Research students from Glasgow Caledonian University have plans for deploying a series of natural solutions against landslides and erosion on the braes of Catterline for week commencing on May 31^st until June the 4^th.

Please, see attached a map, a leaflet, and a field guide containing more information on the action planned.

Field_guide_OAL_UK_FINAL_lc  NBS interventions  NBS_Catterline_iii (1)

The access road to the pier will be closed and some signage will be put in place for this purpose. However, the team will facilitate access to the pier and beach as much as possible.

Although the students are not enlisting the help and support of volunteers from the community, due to Covid restrictions, they would very much appreciate to have you on board if you are willing to come along.

 

 

Doorstep Crime

We’ve recently received reports of males approaching householders purporting to be window cleaners and offering to wash their windows on a regular or semiregular basis, then charging high prices to do so. Please be aware that anyone operating as a window cleaner should have applied to Aberdeenshire Council (or to the relevant Local Authority if outwith Aberdeenshire) and received their licence before starting any work as a window cleaner. This process allows the Local Authority to complete background checks on the applicant to confirm, amongst other things, that they are a fit and proper person to do this line of work and that they have public liability insurance in the event of any mishaps. Window cleaners are not permitted to operate until they have received their licence from the Local Authority and they must wear their licence conspicuously about their upper body whilst working and show it to anyone who has a reasonable reason for asking to see it. Anyone who fails to do any of these things may be committing an offence under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act, 1982. To try to avoid problems we would recommend only using a licensed window cleaner and that a price for the work should be agreed between a householder and a window cleaner before any work starts, so there are fewer chances of a misunderstanding later.

Scams

There have been a couple of recent reports of residents being called at home on their landlines from ‘an insurance company’, based in Liverpool, calling to advise the resident that the appliance insurance they have on their washing machine has expired. This has caused the residents to become alarmed and to renew their insurance whilst on the phone, so they can maintain cover for their washing machines. It has later transpired that the existing insurance for the washing machines had not expired and that the call was a scam. The whole pretext of the call is false. We would recommend that if you get a call like this, take a note of the company name and phone number, the caller’s name if possible and any other information offered, then simply hang up. Please then report the matter to Police and Trading Standards, including any information noted. Please do not divulge any bank or card information to the caller.

There has also been a recent report of a resident being contacted by telephone from a male purporting to be from a very well-known financial investment company and persuaded to part with a five figure sum of money to invest in bonds. The money was transferred some time ago via direct bank transfer but the resident recently tried to log on to their account, using the paperwork provided by the male to see how their investment was performing, but was unable to. They then contacted the company concerned, to gain access, only to be advised that it was all a scam. Efforts are ongoing to recover the resident’s money. This type of scam rests on the credibility of the scammer, who in the instance appeared very plausible. Our advice is to never discuss financial matters, especially investment ‘opportunities’, with cold callers on the phone. Simply hang up on them as the risk that they may be scammers is too great. If you are looking for an investment opportunity, only use companies which are regulated by the UK financial regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (https://www.fca.org.uk/), consider only using a company with a local branch office and properly qualified advisors. Do some research on both the company and the qualifications presented by the advisor. Ask questions. Check the answers. Remember, investing is about risk assessment and management. That should start before you part with any cash.

Also, you can keep abreast of current scams at the following reputable websites:

Friends Against Scams https://www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/

Action Fraud https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/individual-protection

Take Five https://takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/advice/general-advice/

FCA Scam Smart https://www.fca.org.uk/scamsmart

Please note that the advice given in these bulletins has been deliberately kept simple, so that if you are faced with a scenario such as the ones discussed here where fear, panic and alarm are often tools used deliberately by scammers, you will know what to do at that time. Remember, after the initial panic is over, you may have rights which Trading Standards can help you with.

If you have been the victim of a Doorstep Crime or an attempted crime, whether Bogus Caller or Rogue Trader, please report the matter to Consumer Advice Scotland so that Trading Standards can build a detailed, ongoing picture of the activities of these scammers throughout the Shire. This would be a great help to us to tackle this sort of crime.

Contact

For urgent Trading Standards matters, contact Aberdeenshire Council’s Trading Standards at 01467 537222. For non-urgent enquiries, please contact Consumer Advice Scotland at https://www.consumeradvice.scot/ or on 0808 164 6000.

Contact Police Scotland on 999 if you need urgent assistance or 101 for nonurgent matters.

For more information about scams please visit Friends Against Scams at https://www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/ Please direct any media queries to news@aberdeenshire.gov.uk or 01467 538222 during office hours.

Aberdeenshire Council’s Trading Standards is playing a lead role in the national Shut out Scammers campaign.

Covid-related fraud and scams prevention advice has been prioritised by both Police Scotland and Trading Standards Scotland who have responded to the emerging crime profile and Covid-19 related work over the past year.

As enforcement authorities, they have now assessed that with the easing of restrictions and permission being given for trade work to recommence, doorstep crime will once again start to increase.

Doorstep crime continues to have a disproportional impact on the elderly and vulnerable and the prevention campaign seeks to provide appropriate support and advice to those at risk from such criminality.

The campaign this year will continue to take a partnership approach with a view to increasing the reach of advice and reduction in doorstep crime.

Partnership working is essential and at a national level it is a joint partnership with Police Scotland and Trading Standards Scotland, however it is being further supported by the Scottish Government, SCOTSS, Advice Direct Scotland and Neighbourhood Watch Scotland.

Bogus workers – while continuing to offer a range of services including roofing and power washing – are likely to place an emphasis on gardening and property maintenance work given the demand for such services at this time.

Victims in previous years have been predominantly over the age of 65 and most likely to be female, however, that victim profile and tactics are likely to change this year given the increased demand for trade services.

It is anticipated that the financial cost to victims will remain high and there may be an increase in the financial cost to victims as doorstep criminals seek to recoup earnings lost during the lockdown period.

Incidents are most commonly recorded throughout the working week and during traditional working hours. Many unscrupulous traders are now able to advertise and offer their services online through company websites and social media which – combined with liveried vehicles and workwear with a company logo – can give the impression of legitimacy.

Gary Glasgow of Aberdeenshire Council’s Trading Standards, said: “There are a number of key objectives in this year’s campaign – most notably the need to reduce the number of victims related to doorstep crime activities and raise awareness of the issues surrounding doorstep crime and the organisations which are able to help.

“By interacting with those vulnerable groups most affected by doorstep crime, and revisiting previous victims either virtually or over the phone, we can ensure appropriate crime prevention advice is given.

“Aberdeenshire Council Trading Standards will be operating a rapid response team of officers which will aim to attend incidents where it is believed rogue traders are targeting residents and are still at the property, in the area or likely to return. This enables them to disrupt the activities of the criminals and deter criminals by sending out a clear message that they are ready to act to protect residents.”

The campaign is encouraging residents to report doorstep crime to Police Scotland and the relevant partner agencies.

Only by doing that will it enable them to thoroughly investigate all instances of doorstep crime and consider using enforcement activities in partnership with other agencies to target offenders.

For more advice on how to protect yourself form doorstep scammers and bogus tradesmen, visit: https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/business/trading-standards/scams/#doorstepsell

and

https://www.scotland.police.uk/advice-and-information/scams-and-frauds/doorstep-crime-and-bogus-callers/

Welcome to the KDP Bulletin.
 
Bank of Scotland Foundation – REACH
The Reach programme is suitable for charities who can demonstrate they address disadvantage or social exclusion therefore, ensuring the funding reaches the most vulnerable people across Scotland, to provide them with opportunity and equality and making positive, sustainable change.
The programme reopens on 3^rd June, with applications closing at 12 noon on 8^th June.
Learn more on the website. 
 
Football for All

Football for All has 2 Recovery Funds open for Grassroots Football. The campaign aims to support grassroots clubs in the recovery from coronavirus pandemic.
Clubs can determine how best to utilise funding to support their own initiatives.
Round one closes on 28th May, and up to £1,000 is available.
Learn more here. 
 
Climate Change Survey – Voluntary Sector
SCVO is embarking on a new project to support Scotland’s voluntary sector organisations to positively contribute to Scotland’s plan to reduce its carbon output by 2045.
To kick off this project, they are gathering information on how the sector is currently doing in this area.  They want to know whether you already have environmental policies and to what extent your organisation considers environmental sustainability to be part of its remit. 
Have your say before 28 May 2021
 
First 1,000 Days Small Grants
First 1,000 Days Small Grants offer £5,000 to £7,500 per year for community-based groups providing support to children aged 0-2 in Scotland, during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life.
For more information visit the website.
 
New Initiative for Charitable Food Providers
Tatties Tae Tables is a volunteer initiative that receives donations of bulk potatoes (and sometimes other vegetables) from local Scottish producers, sorting, bagging, and then delivering them free of charge to charitable food providers.
To arrange a delivery, or for further information, please visit the Tatties Tae Tables Facebook page.
 
AVA Children & Families Forum
AVA’s Development Officer, Sandra McGuigan will be hosting an online Children & Families forum on 25^th May.
This forum is open to any Third Sector organisations delivering services or with an interest in children, young people, and families in Aberdeenshire. The forum will include:

• Overview of Trauma Informed Practice: A Toolkit for Scotland
• Children & Families Network: Building a positive place to gather views and represent the Third Sector
• Bringing mindfulness and self-care into our own day
• and more to be confirmed

 Register for the forum here. 

Survey on role of Volunteering and the Third Sector in the response to Covid – 19 
The purpose of this survey is to understand more about the volunteer response from the perspectives of:

• Local and national organisations working directly with volunteers.
• Third Sector Interfaces, Local Authorities, Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs) and other ‘infrastructure’ organisations that have supported the volunteer response across an area or sector.

Your contribution to this research will aid understanding of the current situation for volunteering, and to identify and respond to emerging needs as we move into the next phase of the pandemic and recovery in Scotland.
The survey data will also be used to support the UK-wide Mobilising UK Voluntary Action research project, led by Northumbria University, which is investigating the role of volunteering in the pandemic response.  
Survey results will be published in summer 2021.
To access the survey please click here.  It will take around 30 minutes to complete. The closing date for the survey is 23 May 2021.
 
Skills for Work portal
Young people and job seekers in communities across Scotland will be able to access free training to support work skills and career prospects through the new Skills for Work portal, which has been developed by The Open University in partnership with SCVO and all 32 Scottish local authorities. 
Over 30 courses on the portal offer workplace skills including employability, leadership, communication, and digital skills. The courses, which range from two hours to 24 hours of training, also include skills for life such as managing money and specific modules for those interested in working in the voluntary sector.
​​​​To find out more click here. 

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.