENTS

20 Charlie House launches their Christmas campaign with a call for volunteers

26 'The reason we do this job is simple; we save kids’ lives' - an interview with the Absafe team

32 A look back at Challenge Poverty Week 21

4 ACVO Updates 10 News from you and other networks 42 Volunteering The latest from Mike Melvin and Volunteer Aberdeen 46 Volunteering Opportunities 50 Funding ACVO Funding Officer, Claire Shaw, brings you the latest funding news and opportunities 54 Health and social care updates Updates from ACVO and our health and social care partner organisations 60 Vacancies Latest opportunities from the third sector in Aberdeen and beyond

4 Scottish Government Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund launches November

Not on the mailing list to receive ACVO News Direct to your inbox every fortnight? Sign up here.

64 Event highlights Find out what's happening soon and how to submit your event

Scottish Charity No: SC036845

ACVO News 4 November 2021

FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT

Scottish Government

Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund

ACVO TSI is delighted to act as the funding lead partner for Aberdeen City, working collaboratively with other local partners to effectively distribute over £570,000 to small, grass roots, community groups and organisations.

ACVO News 5 November 2021

On 15 October 2021, the Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care, Kevin Stewart MSP announced a new Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for adults in Scotland, with £15 million being made available in 2021-22.

The fund is being distributed by Third Sector Interfaces (TSIs) across Scotland and ACVO TSI is delighted to act as the funding lead partner for Aberdeen City, working collaboratively with other local partners to effectively distribute over £570,000 to small, grass roots, community groups and organisations in the city area.

The intended outcome of the Fund is to develop a culture of mental wellbeing and prevention within local communities across Scotland, supporting community-based initiatives that promote and develop good mental health and wellbeing and mitigate and protect against the impact of distress and mental ill health within the adult population.

About the fund, ACVO Chief Executive, Maggie Hepburn said: "This is a vote of confidence in the third sector to deliver change at grassroots level and we are delighted to be working with our local partners and our Third Sector Interface colleagues across the country, using local intelligence and active listening to prioritise what is needed from the ground up."

Over the coming weeks ACVO will be focused on partnership consultation and project development in preparation for the launch. We will then be open to receive applications by 30 November 2021.

The ambition of the Fund is to ensure a broad reach across small community organisations through the distribution of smaller value grants, for example those up to the value of £10,000. However, a small proportion of higher value bids may be supported.

Once the fund is open for applications, we will be hosting online funding information sessions for community-based groups and organisations to give an overview of the fund, the eligibility criteria, and the application process. One-toone advice sessions will also be available with our Funding Officer, Claire Shaw.

There will be a special feature in the December Issue of ACVO News that will provide all the information and advice your organisation will need to apply to the Fund. We’ll also keep you updated via ACVO’s digital channels and website.

You can read the Scottish Government’s announcement of the new fund here: £15 million to help improve mental wellbeing (Scottish Government, 15/10/21)

NEWS

ACVO News 6 November 2021

ACVO AGM 2021 November 17th 2021 at 12pm Robert Gordon University, Garthdee Road, Aberdeen AB10 7AQ

acvo.org.uk/agm-2021 We are pleased to invite ACVO Members to attend our next Annual General Meeting which takes place on Wednesday the 17th of November at 12pm.

The event will be held in person at Robert Gordon University in Garthdee with the event also being live streamed to ensure all can attend (details of the streaming link will be sent out closer to the date). Booking is essential, visit acvo.org.uk/agm-2021 to register.

We look forward to seeing you all for the opportunity to share our thoughts on the year that has passed, our plans for the coming year and to hear from you, our third and voluntary sector partners who we have worked alongside.

Meeting agenda: (a) Welcome (b) Apologies (c) Presentation from Professor Steve Olivier, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of RGU on Corporate Social Responsibility (d) Minutes of 2020 AGM (e) A report by the Chair, Paul O Connor, on the activities of the company (f) Consideration of the annual accounts of the company (g) The election/re-election of directors (h) ACVO AGM Film (i) Presentation from ACVO member organisations – 2 ACVO members will give a presentation on their work from the last year (j) Close Tea, Coffee and pastries will be available after the AGM with the chance to network.

Book your tickets now at acvo.org.uk/agm-2021 See you on the 17th of November!

Not an ACVO Member but would like to attend our AGM? apply online now for your

year’s free ACVO membership and be part of the collective voice of the Third Sector in Aberdeen "We are doing this as a way to say thank you and as an acknowledgement of the difficult year that third sector organisations have had coping with the pandemic. Your work and the impact that you have are what has helped hold people and communities together over the last 16 months.

Kindness, joint working, flexibility of delivery and innovation have been hallmarks of the work we have seen from our sector across Aberdeen. We want to continue to share the stories of the work you are doing, and how we can support you to do it."

Maggie Hepburn, Chief Executive, ACVO TSI

The membership offer extends to both new and existing members and is is open to all third/voluntary sector organisations based or operating in Aberdeen .

To find out more and apply online visit

acvo.org.uk/membership

ACVO COMMUNITY EVENTS CALENDAR

View See the latest events from the third and voluntary sectors, as well as the wider community in Aberdeen and beyond

ACVO is delighted to announce the launch of our Community Events Calendar, a place for you to find out what's going on in Aberdeen and beyond and to share your own events, completely free of charge!

Submit Are you hosting talks, workshops, training sessions, exhibitions, volunteer days, charity

your calendar, your events, your community.

acvo.org.uk/events view now at

fundraisers or any other type of event?

Submit on our site now, it's easy and completely free!

ACVO Community Events Calendar ACVO is delighted to announce the launch of our Community Events Calendar... ...a place for you to find out what’s going on in Aberdeen and further afield, and to submit your own events, completely free of charge.

Following feedback from some of our members and partner organisations, which noted the lack of a publicly accessible, central events calendar for all those working in and involved with our sector in the city, we decided to make one!

As the name suggests the calendar is all about community - it's there for the community to view and benefit from but it also relies on community submissions to populate with content.

Submitting your event is completely free and is a really quick and straight forward process. Your submission will go live on the calendar following review.

Remember, when submitting your event…

Include as much detail as possible in the description If your event is being hosted in person you can include a map of the location - simply enter the address details and postcode and we can do the rest Include an image - 16:9 landscape aspect works best (1024 x 576 pixels is ideal to ensure your image is of good quality and doesn’t blur) If you are hosting the event online, include details of where people can register online or attend your Zoom/Teams meeting If you host the same event on a recurring basis, you can select to have it added in a weekly, monthly or set pattern of your choice without having to input all the details again The submission form can be found at the bottom of the page at https://acvo.org.uk/events/ So, If you are hosting an in person meet up or online event we would love to hear about it! We are happy to host details of both free and paid events and will help to further publicise events through our networks, social media and ACVO News once they have been submitted.

The calendar allows you to view events as a list or in a traditional calendar layout, it is intuitive to use and easy to navigate. Use the ACVO Community Events Calendar to discover, to develop, to plan ahead and to bring our community closer together.

The ACVO Community Events Calendar; your calendar, your events, your community.

View now and submit your events at acvo.org.uk/events/ If you have any questions or need any help with the Community Events Calendar, please email our Communications Officer, Andrew Davidson at andrew.davidson@acvo.org.uk and he will be happy to help.

NEWS

ACVO News 10 November 2021

News from you and other networks

Local children’s charity Befriend a Child launch new volunteer appeal

W

ith demand for their services growing, local children’s charity, Befriend a Child, have

launched a new appeal to find new befrienders and mentors.

In the wake of COVID-19, more children and young people are greatly in need of befrienders or mentors and the charity is committed to ensuring it can support those most in need in the local community.

They are now looking for kind, caring and reliable people to bring fun, positivity, and new experiences to the lives of children and young people across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

Befriend a Child provides volunteers with full training and support, so volunteers don’t need to have any previous experiences working with children.

Befriend a Child receives referrals from a number of sources including Education, Social Work, Health and Third Sector partners.

“Children are deeply affected by social isolation, parental substance use, and parental mental health.

Currently we have 50 children in need of a befriender or mentor, and we’d love to get them matched so

volunteers can start making a real difference to their lives” said Jean Gordon, Head of Operations at Befriend a Child.

what you do that is important but the fact that you are doing something together", said Craig.

Volunteers will meet the child on a one-to-one basis and give them the support and attention they may not be getting at home. These outings help the children and young people with their self-esteem and confidence and give them experiences they may be unable to have otherwise.

Befrienders meet with the children twice a month and mentors meet on a weekly basis.

If you want to help a local child, make sure to get in touch by emailing volunteer@befriendachild.org.uk or visit www.befriendachild.org.uk to find out more.

It’s not just the children who benefit from the relationship through befriending and mentoring, the volunteers also feel they gain a great deal from the experience. Befriender Craig started has been working with Befriend a Child in 2001.

“Befriending is the biggest achievement of my life, knowing I’ve been a positive influence in someone’s life whilst creating some fantastic memories and experiences. I would recommend it to anyone. It’s a great way to add sunshine into your own life as well as doing the same for others. Many of these children just simply need a friend and so it’s not

Craig and his befriendee

ACVO News 11 November 2021

NEWS

shmu launch ADP Locality Improvement Fund project -

Making Recovery Visible Scarf host free energy efficiency and sustainability workshops for COP26 With its HQ based in Aberdeen, social enterprise Scarf, has been delivering energy efficiency advice and services to households and businesses across Scotland for more than 35 years.

Now, as part of their COP26 awareness campaign, they are pleased to announce their forthcoming free online workshops.

9/11/2021, 13:00 – Road to Energy Efficiency (Zoom) An interactive workshop centred around carbon emissions and how householders can reduce their energy consumption to help manage their bills.

Book a place 10/11/2021, 13:00 – Using Water Wisely (Zoom) An engaging workshop that looks at how we use water in our homes, why keeping water in its natural environment is important and how to reduce our water consumption.

Book a place 11/11/2021, 13:00 – Sustainable Transport (Zoom) A bitesized workshop looking at how sustainable travel can bring benefits to the planet and help you save money.

Book a place

Making Recovery Visible , funded by The Locality Improvement Fund (drug and alcohol) and delivered in partnership with ADA and AiR, will create a brand-new creative and peer led programme for adults affected by problematic substance use and addictive behaviour and those on the recovery journey. It will bring individuals together in small groups, empowering them to explore their personal narrative, encourage self-expression and develop the skills and confidence to share their own perspectives and experiences creatively through film, music, or podcasting.

The project will highlight the power of stories and storytelling and the role this can play in recovery, in forming and maintaining human connection, and in reflecting on and reframing what we think about ourselves and our communities.

Film – this course will get participants creatively exploring the world around them through photography and film. It will teach participants how to capture moments and tell a story through impactful images, music, and dialogue.

Podcasting – this course will support participants to discover and explore themes and topics important to them and their community, and how we can share these in a powerful and impactful way, through meaningful and challenging conversations and discussions captured in sound.

Music (starting 4th November) – this course will empower participants to explore and create music from wherever they are, learn about how music works, what it’s made up of, and how you can make your own with whatever you have. Music is a powerful tool for self-expression and exploration, allowing participants to immerse themselves and creatively tell their story.

The media pieces created, and stories captured by these groups will be celebrated and shared via shmu’s community platforms – shmuFM Community Radio station, Community Magazines, online, and through our emerging shmuTV Community TV station. The aim of this project to break down barriers, challenge perceptions and combat the stigma of addiction by assisting individuals to give voice as to their lived experiences and in doing so; Make Recovery Visible.

NEWS

ACVO News 12 November 2021

VSA launches new ‘Connect’ service to provide urgent care and respite for people living in their own homes across the city

North-east social care charity VSA announced on October 20th 2021 that it has launched a new service that has been designed to support adults of all ages across the city. The new community-based at home service - VSA Connect, will provide extra support to people living in their own home across Aberdeen.

The service will support people living with a learning disability, mental health conditions, dementia, Parkinson's, or other health-related conditions, and much-needed respite for unpaid carers. The service has been designed in consultation with the people it will support to ensure that it provides vital practical, emotional, social, and mental wellbeing support for vulnerable people living at home.

ACVO News 13 November 2021

NEWS Dr. Kenneth Simpson, Chief Executive at VSA, said: “After speaking with people who need and use our services we identified that there was a gap in provision to support unpaid carers at home, which is why we have launched this new service to help bridge that gap; but also to support people of all ages and needs across Aberdeen who need a little bit of extra help at home or some much-needed respite time."

The charity, which had to close its Airyhall Carers Respite Service earlier this year due to funding being cut, looked at the demand for delivering a new home-based service, which led to the new VSA Connect service. Due to changes in the provision of carer's respite services, VSA explored the need for a new support service at home that can be selffunded or funded through self-directed support. The charity's new VSA Connect service supports people at home with various tasks, including personal care, support with medication, help with household tasks, and social interaction such as outings and companionship.

Kelly Pickavance, manager of VSA Connect said: "Whether you or your loved one is aged 25 or 95, our VSA Connect service is here for you to help assist you at home. We have a team of highly-trained support staff that will work with you to create a bespoke plan to fit your needs and lifestyle. If you are unsure about self-directed support and need any advice, our team would be delighted to have a conversation with you and let you know what options are available and how we could help you."

Dr. Simpson added: "Over the course of our 150 year history, we have continually evolved our services to help support the needs of vulnerable children and adults across Aberdeen. The new service will provide people across Aberdeen with the support they need to help lead happy, healthy, and meaningful lives."

To find out further information about the service please visit www.vsa.org.uk or call 01224 212021 and ask to speak to the at home team.

Picture: VSA Care at home team

NEWS

ACVO News 14 November 2021

North East man runs from Dyce to Fra to raise money for local alcohol charity

M

ark Dalgarno of Aberdeen ran from Dyce to Fraserburgh along the Formartine and Buchan Railway Line on Sunday (10th October) to raise funds for DRiNKLiNK – an alcohol charity set up to provide support to friends and family impacted by someone else’s drinking.

Taking on this challenge as part of the North East Big 10, a campaign that hit Aberdeen City and Shire on the same date, Mark opted to raise funds for the charity which formed roots in Fraserburgh almost 10 years ago.

Speaking of his motivation, Mark said: "I'm a bit of a geek for old railway lines and have always loved walking and running along this route. I've wanted to do the whole distance in one go for some time, but never found the time, never had the fitness or had the inspiration.

"I started volunteering with DRiNKLiNK earlier this year which coincided with the launch of the North East Big 10. It felt like a great time to take on the challenge and to raise awareness of a great cause."

Mark has surpassed his expectations and has raised a total of over £1500, which will be split equally between DRiNKLiNK and Mental Health Aberdeen.

Speaking of his own mental health issues, Mark continued: "2020 was one the most challenging years of my life - I was put on furlough from my job and eventually made redundant which I think a lot of people can relate to. With a baby on the way, unemployment

triggered anxieties and stresses that have plagued me through my adult life.

"I’ve since managed to get myself to a place where I feel incredibly better about myself, managing my anxieties and their triggers a whole lot better. In truth, I feel fantastic and value myself so much more. But getting to this point, hasn't been straight-forward. I’ve had to rely on countless resources to help me get there. Which is why I feel so passionate about these causes.’

An employability and career coach by profession, Mark has taken on the role of Employability Programme Manager at DRiNKLiNK and has taken on the challenge to build out the charity’s employability and CPD volunteer programmes.

"The market is competitive at the moment, as many people look to find new careers. DRiNKLiNK aims to make sure all volunteers benefit from the hours they put into helping reduce the ripple of alcoholism that impacts so many households across Scotland. In order to help the charity drive solutions like drinklink.org, to create unique content that challenges people’s understanding of alcohol misuse and to fuel its signposting service, I have challenged myself to inspire DRiNKLiNK recruits to build up their C.V.s as they volunteer, helping them to find employment or progress in their careers.

"Working for me is a welcome distraction and definitely eases my anxiety and I look forward to having the opportunity to help people follow their passions, find a rewarding career and to build up their confidence and to realise what they can achieve."

Mark Dalgarno and family in Fraserburgh after completi

To find out more about DRiNKLiNK or how you can help Mark in his mission, please visit DRiNKLiNK.org or alternatively email info@drinklink.org.

You can donate to DRiNKLiNK and Mental Health Aberdeen at bit.ly/2XSckKD

ACVO News 15 November 2021

aserburgh y

NEWS

Aberdeen City's Local Transport Strategy The Aberdeen Local Transport Strategy sets out the city’s ambitions for the development of the transport network over a five year period. This includes a vision and objectives for the city’s transport network as well as identifying multiple actions to be completed over the lifespan of the strategy to improve the transport network.

It deals with all modes and aspects of transport including walking, wheeling, cycling, public transport, freight, taxis, motorcycles, car sharing, car clubs, car and van use, parking and low carbon fuels as well as the relationship between transport and other areas such as land use, placemaking, the economy, development of communities, health and the environment. It also relies on input from members of the public and stakeholders to ensure it reflects the needs of people so they really want to hear from you.

They are starting the process with our Main Issues Consultation. As part of this, they are looking to get the views of stakeholders as to what you consider to be the main issues for transport in Aberdeen, currently and in the future. This includes investigating - What people think are the main problems - What people think are the main opportunities - What works well - What doesn’t work well - What improvements could be suggested - What is still relevant from the current Local Transport Strategy - What else should be taken account of when planning the transport network.

The consultation will run until Sunday 14th November To take part, please go to https://consultation.aberdeencity.gov.uk/planning/aberdeen-lts-main-issues

Grampian Autistic Society launch newsletter

ing the run

The money will be used to fund the employability and CPD volunteer programmes launched by DRiNKLiNK with Mark’s support.

Grampian Autistic Society are delighted to announce the launch of their brand new newsletter, chitchat.

This quarterly newsletter will keep you up to date with what is happening at Grampian Autistic Society, along with dates for your diary, and information about their fantastic team.

Check it out now - bit.ly/3w1Ozg1 To receive their newsletter straight to your inbox sign up at grampianautisticsociety.org.uk/newsletter

NEWS

ACVO News 16 November 2021

Cyrenians Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution November online events series October was a busy month for Cyrenians Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution (SCCR). In addition to launching a new set of short films, Hacked-Off Hacks, directed by Felipe Bustos Sierra, the director of the BAFTA Award-winning documentary Nae Pasaran, the SCCR also held its annual conference - the theme this year was, with the end of lockdown in mind, ‘The Power of Reconnection’. Speakers included Clare Haughey, Minister for Children and Young People, the Health Foundation’s Director of Health Jo Bibby, Neurodevelopment Educator Karen Young and clinical psychologist Dr Adam Burley, to name but a few.

While the Conference has ended, the SCCR’s event programme for 2021 has not. Throughout November, they shall be running events that speak to their core work, in keeping with their ambition to be a National Resource Centre for best practice in conflict resolution, mediation and early intervention. By working with young people, parents and carers, and professionals who work with families in

conflict, they work to reduce the amount of youth homelessness in Scotland.

Hosted by their Trainer Duncan Gordon and Andrew Boyd, Mediation and Conflict Resolution Adviser, all events are free, online and usually streamed around noon and for only 40 minutes in order that those interested in attending can do so during their lunch break.

November highlights include ‘Anxious and Afraid’, a session which explores the science behind fear and anxiety to improve individual wellbeing. On Tuesday, 2 November, they have a session of ‘Anxious and Afraid’ designed for professionals and volunteers working with families, while on Tuesday, 23 November, the event on this is theme shaped for parents and carers, and on Tuesday 7 December, tailored toward young people.

Parents and carers looking to better understand young people as well as what causes arguments in the first place should take a look at two further sessions, ‘Family Conflict Triggers’ on

Tuesday, 9 November, and ‘Growing Up is Never Easy’ on Thursday, 18 November.

On Thursday, 25 November, the ‘Family Conflict Triggers’ session for young people, will enable attendees to be better able to recognise triggers that have the potential to escalate within a family context, with the result that they should be able to address them more effectively or to seek appropriate support.

A full list of sessions can be found on Cyrenians Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution’s website (https://bit.ly/3jOA9L5) , where you can also reserve a ticket for each of the events. If you’re looking for guidance on how best to calm arguments within your own home or are working with families in crisis, please consider attending. If you can’t, the SCCR’s website is full of resources that can help families work through their issues as well as providing professionals with ideas they can use in mediation. The resources are free and available to everyone.

Hacked-off Hack: Breathe directed by Felipe Bustos Sierra, the director of the BAFTA Award-winning documentary Nae Pasaran,

ACVO News 17 November 2021

NEWS

AberNecessities, the children’s charity which supports underprivileged families and children across the North-East of Scotland has recently received the donation of an office building to serve as the charity’s new Headquarters in Dyce, Aberdeen…

The incredible contribution will enable the team to continue their efforts to support vulnerable families across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

To help support their vital work, AberNecessities are inviting businesses in the area to sponsor a room at their new Headquarters which will open the door to a new future for a young person living in our city.

This is an opportunity for businesses to continue their support for AberNecessities and invest in the future of Aberdeen city and shire.

They require approximately £30,000 to complete the AberNecessities HQ – the two-storey facility containing reception, offices, plus a variety of rooms that store the essential items that no child should go without. This building will

allow them to continue providing the highest level of support to those who need it the most while serving as the foundation of everything else that’s to follow for the charity.

As a sponsor you will receive: • Support and materials to market your involvement and spread the word far and wide about the amazing thing you are doing!

• A plaque in the new AberNecessities office with your name for all to see.

There are 18 areas/rooms available for sponsorship all ranging in size and functionality.

Current sponsorship opportunities for the ground floor are - Reception area TBC; Incoming Donation Room £4000; Laundry Room - £4000; Coffee Room - £1500; Bums & Tums (Nappies

& Formula Milk) - £2000; Zen Room – TBC; Main Office - £2500; Collection Station - £2500; Toiletries & Cleaning Room - £1750; Equipment Room £3000; Disabled Access Toilet & Baby Changing - £1000 And on the first floor - Kitchen / Training Room - £5000; Birthday Pack Room - £750; Arts, Crafts, Stationery & Library - £1000; Toy Room - £1500; Shoe Room - £1000; Maternity and Domestic Abuse Area – £2000; Main Clothing Area - TBC If you or your business would like to sponsor one of the rooms and make a real difference to your local community, please contact Vicky Hutcheson on Vicky@abernecessities.co.uk.

Can you Help Open the Door to a Young Person’s Future?

NEWS

Anatomy Rooms opens new gallery:

arkade

ACVO Member All In Ideas announces the city centre space

ACVO News 18 November 2021

ACVO News 19 November 2021 WORDS BY JIM EWEN MA DIRECTOR, ALL IN IDEAS AND FOUNDER OF THE ANATOMY ROOMS Launched in late 2016 by Scottish Charitable Organisation, and founder All In Ideas, The Anatomy Rooms was created to fill the gap in affordable and available studios, production facilities and working space for arts practitioners. The depth and breadth of resident and partner use across these years has proven that an accessible multi-arts centre is vital to the cultural ecology of a city. In 2018, City Moves Dance Agency was introduced to the site and have since made it their primary dance studio and are a key partner in the building.

Across the years we have hosted numerous exhibitions and expositions and presented new work produced by local, national and international artists. The term is used in the broadest definition. These events, often playful, have always been successful as artists work within the limits of a building originally used as an administration and teaching facility for, our landlord, The University of Aberdeen.

Making use of areas within the iconic and listed city centre building holds many upsides but does limit the scope of alterations beyond, what amounts to, surface changes and decoration. Ultimately impacting upon the level and type of funding and investment we, as an arts charity, are able to access. Meaning, developments may not always meet the organisation’s aspirations. As a result of these many aesthetic and structural nuances, there has been a reluctance to embark on a robust internal program of exhibitions and artist engagement as we couldn’t, confidently, offer a crisp exhibition environment that would meet artist, audience and our own expectations.

Implementing a dedicated and far more suitable space for exhibitions, expositions and general presentation of art within the anatomy rooms has long been needed and a long time coming. Following a successful application to Aberdeen City Council’s Creative Funding Award earlier in 2021 we converted a much used project space into a branded self contained gallery called ‘arkade’. Initially it would have been ‘The Anatomy Rooms Gallery’ but a stand alone space with its own identity and presence was deemed the best way forward. One that adds yet another layer of activity to an increasingly busy multi-arts venue and further building its visibility.

Aberdeen has long lacked permanent accessible exhibitions spaces with a sole purpose of presenting work by, in career terms, young and emerging artists and this is why ‘arkade’ has been developed. The gallery program is being created to offer a frequent turnover of exhibitions and related events and, alongside the studios, act as a career springboard that encourages practitioners to establish themselves in and around Aberdeen.

Find out more at anatomyrooms.org

NEWS

ACVO News 20 November 2021

Santa flies in to town with a host of magical surprises guaranteed to bring festive cheer to the North East If you happened to be at baggage reclaim in Aberdeen’s International Airport recently, you might have been checking (and checking twice) after spotting a passenger donned in a very familiar red and white outfit...

Making the long journey from the North Pole, the one and only Santa Claus returned to the Granite City on October 27 to launch his 2021 pop up workshop, which this year promises to be even more magical than the last.

Opening to the public on Saturday 13 November, Santa Claus will be inviting families to visit his wondrous workshop located within Aberdeen’s Bon Accord. The workshop will be open right up to Christmas Eve, and there are sure to be lots of fun surprises within the centre along the way.

Mark Beveridge, Operations Director at Aberdeen International Airport, was there to greet Santa on his arrival and said, “We are delighted we could help support this very special arrival who will play a big part in

ACVO News 21 November 2021 making some unforgettable memories for families in the North East. We are very well versed in receiving VIPS at Aberdeen International Airport and thrilled we could help Santa arrive safely and securely. We also know how busy the run-up to Christmas can be and thank Santa for spreading some festive joy at our terminal.”

After ensuring he’d picked up his hefty present sacks and luggage, Santa made his way over Bon Accord’s upper mall to begin setting up for the workshop’s grand opening.

Craig Stevenson, Centre Manager at Bon Accord said: “We are thrilled that Santa has once again chosen to take up residency within Bon Accord over the festive period. Our team is already working hard alongside his elves to ensure his stay with us is as comfortable as possible, and we can’t wait to see our younger visitors light up when they get the opportunity to meet him in person.

Castlehill Housing Association and Northcote are kindly sponsoring this

year's workshop, and all profits will go to local children's charity Charlie House. Based in Aberdeen, Charlie House supports babies, children and young people in the North East of Scotland who have life-limiting or lifethreatening conditions. The charity provides vital support to their families, often at breaking point due to the lack of support available locally.

Louise Andrew, CEO of Charlie House, cannot wait for this exciting event to return to Aberdeen, "Christmas should be a time of joy for every child. Santa's workshop is very special to us as it allows us to spread joy within the local community while also helping raise funds to support essential care and support for children and young people across the region who have life-limiting or life-threatening conditions. We are so happy to welcome Santa back to host this fantastic event, and we want to thank Bon Accord and its visitors in advance for their tremendous support."

Tickets for Santa's Workshop go on

sale on Monday the 1st November October and will sell out fast, so visitors should book early to avoid disappointment. Tickets cost £5.99 per child and include a visit to Santa's magical workshop, the opportunity to meet the Charlie House elves and reindeer, and a special gift from Santa himself.

Santa and his elves have been fully briefed on government guidelines, and Bon Accord will have a range of measures, including social distancing and hand sanitising, to ensure a safe and fun experience.

Find out more information on booking tickets at charliehouse.org.uk/santasworkshop

ACVO News 22 November 2021

It's the most wonderful time of the year - to volunteer!

Each year, Charlie House recruits dozens of volunteers to help out at their festive activities and events. And this year, the need is even bigger, with the Aberdeen-based charity urgently calling for 100 volunteers to bring Christmas magic to the city.

Volunteers can have fun and give back to the community even if they only have a few hours to spare during the festive period. They can help out in the charity's social enterprise cafe, ReCHarge Café. Get involved in the bustling outdoor market, 'Christmas on the Quad'. Or assist in selling merchandise and welcoming visitors at the popular 'Curated Aberdeen' indoor retail outlet.

If they really want to get into the Christmas spirit, volunteers can don some elf ears and slip into a pair of

bell-toed shoes to help out Santa in his pop-up workshop at Aberdeen's Bon Accord Centre. Assisting with various tasks, elves will meet and greet families, make sure gifts are ready for handing out and help sell Charlie House merchandise.

Charlie House receives incredibly positive feedback from its volunteers every year, all of whom love taking time out from their busy Christmas schedules to give back to the local community. Attracting people from all over the North East, there really is an opportunity for everyone to take part and Charlie House volunteer, Lynne is usually at the front of the queue: "Volunteering for Charlie House at Christmas is such good fun! Seeing the children's faces when they see Santa, the music, the kids dancing and enjoying

ACVO News 23 November 2021 themselves - it's all excellent and makes you feel amazing. Last year, I was front-of-house, dancing with Donner and Blitzen most of the time. That's an experience I'll never forget."

Charlie House elves are fully briefed on everything they need to know to make every visitor's experience memorable. This includes a few of Santa's secrets so that they can help him out during particularly busy visits. And of course, all elves must be up to speed on government guidance to ensure that social distancing and hygiene are top priorities in Santa's workshop without taking away any of the magic.

Charlie House volunteer April can't wait to get started: "I've chosen to volunteer so that I can help give children with life-limiting conditions the best life they can have.

I'm looking forward to dressing up as an elf and volunteering at Curated Aberdeen. For anyone considering volunteering, I'd say go for it! It's a really fun opportunity."

The festive events and activities hosted by Charlie House would not be possible without the dedication and

support of volunteers. By volunteering, Charlie House volunteers help to raise funds and awareness for the charity which supports babies, children and young people in the North East of Scotland who have lifelimiting or life-threatening conditions. Charlie House provides vital support to their families, often at breaking point due to the lack of local support.

Louise Andrew, CEO of Charlie House, said "In our eyes, volunteers make Christmas happen. Each year, we are so moved by the generosity and kindness of our local community. They help us raise funds to support children and their families right now and work toward our longerterm goal of establishing a specialist support centre right here in Aberdeen. We want people to know that they already have what it takes to make a difference. By volunteering just a few hours, they can have a considerable impact on the lives of children we're striving to help."

To find out more and sign up for one of Charlie House's Christmas volunteering opportunities, visit charliehouse.org.uk/volunteering.

NEWS

November 1st -5th

ACVO News 24 November 2021 Aug 25 2021

Trustees Week 2021 Now in its 11th year, Trustees’ Week is a celebration of the great work charity trustees do. It is the time of year when we come together to mark the achievements of the UK’s one million trustees. It is an opportunity to use the wide range of guidance, resources and online training to develop your skills, make new connections with other trustees and share your achievements more widely as well as a time for discovery for those interested in becoming trustees.

As part of the week, TSIs from around the country are hosting events for TSI Scotland Network's campaign to support Trustees Week 2021.

The programme of events during Trustees’ Week has been planned by each TSI for their local area, but many of these will be relevant for organisations across Scotland, so anyone is welcome to sign up!

The TSI Scotland Network is a body of charities that support the third sector across Scotland. There are 32 TSIs – or Third Sector Interfaces in Scotland, one for each local authority area. Some are partnerships working across large urban and geographical areas, some combine all the functions of the TSIs’ work under one roof.

ACVO News 25 November 2021

Programme of events Tuesday Nov 2nd Developing Your Fundraising Plan - Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector Tuesday 2nd November 2021

10am

Book online

Roles & Responsibilities of a Trustee - CVS Inverclyde Tuesday 2nd November 2021

10am

Book online

Celebrating Trustees - ACVO TSI Tuesday 2nd November 2021

2pm

Book online

Let's Talk... Board Diversity - Perth & Kinross Association of Voluntary Service Tuesday 2nd November 2021

6.30pm

Book online

Wednesday Nov 3rd Board As Employers - Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector Wednesday 3rd November 2021

10am

Book online

Calling all Trustees! A Conversation with Steve Carroll, HMRC Stirlingshire Voluntary Enterprise Wednesday 3rd November 2021

11am

Book online

Thursday Nov 4th Youth Volunteering Training - Perth & Kinross Association of Voluntary Service Thursday 4th November 2021

9.30am

Book online

Your local charities need YOU! - Edinburgh TSI Thursday 4th November 2021

12pm

Book online

Better Governance & Employability - Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector Thursday 4th November 2021

12.30pm

Book online

ACVO News 26 November 2021

an interview with Louise Richardson and Kairn McKee of

Absafe

ACVO News 27 November 2021

The reason we do this job is simple; we save kids’ lives.

That's why we get up every day.

Since its formation in 1997, Absafe have positively influenced the lives of thousands of people of all ages with their safety education programmes.

Through positive engagement, the organisation looks to inspire those they support to make safe choices while also fostering increased safety awareness within the wider community.

Now, as Absafe looks to expand their reach over the coming months, ACVO News joined CEO Louise Richardson and Project Facilitator, Kairn McKee, to hear more.

“We are the only organisation in the North of Scotland who deliver this kind of safety awareness engagement” said Louise.

“When people think about traditional safety awareness for young people they tend to think about key areas such as road and rail safety, water safety, staying safe at home and fire safety, substance and solvent abuse and we do focus a lot of our work on that - our facility provides interactive, hands-on scenarios that children can engage with and think about to highlight areas of danger they should be aware of.

“However, we are constantly developing and have seen, over the past year in particular, the importance of educating people about cyber security and mental wellbeing, and this is increasingly becoming an area of focus.

ACVO News 28 November 2021 "I think recognising areas of potential important development and being able to adapt is one of our strengths but we can’t just ignore that traditional staying safe message in favour of new developments like cybersecurity, we have to do them in tandem and grow and learn as an organisation as the lives of those we support change and their access to information adapts.

“One thing though I find startling is how little about safety, both community based and online, that some of the people we engage with know” “That’s something I find too”, agreed Kairn.

“Especially with the online stuff, we think that because young people have grown up with it they know it all already but it’s often the opposite.

Online dangers are increasing all the time, and it’s often difficult for parents to be aware of these and to keep track of the ways their children use their phones and tablets so if we can make young people more aware themselves, and give them the tools to recognise danger, we can keep them safer online” “Yes, absolutely. But it’s not just online safety as I say, we have learned to never assume people know things. When we were growing up we had public safety films that struck the fear of death in to you – things have moved on since then and we need to find other ways of raising awareness” added Louise.

“Our job as an organisation is not to say ‘you must do this’, ‘you have to do that’. Instead, we use our risk assessment matrix and say to them ‘This is a situation, this is how you can do it safely and stay in the green. If you do the alternative you end up in the red, and red means dead’.

“We want to encourage people, from a young age, to think about how they assess risk. We present the information but also foster that critical thinking element which is at the core of all we do.”

“It’s the idea too about encouraging people to stop to think and take the time to assess a situation” added Kairn. “As we mentioned before, a lot of people now rely on accessing information from their digital devices so don’t always take time to think critically.

We want to encourage people, from a young age, to think about how they assess risk. We present the information but also foster that critical thinking element which is at the core of all we do.

ACVO News 29 November 2021 "As Louise says we present situations, encourage that thought and that discussion which starts the process of young people thinking about their own safety.

“We need to catch them at that young age, particularity now with issues around mental well being and cybersecurity because we know that helps. A lot of people say you can't tell kids what to do - we definitely agree and don't do that.”

Louise continued “We always present options. We say you can do this, but if you do, this will happen or if you do that then that will happen. We don't mince our words particularly and we don't mollycoddle them. All we say is this is a reality of what can happen and kids do die when they don’t take time to think and take unnecessary risks.”

Although effectively reaching audiences with safety education messages might seem difficult, the Absafe team have found that giving young people the time to think, to discuss and to be heard is a winning formula when it comes to engagement.

“I think sometimes they don't even realise that they are learning and the feedback we get is always very positive.

Although with school groups the day is education focussed, because our delivery is centred around fun they don’t view it as a normal part of the school day” said Kairn.

A point Louise agreed with; “they all learn something, and our job is to teach them something that they will remember that will stop them making certain choices and maybe make an alternative and safer ones. They all have a great time - it can be noisy and loud and chaotic, but that’s all part of the process - we’re not teachers as such, were educators.”

“The reason we do this job is simple though; we save kids’ lives. That's it. That's why we get up every day.

That's why we do all the stuff that we do. That's why we do all the action stuff that we do, like talking to other people, youth groups and youth groups.

“At the moment we are trying to get more after school events and more people to come here so we can spread the message further to prevent more injury and save more lives. That's ultimately why we do what we do” In order to reach as many people as possible, the ways in which Absafe present their messaging is inclusive and accessible for all.

“We don’t ask people to come along and read things or write things. We encourage everyone to interact in ways they feel comfortable, for example, just before we

ACVO News 30 November 2021

reopened after Covid, we made sure everything was dyslexic friendly. We have volunteers on hand to help all the time too to support young people and to make sure they are ok and understand the situations they are presented with” said Kairn.

“Our culture as an organisation is that we want you to be safe. So come on that journey with us and we will help you do to that” As mentioned earlier, the team at Absafe are always expanding their offer of support and education to reflect the changes in people’s lives. With an increasing concern about online safety, especially in relation to young people, as well as an awareness over the importance of positive mental wellbeing, the team recognises these are quickly becoming increasingly pertinent areas of focus for them.

“Although it’s important to cover online safety in terms of staying safe, we also frame the discussion around mental health and wellbeing and how social media can impact on this.

“Groups will sometimes start a discussion about WhatsApp groups and how they interact with them. For example, there is a lot of anxiety around the sharing of their personal information being out of their control. So, alongside raising awareness about the obvious in terms of what should and shouldn’t be shared, we have to start talking to kids about resilience, because if we don't do

that, then we end up with kids becoming completely anxious, stressed and unhappy. We've got the unhappiest bunch of kids in Europe. So what do we do about that? I think again that in starting that conversation and encouraging young people to consider these issues we are taking a positive step towards alleviating some of the anxieties around this issue.

“For me, you cannot separate mental well being from anything that we do. It underpins all our work. If kids are more mindful, if kids feel more empowered, if kids feel more resilient, they will make better decisions” said Louise.

With an ever increasing need for the education Absafe provides, Louise and Kairn took a moment to discuss where they would like to go next as an organisation.

“We would ultimately like to find funding to enable us to move to a bigger premises”, said Louise, “growing and developing is one of our key aims and having a place we could open on evenings and weekends would be great.

“Increased partnership working would also be fantastic and there is a lot of potential there. We have worked with other safety groups in the past and are open to future collaborations, because our work covers a lot of broad themes there is scope for supporting the delivery of messages from a wide variety of sectors and organisations."

ACVO News 31 November 2021

"At the heart of what we do is saving lives and what’s more important than that? If we can reach more people, get the safety message out there and encourage critical thinking, we can reduce accidents, support community safety and wellbeing and encourage people to live happier, risk free lives” Louise Richardson, CEO of Absafe

ACVO News 32 November 2021

A LOOK BACK AT

CHALLENGE POVERTY WEEK 2021 PART 1

ACVO News 33 November 2021

CHALLENGE POVERTY WEEK TOOK PLACE THIS YEAR BETWEEN 11 - 17 OCTOBER. THE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANISATIONS TO RAISE THEIR VOICE AGAINST POVERTY AND UNITE WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHERS ACROSS SCOTLAND IN CALLING FOR A MORE JUST AND EQUAL SOCIETY. IN SCOTLAND, WE BELIEVE IN JUSTICE AND COMPASSION AND WANT TO SEE OUR COUNTRY REFLECT THESE VALUES. THAT’S WHY WE ALL THINK ENDING POVERTY MUST BE A TOP PRIORITY FOR ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. IT CANNOT BE RIGHT THAT 1 IN 5 PEOPLE TODAY ARE LIVING WITH THE CONSTANT PRESSURE OF TRYING TO GET BY ON AN INSUFFICIENT INCOME. LOW WAGES, INADEQUATE SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS, AND THE RISING COST OF LIVING ARE HOLDING PEOPLE BACK. OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY FROM THE COVID-19 CRISIS MUST INVOLVE REDESIGNING OUR ECONOMY TO BOOST PEOPLE’S INCOMES, REDUCE THE COST OF LIVING, AND CREATE GREEN JOBS THAT HELP PEOPLE AND THE PLANET.

AS PART OF THE CAMPAIGN, ACVO PUBLISHED A SERIES OF BLOGS TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT ABERDEEN ORGANISATIONS AND TO SEE WHAT ACTIONS THEY TAKE TO BUILD AWARENESS OF AND SUPPORT FOR SOLUTIONS TO POVERTY. JOIN US FOR PART 1 OF OUR LOOK BACK AT CPW21 TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SCARF AND ABERNECESSITIES AND LOOK OUT FOR PART 2 WITH DITCH DEBT WITH DIGNITY AND CORNHILL COMMUNITY CENTRE IN THE NEXT EDITION OF ACVO NEWS.

ACVO News 34 November 2021 “Access to energy is an essential basic right in society. You can’t function without it – you can’t cook, you can’t clean yourself, you can’t get access to the internet, which if you’re trying to apply for jobs, you must have. Everything is connected and having access to affordable energy is at the core.”

An interview with Lynn Smith, Marketing Manager at Scarf

Scarf, an accomplished social enterprise headquartered in Aberdeen, has been delivering a range of services to householders, businesses and communities throughout Scotland since its launch in 1985.

Scarf’s original aim was to eradicate fuel poverty and although this purpose remains at their core, Scarf has also diversified their offering and today makes a real practical difference to individuals and organisations by offering help and advice on energy efficiency, conservation and affordability.

As we head toward winter, a UK wide energy crisis looms. With prices set to skyrocket, coupled with financial issues caused a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, many households will struggle to afford their energy bills.

Lynn Smith, Marketing Manager at Scarf talked to us about the work of the organisation, the support they offer for people facing issues with affordability of energy bills and how they actively work to tackle fuel poverty.

"At Scarf, the original aim was to work towards eradication of fuel poverty and although over the years that has remained at the forefront of what we do... …we also work with partner organisations with the ambition of achieving net zero through programs of energy conservation and carbon reduction.

"Our biggest contract is with Home Energy Scotland, the Scottish Government’s flagship energy conservation scheme. Through that we provide

predominantly telephone advice to householders on ways they can reduce their fuel bills and get them access to grants and schemes, particularly the Scottish Government’s Warmer Homes Scotland programme.

“As I mentioned, carbon reduction is an issue we work towards tackling and we are able to provide renewable support and also advice on active travel and reducing your water consumption. All facets of our work complement each other with an energy consumption theme that runs through it – obviously by having a better insulated, more efficient home you are bringing down your energy bills so there’s a correlation there.

“Throughout the pandemic the majority of the advice and support we offered dealt with fuel debt, making better use of heating controls, looking at ways to reduce fuel bills and helping people to apply for grants such as the warm home discount. This was for the most part conducted over the phone. As restrictions have eased recently, we are hoping to be able to offer more home visits soon and I’m glad to say that during Challenge Poverty Week we are able to offer drop-ins at our offices in Cotton Street in Aberdeen.

“During the pandemic we certainly saw an upturn in the amount of people coming to seek help from us. Social distancing restrictions obviously posed a challenge in terms of service access but, just like all other services, we just had to adapt. We realised too that it would be beneficial to further strengthen our community partnership links, and right at the start the pandemic reached out to other organisations so that we could really build that little network of support.

ACVO News 35 November 2021

“A lot of the intel gathered at the start of lockdown was that people were really struggling but they didn’t know what support was available or where to find it. So, it was very much about collectively coming together to ensure that everybody knew how all the different pieces of the jigsaw fitted together. The third sector can often be quite a complex puzzle because everybody gets pots funding for different things, so through partnership working we very much tried to bring a bit of clarity to that. Having that visibility and allowing members of the support community to know what each other were doing was crucial in ensuring help was reaching those who needed it most.

Sharing experiences and knowledge was so beneficial for us as there were so many worries for a lot of people who were facing unprecedented challenges and financial uncertainty.

When asked about the current rising energy costs being witnessed across the country, Lynn acknowledged that these would likely cause concern but wanted to emphasise the fact that help is available.

“Understandably there has been a lot of initial worry and concern. What we have been looking to do is to stabilise that and offer reassurance; when people contact us we always tell them not to panic, make sure you have your metre readings and know that, even if your supplier collapses and goes to the wall, you are not doing to be cut off and left, literally, in the dark.

“We want people to make contact with us if they are concerned and from there we can establish a relationship with them so that we can work together to make sure that they’re kept abreast of any new developments and that they are applying for any discounts or grants they are eligible for. This also puts us in the position to be able to asses their situation and refer them to our partner organisations who can offer further specialist support to meet their needs.

“The current situation has meant that energy companies have been experiencing an increased demand on their call centres which has resulted in long wait times and to them suggesting that as an alternative people make contact over the internet, using live chat for example. From our experience however, we know that not every household can afford to have their phone credit drained by being left on hold or have access to the technology or the internet connection required to make contact using alternative means. When people come direct to us we can help them navigate the system, offer practical and quick solutions and help to eliminate that worry, frustration and uncertainty.

“So, if people have found themselves in the situation where their energy bills have suddenly shot up and they are unable to afford them, I would suggest that the first thing they should do is get in contact with Scarf directly.

We can work with them to check and see what we can do to help, signpost them to other services and support available and even arrange a home visit to talk them through ways of conserving energy and lowering bills”

ACVO News 36 November 2021

“Fundamentally, access to energy is an essential basic right in society. You can’t function without it, you can’t cook, you can’t clean yourself, you can’t get access to the internet, which if you’re trying to apply for jobs you must have. Everything is connected and having access to affordable energy is at the core. Being unable to afford energy is devastating for someone experiencing poverty and without access to it the cycle unfortunately continues.

“There’s a lot said about people making choices between ‘heating or eating’, that’s not a position anyone should ever find themselves in so we are here

to support them and to try and help them navigate their way through this minefield.

“We’re very conscious too that poverty is poverty. We are mainly focussed on working toward ending fuel poverty but all strands of poverty are interconnected.

As well as fuel poverty you have food poverty, child poverty, period poverty – poverty is the fundamental root of all of these issues and it’s often the case that people are juggling all their different outgoings just to keep their head above water. If we can help alleviate one stem of poverty, some of the pressures around the energy bills, then it frees up money for some of those other essentials.

ACVO News 37 November 2021

“It’s the basic things that people need to get through their day.

We’re not talking about the provision of luxuries we’re talking about being able to switch the lights on, heat your home and cook your meals – all very basic necessities that everyone is entitled to and we work to ensure that people have fair access to it”.

ACVO News 38 November 2021 “A lot of families are just getting by paying their bills and getting food on the table, when something else comes into the mix, even something many of take for granted, it becomes just impossible.”

An interview with Michelle Herd, Co-founder of AberNecessities

In March 2019, Danielle Flecher-Horn and her mother, Michelle Herd, founded AberNecessities with the aim of providing families in need with essential items to allow for the care of babies and children…

Just as the organisation celebrated their first anniversary, the country entered a period of unprecedented challenge as the Covid-19 pandemic brought life to a standstill and with it the risk of families, who were already struggling financially, being unable to provide basic essentials for their children.

Throughout this period, AberNecessities has offered vital lifelines of support to disadvantaged families in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire and, with the help of public donations and support from volunteers, has continued to expand their operation to meet the growing demand.

“Shortly after Dani had her first child, she saw an appeal for nappies and toiletries for babies in city. As a new mother herself, she was moved by the thought that others were struggling to afford the basic items necessary to look after their children”, said Michelle Herd, Co-Founder and Chief Operations Officer of AberNecessities, when visiting their HQ at Howe Moss Road in Dyce, Aberdeen.

Michelle, agreed that something more needed to be done. “Our initial thoughts were that it would have been awful to find yourself in a situation where you were on your last nappy, your baby needed changing and you had no idea where you would get another one from”.

“So, we started collecting nappies and toiletries and also did fundraising. It went incredibly well and the following year we did something around Christmas time and started to receive donations of other things like clothes and bedding which we accepted as we knew we could give them to people in need. It was when we started filling our garages at home, and found we were quickly running out of space, that Dani said it was really time for us to start our own charity.”

The facility on Howe Moss Road serves as an illustration of how far AberNecessities has come in the relatively short time they have been in operation. The former office building is a hive of activity with volunteers working to make sure the thousands of donations received by the organisation can get to those who need them urgently.

Earlier in the year a new premises worth £400,000, was gifted to the charity by a mystery donor which, when opened, will allow them to further increase the number of families they can support.

“I never imagined for a minute that this is where we would end up and I’m continually amazed when I see the amount of donations we receive” continued Michelle. “When you look at the extent of the donations we have here in our HQ it illustrates the huge need in the city – things are coming in and going out on a continuous basis and not just sitting here in storage.

“We are so lucky that the amazing volunteers we have organise everything so well, we really rely on their

ACVO News 39 November 2021 help. For example, for a large family it can take almost a full day to get all the bags ready and without the support of our volunteers we wouldn’t be able to get these items out quickly to people who really need them.

“We do ask for all the nearly new and pre-loved items we receive to be freshly washed but as donations come in we do check everything. All items have to be in the best condition before we put it out and sometimes our volunteers will wash items for us – the whole operation takes a lot of time but we wouldn’t have it any other way. We are always thinking about respect, dignity and kindness towards families and like to imagine the excitement of a child as they open the bags we send out, that’s why it’s essential that we distribute high quality items that have been cared for with love previously and when they come through our distribution centre.

“A part of our ethos is also sustainability and in redistributing these items to people that can use and cherish them we are also helping to cut down on waste.

“But it’s not only our volunteers we are thankful for. As I mentioned, we depend on donations from the public and the North East community are incredible in lending their support.”

"It takes your breath away to be quite honest when we run emergency appeals, the kindness shown is just overwhelming which is of course fantastic as there is a huge need for it – we currently support over 300 families a month and this number is growing all the time.”

“When walking around AberNecessities’ HQ you get an impression of the amount of thought that has gone in to ensuring that the supported children of the families are given the opportunity to have a happy and comfortable home life. Alongside essentials and clothes for all ages, AberNecessities also distribute beds and cots, prams, toys, school uniforms and so much more, to make sure no child is disadvantaged or goes without.

“We also distribute birthday packs” Michelle pointed out as we walked around the vast ground floor of the building. “When we first started, some of the professionals we worked with mentioned the child they were supporting would be going without a birthday present. We quickly realised that a lot of children in the region would be facing the same and learned that in some instances the child may not have ever had a birthday present or party.

“Our birthday packs not only enable us to give them a gift but we also buy a cake and give them snacks, juice, cups, plates and napkins, candles – everything needed for them to have a party at home.

“A lot of families are just getting by paying their bills and getting food on the table so when something else comes into the mix, even something many of take for granted like being able to afford a birthday party a child, it becomes just impossible. All the little extra things needed to celebrate their child’s birthday are out of their reach. It’s lovely to think that with the kindness of the public and the help of our volunteers that a child can have a happy time on their birthday.”

“There is also a huge need for school uniforms so children are not disadvantaged when they go to school. It’s always busy for us during the school holidays when we are preparing boxes with everything the children need; as well as uniforms we also have nice new school bags, school shoes, trainers, pens and

ACVO News 40 November 2021 pencils – the whole package to ensure children can attend school and learn.”

When asked about how the pandemic has impacted their work, Michelle noted that it had presented challenges and that it is looking like things are not going to get easier in the immediate future.

“During the pandemic there was quite a lot of funding available and we were able to distribute boxes of items to people in crisis who needed them. Now though, we are settling in to the aftermath with people losing their jobs and not able to manage the situation they have found themselves in. Many people were paid off during the pandemic and with the rising cost in living we are starting to see more referrals come in.

“A lot of people have no where to turn to and have never had to ask for help before, it’s so sad to see the amount of additional people now needing support. We had a 900% increase in applications after the start of the pandemic last year and also saw 170% increase in domestic abuse cases which is heart breaking.

“We are in position though where we are able to react and with domestic abuse cases, we aim to get homewares, clothes and essential items to those affected the same or next day if they have had to leave their homes for their own safety.”

Although AberNecessities works on a referral basis, with families helped through partnerships with health and social care, they do often receive direct messages from people looking for support.

“When we receive messages through Facebook it’s often from parents who are embarrassed to ask for help. We always reassure people that we are here to assist and emphasise how important it is that they have reached out.

No family should go without and through starting these dialogues we can start the process of helping to access support.”

“I’m often blown away when I think about how far we have come as an organisation in such a short time and we have been so pleased to be able to facilitate help for families in the region who need it most.

“AberNecessities was established after seeing that people wanted to donate physical items to those in need but were unsure on how to do so. The fact that we can facilitate that process has meant that we have been able to change the lives of people who are struggling to afford clothes and essential items for their children which in turn has eased pressure and enabled children to have happier family lives”.

AberNecessities believes that everybody, no matter their background and their lifestyle, experiences their own problems and difficulties, and for parents, providing basics for their child should never be one of them.

They rely on public donations and help in order to run operations. They often have drives at certain points of the year for items that are urgently required. Find out more at abernecessities.co.uk and follow their Facebook page at facebook.com/AberNecessities to keep up to date with the latest from the organisation.

Michelle Herd, AberNecessities Co-founder

ACVO News 41 November 2021

VOLUNTEERING

ACVO News 42 November 2021

Volunteering Latest from Mike Melvin and Volunteer Aberdeen Find out more at volunteeraberdeen.org.uk

CELEBRATE AND SUPPORT VOLUNTEERING Volunteers and Volunteer Involving Organisations make an enormous difference and ACVO along with our partners in Aberdeen and nationally across the Third Sector Interface Network are always keen to recognise, celebrate and support the tremendous contribution volunteers and volunteer involving organisations make.

Three forthcoming marvellous occasions all of which involve volunteers highlight this...

International Volunteer Managers Day : Nov 5th International Volunteer Managers Day is on 5th November 2021. This brings attention to and celebrates the essential work everyone who assists in volunteer co-ordination/management does and the real, positive difference this makes for people and communities. Recent times have allowed us the space to consider (and reconsider) many aspects of the important work we undertake as Volunteer Managers.

To that end, the Global International Volunteer Managers Day Coordinating Committee are proud to announce that the theme of #IVMDay 2021 is: “What Is Excellence? – Pushing Us Beyond The Ordinary.”

This theme was identified as it is time to reflect upon what ‘excellence’ really means for our profession, and work towards creating some common language around this important topic. Over the coming months International Volunteer Managers Day participants and supporters will contribute to a debate on many different aspects of just what does constitute ‘excellence in volunteer engagement.’

Through this everyone involved in volunteering here in Aberdeen and across the globe will continue to go beyond the ordinary in further building the incredible contribution volunteers are making for people and our communities like never before.

More information is available at volunteermanagersday.org

ACVO News 43 November 2021

VOLUNTEERING

Trustees Week 2021: Nov 1st - 5th It is Trustees Week (1st-5th November 2021). Trustees of charities/voluntary groups have a vital role, volunteering their time and working together to make important decisions about the charity’s work, governance and helping our charities/voluntary groups successfully develop and make a real difference. Trustees’ Week showcases the magnificent work that Trustees do.

It is a time to celebrate and thank Trustees/Board Members for all you do and raise awareness of the essential role people undertake as Trustees. Without people volunteering their time, skills and expertise as Charity Trustees/Board Members no charity would exist or have a future.

As part of Trustees Week 2021 ACVO are delighted to host an event on: Tuesday 2nd November 2021 at 2.00pm Book your place online now - https://bit.ly/3pLGyus The event is for all existing Charity Trustees and anyone interested in finding out more about what being a Charity Trustee involves. Everyone Welcome. *For more information about being a Charity Trustee/Board Member, including support and training available to Charity Trustees/Board Members please visit http://acvo.org.uk/support/governance/ , www.volunteeraberdeen.org.uk , https://www.oscr.org.uk/ and https://trusteesweek.org/

National Befriending Week 2021: 1st - 7th Nov National Befriending Week, 1-7 November 2021 brings together befriending organisations across the country. It is a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness about the positive impact befriending makes in communities and in people’s lives. It is a time to share with the wider public what befriending is, who it is for, how to get involved and the ways in which befriending organisations and projects are tackling loneliness and social isolation. It is also an opportunity to look towards a better future we can make together.

In Aberdeen there are hundreds of volunteer befrienders assisting greatly at a range of excellent befriending organisations and projects throughout the city.

Volunteer Befrienders make a real difference and the COVID-19 Pandemic has further highlighted just how essential the support people provide befriending is in decreasing loneliness, social isolation, providing a source of connection and community, be that face-to-face or at a distance. That is why this year Befriending Week celebrates and highlights everything #BefriendingIs. -For the latest about Befriending Week 2021 and further details about befriending please visit: befriending.co.uk and if you are interested in being a Volunteer Befriender in Aberdeen please visit https://bit.ly/3vWfCco for latest Volunteer Befriender roles.

ACVO extends a big thank you to all Volunteer Managers/Co-Ordinators, Charity Trustees/Board Members and Volunteer Befrienders/Befriending Organisations in Aberdeen on International Volunteer Managers Day, Trustees Week 2021 and National Befriending Week 2021.

VOLUNTEERING

Volunteer Scotland CEO Announcement ACVO extends our great congratulations to Alan Stevenson who has been selected by the Volunteer Scotland Board of Directors as the new Chief Executive Officer of Volunteer Scotland.

ACVO look forward to working with Alan and colleagues at Volunteer Scotland in continuing to build and develop the tremendous volunteering we have in Aberdeen and across the country.

About his appointment, Alan said, "It gives me great pleasure to take on this exciting role. I can’t think of a better time to be at the centre of volunteering in Scotland; working with talented and dedicated individuals across a diverse range of stakeholders, all invested in achieving our collective ambition of Volunteering For All. There is an inherent responsibility within my remit to ensure that ‘we’ truly listen to volunteers and put their experience

at the centre of everything we do. I’m conscious that the pandemic has made many reconsider the value of volunteering.

"Acknowledging a truth we’ve known for many years; volunteering weaves into most aspects of our society and provides a multitude of benefits for individuals and communities. It can shape our view on what a society can become.

"For volunteering to reach its full potential (a volunteering where anyone can volunteer, and where we think of volunteering regularly and throughout our lives) will require an enormous amount of collaborative effort, over the next years.

"I can’t think of a more exciting challenge to be involved in, a challenge that will bring out the best in all of us."

ACVO News 44 November 2021

Quality Standards in Volunteering

ACVO, along with Volunteer Scotland, TSI-Third Sector Interface colleagues and partners across Scotland are delighted to be involved in the new Quality Standards and Quality Pipeline for Volunteering for Scotland.

The developing Quality Standards in Volunteering Pipeline connects the Volunteering Charter for Scotland, Volunteer Friendly Award and Investing in Volunteers standard.

Visit volunteerscotland.net/fororganisations/quality-standards for more details

WE ARE SCOUTING FOR TALENT! You don’t have to be Bear Grylls to volunteer!

Use your skills and talents for good and make a difference.

Practical, flexible Scouting. Team working in a variety of tasks.

Mainly to start new sections for Beavers (6-8) and Cubs (8-10½).

To find out more email volunteering21stscouts@gmail.com

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES

ACVO News 46 November 2021

RAF Association Caseworkers The latest from our team.

The Royal Air Forces Association is the charity that supports the RAF family, looking after the welfare of serving and former-serving personnel and their dependants, helping them in times of need. We exist to ensure that the sacrifices made by those who serve their country in the Royal Air Force does not result in suffering, poverty or loneliness.

How do we support them? - We provide a wide range of needs-based welfare support. This includes everything from providing home visits and much needed short breaks, to offering advice and, in some cases, financial assistance in times of difficulty.

Could you give a little time to help others? Join our Volunteer programme today!

Volunteering for the Association is both exciting and rewarding. We offer a variety of exciting roles, each with different tasks and commitment required.

In the Aberdeen area we are currently recruiting volunteer caseworkers.

So please get in touch to find out more about how you can help today! You can register on our website at rafa.org.uk/give-support/volunteering/ and we will confirm your registration via email. If you have any queries or questions, please do contact us at volunteers@rafa.org.uk Alternatively, you can call us for a chat about the roles on 0800 018 2361.

AbilityNet Tech Volunteers *Our award-winning charity is looking for Tech volunteers to support older and disabled people with their tech at home.The latest from our team.

Do you have a passion for the power of technology? Our vision is to create a world in which digital services are equally accessible to all As an AbilityNet Tech volunteer you can help unleash the power of technology to ensure that older people and disabled people are not excluded from the digital world.

All across the country our 300 volunteers support older and/or disabled people at home to offer one-to-one support with their technology, whether that’s a computer, laptop, smartphone or tablet.

Our volunteers:Trouble shoot technical issues; Offer impartial advice on technology; Set up new tech and install hardware and software; Show people how to use their tech at home e.g. shop online, send and receive emails and Skype with family and friends; Make adaptations to support a disabled person’s specific technology needs.

You don’t need to be a tech guru to help out. If you use a computer at home or work, and perhaps support family and friends with their tech issues, you are likely to have the skills we need.

If you think you have what it takes to be an AbilityNet Tech volunteer please either apply online at abilitynet.org.uk/abilitynet-itcanhelp-volunteer-application or if you would like more information, or to chat further about the volunteer role contact the AbilityNet Free Services team on 0800 048 7642, or email v.nescotland@abilitynet.org.uk You will be contacted by a local volunteer Coordinator to arrange an informal interview.

Shopping Friends Volunteers: Food Train Connects The latest from our team.

Food Train Connects provides a one to one grocery shopping services for older people who are no longer able to manage independently, through age, ill health, frailty or disability.

Becoming a Food Train Connects Shopping Friend is rewarding and it makes a huge difference to people’s lives. It’s amazing the impact that regular support with grocery shopping can have on someone who is isolated or lonely. If you want to make sure that an older person is able to live well in their own home this is a great opportunity to do so.

The Role: • Contact the older person you are matched with on a regular basis, usually weekly, to obtain their shopping list, carry out their shopping and then deliver to their home, putting away if necessary.

• Submit brief records, receipts for payment and to report any matters of concern to staff • Keep within the boundaries of the role • To inform Food Train Connects Staff of any accidents, incidents or complaints • To maintain confidentiality • To represent Food Train in a professional manner to our members and the wider community All help makes a real difference and is greatly appreciated.

If you are interested in volunteering with us/for more information please email: connects@foodtrainconnects.org.uk Further details are also available on our website at www.foodtrainconnects.org.uk

ACVO News 47 November 2021

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES

Volunteer Befrienders – The latest from our team.

TLC Befriending Service Everyone can feel lonely and isolated at times, especially if experiencing hardship.

This year, in response to the crippling effects of loneliness and isolation on peoples wellbeing (physical, emotional, social and mental health), that the pandemic has only exacerbated, TLC have responded to this need and developed a befriending service to combat the loneliness and isolation felt by many in our city.

Our aim is that our expertly trained and compassionate volunteers will not only provide a lifeline to people, in the form of friendship, but also a helping hand to reconnect to the community, bringing joy and passion back into people’s lives.

If you would like to be a beacon of hope to someone in need, please do apply to join our team. For further information please contact Jonny Astill, Development Manager at email: jonny@tlc.org.uk or tel.: 07859 771292. Details also available at: https://www.tlc.org.uk/befriending

Sport Aberdeen: Trustee Director The latest from our team. active?

Could you help us keep Aberdeen This could be your opportunity to join us in taking what may be your first steps as a Non-Executive Director in the notfor-profit sector.

Awaiting you is: •a chance to make a real impact at one of Aberdeen’s most respected multi award winning charities •an opportunity to give something back to your city as it recovers from the pandemic •the prospect of using your experience, skills, expertise and personality to influence our people and our future Sport Aberdeen is a private limited company (Company Registration No 350981) and a registered charity with the Scottish Charity Register (Registered Charity No. SC040973). We deliver dynamic and innovative services across the city from a network of specialist venues, complemented by a range of cutting-edge sport, physical activity and healthrelated programmes within community settings.

You will be amazed at what we do and how far we reach in creating opportunities, inspiring people and changing lives through sport and physical activity.

Our volunteer Trustee Directors don’t get paid, not because they’re worthless -but because they are priceless!

As a Trustee Director, you will play an important part in governing the company, working with like-minded people who have a passion and are fully committed to this leadership role. You will serve on our board and its various committees, all of which drive and oversee what we do. There will also be time for some fun as we are an organisation with a personality, so you will need a sense of humour.

For further details/to register your interest please contact Tess Murphy, PA to Board and Managing Director, Sport Aberdeen at E Mail: Thmurphy@sportaberdeen.co.uk or tel.: 01224 507726. *( Closing date to apply is Friday 19th November 2021).

Scout Group Volunteers – 21st Aberdeen (Cults) Scout Group The latest from our team.

We’re scouting for talent. You don’t have to be Bear Grylls to volunteer.

The 21st Aberdeen (Cults) Scout Group is a registered charity (Scottish Charity Number SC018385).

The Scouts prepares young people with skills for life, supported by amazing leaders delivering an inspiring programme.

Use your skills and talents for good and make a difference. Practical, flexible Scouting. Team working in a variety of tasks. Mainly to start new sections for Beavers (6-8) and Cubs (8-10½).

To find out more please Email: volunteering21stscouts@gmail.com

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES

ACVO News 48 November 2021

Poppyscotland Bud Heritage Volunteers Bud isThe Poppyscotland’s brand new vehicle for exploration and learning, a truck that transforms into a mobile community latest from our team. space, comprising a mini poppy factory, micro-museum and with interactive learning opportunities.

Bud is an interactive experience that encourages visitors to create their personal remembrance journey through exploring the exhibits. It is helping us keep remembrance relevant all year round.

As a Bud Heritage Volunteer, you will support the delivery of the Bud project when Bud is in your area. This could see you supporting in one of the key tasks below: Welcome members of the public and groups (schools, girl guides, brownies, cubs, cadets etc.) visiting Bud on their arrival; To deliver activities both indoor and outdoor as planned by the Bud team; To assist with evaluation of Bud by encouraging feedback and collecting data; To be flexible in the performance of the post and undertake duties requested by the Bud team; Support the staff team in set up and take down at visits and events. Support staff in the delivery of activities with schools, groups and public visitors Benefits for you; Having access to appropriate training for the role; You will have the opportunity to meet a wide range of new people; Building on your existing skills and developing new ones; Being part of a friendly, committed team; Attending local events A fantastic opportunity to help PoppyScotland and be part of the exciting Bud Project. All help makes a difference and is greatly appreciated.

For further information or to express your interest in this opportunity, please get in touch either *Online – www.poppybud.org.uk/volunteer , * Email – volunteer@poppybud.org.uk or *Phone – Sandra Comrie – 0141 773 6

FRESH Community Wellness: Community Engagement and Wellness Volunteers The latest from our team.

We are currently working to help engage the community and we are seeking more friendly volunteers to reach residents who may be looking for safe, free options. Anyone of any ability can volunteer with us in some way. We are working in several partnerships which include Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership, Keep Scotland Beautiful, Paths for All, Aberdeen City Council and many more.

Are you interested in health, wellness, caring for others, community gardening, food growing, nature, the environment, children’s activities, event planning, fundraising or sports and up for helping to regenerate an entire community? In addition to our community based activities, we also have multiple home-based volunteering options for graphic design, admin, website and social media editing. If you have a couple of hours free to spare each week and are enthusiastic about the idea of uniting communities and making the local area safe, tidy, and beautiful – then please do help us out.

This is an excellent opportunity to give back. Also, if you wish it is a great way to boost your CV and employment prospects. Brilliant way to volunteer for a college, university or work placement and gain skills. Most of all you will be making a real positive difference for people and the community, which will be greatly appreciated by all. As a registered Scottish charity, we are happy to issue references for your volunteering with ourselves.

For further details about helping volunteering with us please contact Elaine Campbell, Co-ordinator at email: admin@freshcommunitywellness.com or tel.: 07562689691.

Befriend a Child Volunteers The latest from our team.

At Befriend a Child we support school-aged children in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire who are growing up in difficult life circumstances. We match them with trained volunteers or ‘Befrienders’ or ‘Mentors’ who act as positive role models to help children develop resilience, self-confidence, and self-esteem. Typically, these are children whose fundamental childhood years have been neglected or lost due to issues outside of their control.

Volunteers meet the child on a one-to-one basis and help the children and young people with their self-esteem and confidence and give them experiences they may be unable to have otherwise. Befrienders meet with the children twice a month and mentors meet on a weekly basis. Befriend a Child provides volunteers with full training and support, so volunteers don’t need to have any previous experience working with children.

Befriend a Child receives referrals from a number of sources including Education, Social Work, Health and Third Sector partners. We are the only dedicated befriending and mentoring service for children in the Northeast.

It’s not just the children who benefit from befriending and mentoring, our volunteers also feel they gain a great deal from the experience. For example, Befriend a Child volunteer Craig feeds back: “Befriending is the biggest achievement of my life, knowing I’ve been a positive influence in someone’s life whilst creating some fantastic memories and experiences. I would recommend it to anyone. It’s a great way to add sunshine into your own life as well as doing the same for others. Many of these children just simply need a friend and so it’s not what you do that is important but the fact that you are doing something together.” (Craig Duncan, Volunteer Befriender).

If you want to help a local child, make sure to get in touch by emailing us at volunteer@befriendachild.org.ukor visit www.befriendachild.org.uk to find out more.

ACVO News 49 November 2021

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES

Fersands Family Centre Volunteers Thea latest from who ourhas team.

We have child in nursery been diagnosed with Autism who would benefit from 1 to 1 support.

We are looking for a volunteer(s) familiar with Autism who would be willing to support the child/staff, the child currently attends nursery in the mornings. Having support from a volunteer(s) would be a huge benefit to the child and family.

-Our Setting We are a registered charity and non-profit organisation we support families in the local community which is a regeneration area. The children in our setting are aged between 2-5 years old. The volunteer(s) would be supporting us in the mornings the hours of the session is 7.45am – 12noon. The maximum amount of children in each session is 22.

A fantastic opportunity to help and all volunteer assistance is greatly appreciated. For more details please contact Susan Byun, Manager at email: familycentre.fersands@gmail.com or tel.: 01224 524950/524946.

Pushing Out The Boat-Volunteer Treasurer The from our (North-east team. Scotland’s Biennial Magazine of New Writing and the Visual Arts) is Pushing Outlatest the Boat magazine looking for a new treasurer to join our team of (unpaid) volunteers.

We are a registered charity (SCIO No SC044919) with annual income and spending in the low thousands. Our main income derives from magazine sales and events. Apart from administrative expenses, our main cost is printing the magazine. We will provide interested candidates with a summary of our accounts for the last three years.

You will: 1. manage our receipts/payments accounting system to include monies received and paid during each financial year via our bank and PayPal accounts and in cash, along with a statement of balances at year end 2. take overall responsibility for operating our bank and PayPal accounts 3. prepare annual accounts, for our Annual General Meeting, obtaining our external auditor’s approval and lodging them with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) 4. advise the management committee on future financial issues, e.g. potential fundraising and upgrading of our technology to accept payments for magazines and events 5. become a charity trustee, a member of our managing committee (to which you will make a regular treasurer’s report), and one of five office-bearers, including our chair, editor, co-ordinator, and secretary.

6. you must be able to demonstrate experience and competence in the technical aspects of the role, and provide us with a referee who can confirm that.

While not essential, you may get more out of the opportunity if you have a general interest in the arts.

We are a friendly group of volunteers whose meetings and occasional events are held in or near Aberdeen.

Please browse our website at www.pushingouttheboat.co.uk/ to get a feel for what we do.

Contact us at info@pushingouttheboat.co.uk to discuss this opportunity or lodge your interest in it. We recruit new team members through a discussion between any interested and qualified candidate and a small group of trustees to confirm that we’re suited for each other (in current circumstances by Zoom or face-to-face).

Volunteer Mentors – ProjectScotland (part of the Volunteering Matters Family) latest from our (part team.

AcrossThe Scotland ProjectScotland of the Volunteering Matters Family) supports young people to reach their potential through tailored support, mentoring and the opportunity to experience the benefits of volunteering themselves and the support of a volunteer mentors.

This is a national programme which we have recently secured funding to deliver in the Aberdeen area.

As a guide -6-month commitment – 1 hour weekly although this will be flexible and may fluctuate to meet mentor and mentee availability, this meeting would ideally be face to face however given the COVID situation many matches are virtual using email/telephone/video chat/WhatsApp. In the role you may be assisting a young person to identify personal goals and aims and support them to work towards these in a planned and thought through way. e.g., building self-esteem, feeling more confident in social situations, expressing themselves effectively, recognising personal strengths. In other matches you might be working on softer outcomes helping them to develop life skills, routine, planning for the day, managing their time effectively and in many cases just checking in to make sure all is well and they are doing alright.

This is an amazing opportunity for anyone wanting to help young people in their community who need a helping hand.

For further information please contact Sue van Horen, Mentor Manager at email: sue.vanhoren@volunteeringmatters.org.uk or tel.: 07833250410.

FUNDING

ACVO News 50 November 2021

Funding Funding news and highlights from ACVO Funding Officer, Claire Shaw

Lottery’s ‘Together for Our Planet’ Fund will help communities take action Ahead of COP26 – the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference – the National Lottery recently launched a funded programme to inspire and help communities across the UK take action on climate change.

Together for Our Planet is open for applications for projects that will take action on food, transport, energy, waste and consumption, natural environment and more to tackle climate change.

Groups can apply for grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 for work which meets at least two of the following criteria: 1. Supports the development of longer-term climate action within communities 2. Encourages communities to plan for the climate emergency - to consider what climate action could mean to them and why it matters.

3. Celebrates the importance of community-led climate action and encourages more people to get involved.

4. Builds resilience in communities that are hardest hit by climate change.

5. Provides jobs, skills or training opportunities for communities which support climate action.

The Together for Our Planet fund closes for applications on Thursday 18th November at 5pm, so there is still time to apply.

You can find out lots more helpful information and guidance at www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/program mes/together-for-our-planet You can apply online at https://tnlcf.tfaforms.net/82 Please remember that ACVO provides a range of funding support services, including a confidential external review of draft funding applications. Just get in touch with our Funding Officer, Claire Shaw, by email at claire.shaw@acvo.org.uk for more information.

News 51 ACVO November 2021

FUNDING

Paths for All Community Active Travel Grants applications close Nov 7th Scottish charity, Paths for all are champions of everyday walking for a happier, healthier, greener Scotland.

Scotland is a walking nation and with their work and support, Paths for All are making sure everyone has the opportunity to be active every day, creating a happier, healthier and greener Scotland.

Their aim is to support people in Scotland to be active every day. Walking is the easiest and most accessible way to do this.

for this grant, your project must demonstrate how it will increase people’s knowledge about sustainable transport choices available to them.

You can use the funding to: Promote and signpost active travel routes; Improve and develop routes that will make it easier to walk, wheel and cycle when making short everyday journeys; Maintain active travel routes and ensure that they are accessible.

Paths for Community Path and Community Active Travel grants support communities to create, promote and maintain local community paths and active travel routes.

Grants of up to £3000 are available to eligible projects, for more information please log into the grants portal and read grant guidance at pathsforall.org.uk/community-paths/cmp-grants

Their grant schemes are open to any constituted community group that have their own bank account. Community organisations and registered community charities such as community councils, development trusts and community woodland groups working in Scotland can all apply for funding.

The closing date is Sunday the 7th of November.

Their 2021/22 Community Active Travel Grants fund is now open for applications. To be eligible

Get in touch The Active Environments team is here to help and support you through all the stages of your community paths project, contact Paths for All on communitypaths@pathsforall.org.uk or 01786 641851.

Locality Empowerment Group Meetings The Locality Empowerment Groups are due to meet in November and we would like to invite you along! The groups are made up of local people interested in improving the quality of life for people living in Aberdeen. Members use their own knowledge and experiences to influence priorities and help determine solutions.

The Locality Empowerment Groups have been pivotal in the creation of the Locality Plans, therefore, each of the upcoming meetings will have a focus on one of the priorities. The meetings will provide the opportunity to hear from individuals who are currently working on projects within the chosen priority. There will be the opportunity to ask questions and find out how you, and your community, can get involved!

Central Locality – 16th November, 2pm – 3.30pm Priority 3: Improve mental health & wellbeing of the population Register for the Central meeting – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/central-localityempowerment-group-meeting-tickets-188291353507 North Locality – 16th November, 10.30am – 12pm Priority 4: Support local volunteering opportunities beyond the pandemic and Priority 6: Maximise use of disused outdoor space to increase food growing opportunities Register for the North meeting – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/north-localityempowerment-group-meeting-tickets-188294502927 South Locality – 18th November, 9.30am – 11am Priority 2: Reduce number of people living in poverty. Address food poverty; fuel poverty by identifying and using local assets (for example community cafés; Community Kitchens) Register for the South Meeting - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/south-localityempowerment-group-meeting-tickets-188296338417 We know meetings aren’t for everyone so there are lots of ways you can get involved in the Locality Empowerment Groups. If you would like to be added to the distribution list, please let us know – LocalityPlanning@aberdeencity.gov.uk Join the Locality Empowerment Group Facebook group – Please click here View more information on the website – Please click here

HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE UPDATES

Health & Social Care Updates

Mobile testing It is estimated that 1 in 3 people with coronavirus do not display symptoms and therefore some individuals will be spreading the virus without realising it. The Grampian community testing programme offers regular rapid COVID-19 testing for people without symptoms.

Where can you access Lateral Flow Device (LFD) testing? There is a mobile van with a stop near you!

The Community Wardens will be on hand to distribute LFD Kits and offer supportive wellbeing wraparound care, if required. They can be found wearing their high visibility jackets at the following locations on a weekly basis. Please pop along to collect your free LFD kit and have a chat with the team, the friendly Community Wardens will be happy to see you!

What if you can’t visit the mobile van? No problem!

There are a number of community testing sites that you can visit to collect testing kits, have a look on the website to find a location close to you

ACVO News 54 November 2021

News 55 ACVO November 2021

HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE UPDATES

Dual Testing Sites NHS Grampian are considering if they can make it easier for people to get tested for Covid-19 by testing everyone in the same place – it would mean that anyone can attend, whether or not they have symptoms of Covid, and be given the right test.

NHS Grampian currently test people in two different ways: those with Covid symptoms, or who are close contacts of Covid cases, are given PCR tests. Those without Covid symptoms have LFD tests. These different tests take place at different sites, and we’ve had feedback that this system can be confusing when people want to take a test.

Please fill in the following short survey to let them know your views https://wh.snapsurveys.com/s.asp?k=163307895306

HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE UPDATES

ACVO News 56 November 2021

Aberdeen City Vaccination Centre As you may know, the Aberdeen City Vaccination Centre is now open in the old John Lewis building. The centre will now be where you attend for immunisations such as Covid-19, ‘Flu, shingles and vaccinations against other conditions.

We hope this central venue will mean you can attend your appointment easily. There are a few transport options that you can use to access the centre; bus, bike, walk or car. A short video has been created to support you access the centre as easily as possible – it even includes the buses that serve the centre directly!

More information regarding the Aberdeen City Vaccination Centre, including opening times, can be found by visiting the NHS Grampian website.

News 57 ACVO November 2021

HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE UPDATES

Aberdeen’s Third Sector

Mental Health & Wellbeing Forum ACVO host regular fora to support and inform the third sector, particularly as we continue to make our way through this current crisis. So much has changed and continues to do so at such a pace, that it can be difficult to keep up. More changes are to come and things are likely to remain in flux for a while yet.

Mental health and wellbeing continues to be a very common and recurring theme. As this topic is so far reaching and multilayered and affects so many aspects of our work, ACVO are continuing to host regular third sector forum meetings on the theme of Mental Health & Wellbeing.

We are inviting our third sector colleagues to our next one.

It is to be held on Wed. 24th Nov. 2021 from 10.00 am – 12.00pm, where you can Learn about the latest key developments at ACH&SCP ( Aberdeen City Health & Social Care Partnership) and CPA (Community Planning Aberdeen) Hear more about the Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund, that ACVO are administering.

There will also be the opportunity to meet and ask questions of our Funding Officer Claire Shaw .

This forum will be held over Zoom, book your place here.

An agenda will be issued nearer the time.

Meanwhile if you require any further information, then please don’t hesitate to contact Susan Morrison tel: 07814 896676 email: susan.morrison@acvo.org.uk

HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE UPDATES

ACVO News 58 November 2021

News 59 ACVO November 2021

HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE UPDATES

VACANCIES

Vacancies Latest opportunities from the 3rd sector

find out more and apply

find out more and apply

ACVO News 60 November 2021

News 61 ACVO November 2021

VACANCIES

find out more and apply

find out more and apply

VACANCIES

find out more and apply

Let ACVO help you to find your new team member Get in touch with andrew.davidson@acvo.org.uk to find out how to advertise your vacancy on our site and in ACVO News.

ACVO News 62 November 2021

be part of

the collective voice of the Third Sector in Aberdeen

ACVO are pleased to offer a

year’s free membership to existing and new members.

This offer runs until the end of 2021, and your full year’s membership runs from when you sign up.

apply online now at a acvo.org.uk/membership We are stronger with you behind us.

ACVO News 64 November 2021

Event Highlig November

02

ACVO Trustees Week 2021

2:00 pm - 3:30 pm - online

Trustees of charities/voluntary groups have a vital role, volunteering their time and working together to make important decisions about the charity’s work, governance and helping our charities/voluntary groups successfully develop and make a real difference.

Trustees’ Week is an annual event to showcase the great work that trustees do and highlight opportunities for even more people to get involved and make a difference.

As part of Trustees Week 2021 ACVO are delighted to host an online event, please book your place at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/acvo-trustee-sweek-tickets-171877729917 The event will Highlight the role of Charity Trustees.

Provide an overview of the main responsibilities and duties of Charity Trustees.

Gather feedback from Charity Trustees on how you are finding the current time, plans for the future and support ACVO/Third Sector Interfaces can provide.

Celebrate Trustees Week and thank all Charity Trustees for all you do.

The event is for all existing Charity Trustees and anyone interested in finding out more about what being a Charity Trustee involves. Everyone Welcome.

For any further details please contact Sandy Mathers or Mike Melvin at email: sandy.mathers@acvo.org.uk / mike.melvin@acvo.org.uk

The coronavirus pandemic led to significant changes for the lives of many people with significant learning disabilities and those with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). This included service changes, separation from loved ones and disruption of routines.

The Coronavirus and People with Learning Disabilities Study examined the wellbeing, health and social effects of the pandemic on people with learning disabilities.

This event reports on the findings from this study and includes a presentation of the survey findings with family carers and paid carers of people with more significant learning disabilities, including the experiences of people with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD).

We really hope you can join us. If you have any questions, please email Brenda b.garrard@dundee.ac.uk or Jenny j.y.miller@dundee.ac.uk

Book online

03

Implications of the UKRI Coronavirus and People with Learning Disabilities 10:30am - 12 pm - Online

News 65 ACVO November 2021

ghts find more event listings, and submit yours free of charge at

acvo.org.uk/events Does your UK heritage organisation involve volunteers?

Join us to discuss how to combat the Climate Crisis through volunteering.

Join this free online event to talk with people in similar roles, share your volunteer organiser insights, ask questions and pick up practical tips. We welcome those who manage volunteers or are planning to involve volunteers in their heritage organisation.

As the impacts of climate change increase and threaten our buildings and places, it is critical that we all work together to build a more sustainable future. One of the ways that heritage organisations can play their part in combating the Climate Crisis is by reducing the carbon footprint of their volunteer programmes.

At this free Zoom event, speakers from the Volunteer Organisers Network, Chester Zoo, Tarbert Castle Trust, Natural History Museum and Scottish Civic Trust will discuss: Volunteers’ perspectives on going green Developing digital and home-based volunteering roles Supporting volunteers to use sustainable travel methods to get on-site Involving volunteers in activities around sustainability and the environment Facilitating volunteers’ learning about Climate Change And more!

05

Green Volunteering: Make Your Mark knowledge share 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Book online

06

Volunteering Day at Compass 9:30 am - 4:00 pm Craigton RoadCults, Aberdeen,

Support our exciting community Compass Project and help to transform the naturally-beautiful and historic 4.1 acre former Waldorf School site into a centre demonstrating practical solutions for healthy, sustainable lifestyles.

If you are able to lend a hand for a couple of hours, please let us know by emailing: compass@cwt.scot .

We usually have a Produce Pop-Up which includes organically grown produce available on a donation basis too so don’t forget your cash!

As always, please bear in mind we have minimal onsite facilities at present i.e. one toilet / handwashing running water so do come prepared along with sturdy boots and gloves.

All work will comply with current COVID guidelines.

We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers who are willing to lend a hand with whatever needs doing.

We hold regular Saturday volunteer days where you can enjoy meeting like-minded people working together to make a visible difference to our site after each session.

Volunteers tell us it is very satisfying to see how much of a difference their work can make.

Volunteers with specialised skills such as joiners, plumbers and DIY-enthusiasts will be especially welcome as we enter the next phase of our project to strip out the existing buildings ready for refurbishment.

ACVO News 66 November 2021

Event Highlig s 06Nov- TechFest’ Digital Science 1 DEc Festival 2021

Every year TechFest hosts Aberdeen’s annual science festival, a three week long celebration of STEM that attracts thousands of people and is a brilliant opportunity to get all aspects of the community engaged with STEM. Visit techfest.org.uk/festival/2021festival to see the full programme and to book your free tickets!

We would like to invite you to attend our next Annual General Meeting on Wednesday the 17th of November at 12pm. This will be in person at RGU but there will also be a live stream through zoom to ensure that everyone can attend. (Details of this will be sent out closer to the date) Book your tickets now Not a member of ACVO? Join for free at https://acvo.org.uk/membership/ Meeting agenda: (a) Welcome (b) Apologies (c) Presentation from Professor Steve Olivier, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of RGU on Corporate Social Responsibility (d) Minutes of 2020 AGM (e) A report by the Chair, Paul O Connor, on the activities of the company (f) Consideration of the annual accounts of the company (g) The election/re-election of directors (h) ACVO Film (i) Presentation from ACVO members – 2 ACVO members will give a presentation on their work from the last year (j) Close Tea, Coffee and pastries will be available after the AGM with the chance to network.

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ACVO AGM 2021 12pm - 2 pm Robert Gordon University Garthdee Road Aberdeen and streamed Online

News 67 ACVO November 2021

ghts find more event listings, and submit yours free of charge at

acvo.org.uk/events Course participants will gain an understanding of the dynamics of domestic abuse and the effects that coercive control has on children and young people.

Learning Outcomes: – Appreciate the impact of domestic abuse on those who experience it and how it affects their behaviour and choices.

– Understand the main issues of providing a sensitive and appropriate service to children and young people experiencing domestic abuse.

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Training Webinar: An Introduction to the Effects of Domestic Abuse on Children & Young People 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Online

Places cost £10 - Book via Eventbrite

25

VHS Annual Lecture and AGM 10:00 am - 11:45 pm Online

Join VHS at our annual lecture and AGM. Join us on Thursday 25th November for our Annual Lecture and AGM (via Zoom).

This event is free to attend and open to anyone with an active interest and involvement in health related policy, research or practice. We particularly welcome and encourage staff, trustees and volunteers from our member organisations to attend, as the programme includes our AGM. Our presenters will explore different aspects of the social impact of the continuing pandemic, using the latest research evidence: Professor Kirstin Mitchell, Professor of Social Science and Public Health (MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow Ben Cavanagh and Andrew Connal, Social Researchers, Covid-19 Modelling and Analysis Hub, Scottish Government Papers for the AGM will be circulated directly to members by email and will also be available on this page nearer the time.

Please contact Lauren.Blair@vhscotland.org.uk if you have any questions.

Book online