Aberdeenshire Council recently approved the creation of the Aberdeenshire Community Resilience Fund to support community groups helping to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Constituted community groups, resilience groups and volunteering organisations can submit a single application form to the council’s Area Managers, with the implementation of the resilience fund following a similar approach to the existing Area Committee’s budget. Each of the six areas in Aberdeenshire will have a £20,000 allocation, with the £80,000 balance being available to the whole of Aberdeenshire. Grants of up to £2,000 for community resilience work are available.
As further community resilience funds become available from the Scottish Government, the value of grants and the criteria will be reviewed, however the main aim at present is to be as flexible as possible for each individual community.
Area Managers’ teams, along with Community Learning and Development, Public Health and Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action, Rural Partnerships and other partners, will continue to work with community resilience groups and volunteers in their areas to provide support and identify any gaps in provision. A coordinated approach is also being made with the Local Resilience Partnership and in particular with the British Red Cross, Aberdeen City Council and The Moray Council to ensure the maximum benefit, coverage and support is provided across the Grampian area.
Among the groups who have received grants from the fund is a COVID-19 community Facebook and action group set up Sophie Stephen to support elderly and vulnerable in Portlethen. She posted on Facebook asking if anyone needed any additional toilet roll and before long had created a Facebook group with more than 200 volunteers distributing food, sanitary products and toilet roll to those who need it most in and around Portlethen. The group has requested funding to buy food, toiletries, marketing and information material and funding to pay for heating and electrical costs for the group’s base. Watch this video to find out more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrNEAjjdYfw
Peterhead-based community group Protecting Essential Workers in the North East has so far produced 1,000 3D face protection masks for key workers. The group received funding from local businesses JBS Fabrications and AM Campbell which was spent on buying additional 3D printers to make more masks, and has been supported by Peterhead Area Community Trust, which has allowed their pavilion to be used as a base for producing masks. Protecting Essential Workers in the North East has made an application to fund for assistance with purchasing four 3D printers which will help them make more masks more quickly.
Westhill Men’s Shed is also making PPE face masks using 3D printers. Once production is fully operational, the group plans to make 600 per week. It is supplying the Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership Joint Equipment Centre with 80% of the masks with the remaining 20% going to local businesses.
North East Transport Training (NETT) is a social enterprise in Ellon that has diverted its usual programmes to support the local community during the Coronavirus situation. NETT is working with the Ellon Community Resilience Group, Grampian Coronavirus Assistance Hub, and the NHS and community to provide safe transport for older people to shop where bus services have been withdrawn or reduced. It is also taking elderly and vulnerable people to and from medical appointments where they would be unable to attend by public transport.
Cllr Jim Gifford, Leader of Aberdeenshire Council, said: “It is fantastic to see the Aberdeenshire Community Resilience Fund being accessed to help community groups carry out invaluable work supporting the elderly and vulnerable during the Coronavirus situation. I would urge community groups who are eligible to apply for these grants so that more help can be given to those in desperate need.”