KDP AGM – Reminder
The KDP AGM is next Wednesday, 24th March and you are warmly invited.
It will be held virtually via Zoom at 7pm.
There are spaces for community groups on the Board of Trustees and your input would be much appreciated.
If you would like to participate in the meeting, please email officesupport@kdp.scot and we will send you the link.
Here is the Agenda for your information.
Hope to see you there.
 
Windfarms Update:
 
St John’s Hill Windfarm Community Fund is closing on 31^st March 2021
Applications to the fund can be made from groups and projects which benefit the communities living in the community council areas of:

• Arbuthnott
• Catterline, Kinneff & Dunnottar

Click for the Guidance Notes and Application Form.  
 
Hillhead of Auquhirie Wind Farm Community Fund is currently closed and will re-open on 1^st April 2021. 
Applications to the fund can be made from groups and projects which benefit the communities living in the community council areas of:

• Arbuthnott
• Catterline, Kinneff & Dunnottar
• Mearns
• Stonehaven & District

Application forms and guidelines will be available soon.
 
Meikle Carewe Wind Farm Community Fund is currently closed.  It will reopen on 1^st July, closing 30^th September 2021.
Applications to this fund can be made from not-for-profit groups and organisations, based in the following Community Council areas:

• Crathes, Drumoak and Durris
• Newtonhill, Muchalls and Cammachmore
• North Kincardine Rural
• Portlethen and District
• Stonehaven and District

Guidelines and an application form will be shared on 1^st July 2021.
 
WEA in Aberdeenshire
Attached are posters for three up-coming courses organised by the WEA in Aberdeenshire:

• In-depth Financial Citizenship course which builds upon the ongoing Financial First Aid workshops and develops financial literacy
• SVQ Study Skills course to support those who are working towards SVQ level 2 or 3 in any subject in Aberdeenshire
• Short course aimed at first time voters and those disenfranchised from the political process in the lead up to the Scottish Parliament elections.

All courses will be delivered online using Zoom and Canvas. 
 
Vattenfall Unlock our Future Fund
Applications for the 2021 funding round are now open. 
The Fund supports community projects in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire focused on environmental sustainability. Applications must meet at least three of the following objectives:

• Contribute to a climate smarter world with sustainability at its core
• Invest in community facilities and activities that are fit for the future and are environmentally sustainable, especially community spaces and transport
• Support creative solutions
• Ensure a legacy and lasting impact, which clearly brings benefit to the local community

The maximum award for any one year is £15,000, with the possibility of awards up to £30,000 over three years. Small grants of up to £2,000 have a streamlined application process.
The closing date is 12th April 2021.
More information here.
 
OSCR – Submission of Annual Reports & Accounts
As reported on the 12th February, the ‘Grace Period’ allowed for charities to submit their annual reports and accounts to OSCR is coming to an end.
From 1st April 2021 charities will no longer receive this additional time, and therefore it is important that you think about how you are going to hold your trustee meetings and AGMs.
Visit the OSCR website for guidance.
 
Magic Little Grants Fund 
The Magic Little Grants Fund provides charitable organisations the opportunity to access funding to deliver a range of projects which can fit several themes including improving mental wellbeing, enabling community participation in the arts and many more. Grants can also be used to cover core business costs. 
Applications are open until the 31st of October 2021 and you will receive a decision within eight weeks.
For a full list of themes and how to apply, click here.
 
Working with Volunteers in Community Gardens
This Sustain webinar will look at how to engage volunteers, stay safe and manage expectations in your community garden.
24 March 2021, 5.30 pm – 7 pm
More information and booking details can be found on the Sustain website.
 
The Mushroom Trust
The Mushroom Trust’s primary goal is to support the creation and improvement of greenspaces. The Trust helps to fund projects throughout Scotland.  In recent years, a variety of projects have been funded: improving paths for public access, enabling the commissioning of landscaping designs for long term planting, developing allotments, enriching planting, improving public parks and play areas, and planting community gardens and orchards.
If you are interested in applying the website has more details. 
 
Malnutrition Advice Line
Eat Well Age Well has recently launched a new free malnutrition advice line for older adults in Scotland.
Manned by fully trained Eat Well Age Well staff, it has been set up to provide practical information to those aged 65 and over, or anyone concerned about an older person’s wellbeing, on how they can stay well-nourished.
Find out more on the Eat Well Age Well website. 
 
KDP is here to help in any way we can.  Please let us know how we can support you or your organisation.  We will continue to share information and guidance in our Bulletins, however, due to the speed of change and quantity of information, the most current details will be found on our Facebook page (@kincardineshiredevelopmentpartnership).
 
Should you wish to get in touch, our contact details are as follows:
Jacky Niven              Development Officer                       jniven@kdp.scot
Margo Titmuss         Office/Windfarm Admin                  officesupport@kdp.scot

All of this information was correct at time of writing. 

Five additional street names are required for the Blairs Village. Suggestions from the Roads Development Team included Blairs Avenue, Kiln Rise, Blairs Gardens, Ardoe Drive & Shanna Walk.  

The NKRCC suggests that reference to “Ardoe” would confuse the areas and this should be disregarded.

Public suggestions received to date:

St Mary’s annotated with Road, Lane, Walk or other – named after the Chapel.

College Gardens – the walled gardens, which would have originally been the kitchen supplies.

Seminary Road – Blairs College was the predominant Seminary in Scotland for training of boys to be priests.

Steeple View – The spire of St Mary’s Chapel is an architectural icon.

 

The use of historic reference with Blairs College & Museum (Heritage, Chapel,  College etc.,)

 

All called Blairs or Menzies followed by with Avenue, Place, Road, Crescent being used.

 

Additional suggestions must be submitted to secretary@nkrcc.org.uk no later than Sunday 21st March.

 

Owing to Aberdeenshire Council Roads Service carrying out surfacing works, it is necessary to close the U144K, A92 to Auchlee, Portlethen on Monday 22nd March for 5 days. 

Aberdeenshire Council are in the process of developing new equality aims for 2021-25, focusing on ‘protected characteristics’ which can apply to all of us, for example age, sex, race, disability, religion, and sexual orientation. Developing equality aims is something that local authorities are required to do.
 
An important step in this process is getting the views of Aberdeenshire residents and identifying what areas we need to focus on improving people’s life opportunities.  The pandemic has had a significant impact on all of our lives and this will need to be considered in our planning to ensure we support those who need it most. We also need to report on our progress in making improvements since 2019.
 
It would be greatly appreciated if you could take a few minutes to complete our survey and give your views – https://engage.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/equalities-2021-2025
 
The survey is open until 14th March.  There will also be some other ways to contribute and be involved, for example, you can submit a story of your experience, or after the survey, potentially be involved further as part of a community conversation.
 
Support is available for putting your views forward if you need it.  If you have any queries, please contact our Engagement & Equalities team on 01467 538029 or email equalities@aberdeenshire.gov.uk