News
Links to other sections on this page:
Tourism Development Manager Post / Round 5 Projects Approved / Employment of Environmental Education Officer for Buchan Countryside Group / Launch of All-Abilities Path, Alastrean Woods, Tarland / Launch of Turra Coo Sculpture Project / Employment of Project Officer North East - Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels / LEADER Community Seminars / Employment of Manager for Portsoy Salmon Bothy / Employment of FEI Development Officer / Round 1 and 1A Projects Approved / Launch of LEADER Programme
September 2009: LEADER Funding Contributes to New Tourism Development Manager's Post for a Tourism Programme in Banffshire
The Banffshire Coast Tourism Partnership is seeking to recruit a Tourism Development Manager to deliver a series of initiatives in the Banffshire Coast area over a 3-year programme.
For further details on how to apply, please click on the link below:
September 2009: Banffshire Groups to Benefit from Rural Aberdeenshire LEADER Programme
More than £315,000 has been provided to nine Aberdeenshire projects ranging from tourism initiatives for the north coast, community hall developments and building restoration works.
The projects all received funding as part of Rural Aberdeenshire’s LEADER programme, which has approved 54 projects in its first year, with a total of £1.6 million awarded towards total project costs of £6.5 million.
Latest funding round press release can be accessed here.
July 2009 - LEADER Funding Contributes to Employment of an Environmental Education Officer for the Buchan Countryside Group
Buchan Countryside Group is seeking to recruit an Environmental Education Officer to deliver an environmental education service to local communities and schools throughout Aberdeenshire, to promote and encourage community engagement with the natural and cultural heritage and to create a website/on-line resource. This new full-time post is jointly funded by Rural Aberdeenshire LEADER Programme and Scottish Natural Heritage.
Ellen Firmin, Treasurer of The Buchan Countryside Group commented:
“We are absolutely delighted to receive LEADER funding. We are very excited about starting on our new project which we feel will be of real use to residents and visitors to the North East. We can now begin mapping out the format for our project in some detail before tapping into our network of contacts for their input".
For further details of the Environmental Education Officer Post, please click on the links below:
Job Advert / Job Description / Application Form
May 2009 - Launch of All-Abilities Path, Alastrean Woods, Tarland
A new all-abilities path, costing almost £50,000, has been opened at Alastrean Woods, Tarland. Anne Begg MP joined members of the Deeside Access Panel to formally open the new path.
Cairngorms Outdoor Access Trust (COAT) has project managed path restoration works at Alastrean Woods, Tarland. The new all-abilities path is suitable for wheelchair users, the less-abled and people with pushchairs. The scenic path among the pine and birch woods will enable users to see wildlife and the vista around Tarland towards the Deeside hills.
Opening the path, MP Anne Begg said: "With such beautiful countryside in the Nort-east of Scotland, I think it is fantastic that projects such as the path at Tarland are helping to open up our wonderful outdoor spaces to those with limited mobility."
The £48,000 path received LEADER funding through Rural Aberdeenshire Local Action Group, as well as Scottish Natural Heritage, and has already proved very popular with the Tarland community.
Ewen Cameron, Operational Manager, Scottish Natural Heritage, attended the opening of the path as LAG representative for the LEADER Programme and commented: "Projects such as this funded through LEADER and Scottish Natural Heritage demonstrate the positive outcome of agencies and organisations working in collaboration to deliver projects for community benefit."
Dougie Baird, trust manager for COAT, said: "The path has been an excellent example of partnership working with COAT delivering the project on behalf of The MacRobert Trust; Tarland Development Group and Cromar Community Council. The support and contributions from all involved has enabled the project to happen."
Back to Top
April 2009 - Launch of Turra Coo Sculpture Project
Turriff Tourism Action Group (TTAG) has now raised the £84,000 funding required to embark upon the creation of the Turra Coo Sculpture for the centre of Turriff.
The project will be officially launched at the TTAG AGM due to be held at Fyvie Castle on 21st April at 7 15 pm. The artists will also be in Turriff on 21st April where there will be a photo opportunity at the proposed site for the sculpture (junction of High Street and Main Street) at 11.30 am.
The project has been fortunate in attracting financial support from the Rural Aberdeenshire LEADER Programme, Aberdeenshire Council and The McRobert Trust, the Mary Salmond Trust and Turriff & District Ltd in addition to many other sources including business, private and personal donations.
Photographs Courtesy of Turriff Tourism Action Group
The 3 appointed artists, David Blyth, MA, Ginny Hutchison MA RCA, and Charles Engebretsen BA are now embarking upon the Education program to develop visuals for the Public Art Work.
Left to Right: Ginny Hutchison, Charles Engbretsen, David Blyth
The artists will initiate a series of arts-led public events and a comprehensive arts-based education programme to raise awareness and understanding of the project and embrace public ownership of the sculpture. It presents an excellent opportunity for inviting the local rural community to engage with contemporary arts through the celebration of local heritage.
April 2009 – LEADER Funding Contributes to Employment of a Project Officer North East - Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels
Scottish Wildlife Trust is seeking to recruit a Project Officer North East to oversee a major project to help conserve Scotland's Red Squirrel population.
© Darin Smith
In partnership with Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage and Scottish Rural Property Business Association, SWT are undertaking a comprehensive three year National Red Squirrel Action Plan. Aberdeenshire is a key area for the Red Squirrel and the project relates to habitat improvement and working with communities to increase conservation awareness of this iconic species.
For further details regarding the Project Officer post, please click on the link below:
Project Officer North East - Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels
February 2009 - Rural Aberdeenshire LEADER Programme Community Seminars
Community Seminars promoting the Rural Aberdeenshire LEADER Programme were held in Johnshaven on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 and Auchenblae on Friday, 6 March 2009. Both events were well attended and proved successful in generating interest and stimulating ideas for rural community projects in the two locations.
At the seminars attendees listened to presentations on LEADER and Scotland Rural Development Programme funding, plus Rural Direct support services available to community groups. This was followed by case study presentations provided by participants in the Rural Aberdeenshire LEADER Programme: the Udny Community Wind Turbine Group and the Rothienorman Community Bowling Club at Johnshaven and Deveron Arts and Banchory & District Initiative Ltd at Auchenblae.
To view the Power Point Presentations which were shown at the above events please click on the links below:
Rural Aberdeenshire LEADER Power Point / Udny Community Wind Turbine Group Power Point / Rothienorman Community Bowling Club Power Point / Deveron Arts Power Point / Banchory & District Initiative Ltd Power Point
Commenting on the Johnshaven event, Provost Bill Howatson said:
“I have found this event most worthwhile and informative and I hope that community groups and organisations in Aberdeenshire take advantage of the opportunities now available to them through LEADER funding.”
Photograph Courtesy of the Courier, Dundee
Left to right: Provost Bill Howatson; James Knowles, LAG Chairman; Vicky Thomson, LEADER Co-ordinator; Barbara Love, SCVO Rural Direct; John Reid, SRDP Scottish Government; Brian McDougall, Udny Community Wind Turbine Group; Garth Entwistle, Udny Community Wind Turbine Group; Ian Lonsdale, Rothienorman Community Bowling Club
Following the Auchenblae event, Maureen Watt MSP commented:
"I was delighted to attend the event to hear about the LEADER Programme. It is encouraging to hear how rural community groups across Aberdeenshire have really benefited from LEADER funding."
In summing up, James Knowles, LAG Chairman, agreed saying:
"We have come a long way with the Rural Aberdeenshire LEADER Programme since its launch in June 2008. We now have more than 20 projects approved, with LEADER funding of over £575,000 committed.
"It has been excellent to hear directly from participants in the programme how their projects were developed and how their respective communities will benefit from LEADER once the projects are fully implemented."
February 2009 – LEADER Funding Contributes to Employment of Manager for Portsoy Salmon Bothy
The Scottish Traditional Boat Festival is seeking to recruit a Manager for the recently restored Salmon Bothy in Portsoy. Duties in this exciting new post will involve marketing and running the facility both as a visitor attraction which will focus on the cultural heritage of local fishing communities and a local community asset which will provide meeting space and for local user groups. The new full-time post has been part-funded by the Rural Aberdeenshire LEADER Programme 2007-2013. The LEADER funding is the catalyst which will help to develop the Salmon Bothy as a strategic visitor centre on the Banff Coast, while enabling the community enterprise to get on a sustainable footing.
Robin Maddock, Director of the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival commented:
“Securing LEADER funding has allowed us to professionally promote and market the Salmon Bothy’s facilities and optimise the use of this wonderful building which will bring additional tourist revenue to Portsoy and the surrounding area”
For further details regarding the Manager’s post, please click on the link below:
Portsoy Salmon Bothy Manager's Post
December 2008 - LEADER Contributes to Employment of FEI Development Officer
Forestry Commission Scotland, through the Forest Education Initiative (FEI), are recruiting a full-time Woodland Education Development Officer. This post has been part funded by Rural Aberdeenshire LEADER.
Photograph Courtesy of Forestry Commission Scotland - Grampian Conservancy
Dan Cadle, Woodland Officer for the Forestry Commission and FEI Chairman said:
"This post would not have been possible without support from LEADER and our other partners. The post will really help us to further the message that trees and woodlands are great tools for schools and communities to use as a learning resource, particularly as the curriculum changes to give the scope for more opportunities for hands on learning".
For further details, please click on the link below:
Woodland Education Development Officer
October 2008 - Round 1 and 1A Projects Approved
Having launched the LEADER programme in Rural Aberdeenshire at the end of June, the Local Action Group met recently to consider the first round of applications.
Commenting on progress to date, LAG Chairman, James Knowles, said:
“It is clear there has been strong interest in LEADER from rural groups throughout Aberdeenshire and it is particularly pleasing to see such a good range of well prepared applications forward in Round 1.
“The applications also demonstrate a good mix of public/private partnership in the projects as well as demonstrable support towards the projects from a wide range of match funders.”
A total of eight applications have been approved with LEADER funding of £167,219 towards total project costs of £949,587.
One of the first projects to be approved in Rural Aberdeenshire is an innovative project from BIRSE Community Trust. LEADER funding of £20,800 will contribute towards the purchase and management of Balfour Woods in South Deeside. The Trust developed the proposal and was successful in gaining approval through the National Forest Land Scheme to purchase Balfour Woods from the Forestry Commission.
Timber from the woods will be used in an exciting biomass heating project which will serve the community buildings and local Finzean Primary School. This community regeneration project will contribute to the social and economic sustainability of the BIRSE Community which have fully supported the proposals for the woodland management and biomass project.
On the east coast of Aberdeenshire, Collieston and Slains Community Trust (CASCT) has been awarded LEADER funds of £43,145 to undertake full business proposal and feasibility for a significant development of a new community centre. CASCT has fully researched their proposals through undertaking detailed community consultation in the preliminary stages.
The LEADER project will help CASCT to progress towards a Big Lottery application while enabling the group to identify development costs and the running of the Centre thus further validating CASCT’s Business Plan. Other contributors to the LEADER Project include Big Lottery Investing in Ideas Fund and the Aberdeenshire Community Asset Fund.
Other projects approved in Round 1 and Round 1A in Rural Aberdeenshire include:
- a Forest Environment Education Initiative which will target young people and the under-employed,
- a Lifeskills, Health and Wellbeing Community Project which will assist young people to adopt a proactive approach to self-development during their education years,
- development of a community asset through revitalising a small north-east fishing harbour to become a haven for small craft servicing local needs,
- further development of an Environmental Tourism Project which has not only been a very popular visitor centre in Aberdeenshire, but is also a valuable educational asset for environmental awareness.
- a community tourism marketing project in the Banffshire Coastal area, and
- a community photographic competition which will develop into an innovative micro-business through sales of prints etc.
There is currently strong interest to develop applications for Round 2 which will be assessed before the end of the calendar year.
June 2008 - Launch of LEADER Programme
The launch of the Rural Aberdeenshire Local Action Group (LAG) LEADER Programme took place at Lochter Activity Centre near Oldmeldrum on Friday, 27 June 2008.
LEADER is an innovative rural development programme which aims to improve the quality of life and economic prosperity in Aberdeenshire.
The programme was made possible due to the securing of £3.24 million from the European LEADER fund.
LEADER is an integral element within the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-2013. It is funded by the Scottish Government and European Commission, with matched funding from public bodies and the project groups.
In Aberdeenshire, LEADER will be delivered by the Rural Aberdeenshire LAG to rural areas and communities with populations of less than 5,000. The funds are aimed at stimulating the rural economy and building capacity in communities and business networks.
The Launch featured presentations from Aberdeenshire Council's Infrastructure Service Committee Chairman, Peter Argyle and the Council's Head of Economic Development and LAG Chairman, James Knowles.
Councillor Peter Argyle and James Knowles
James Knowles welcomed more than thirty invited guests and members of the Rural Aberdeenshire LAG to the Launch of the LEADER Programme, saying:
“The LAG has to be complimented for successfully launching the LEADER programme in Rural Aberdeenshire. The strength of partnership approach developed by the LAG clearly demonstrates the support towards delivering LEADER throughout our rural communities.”
The welcome address was given by Councillor Peter Argyle who said: “Development of rural communities is core to the Council’s Strategic Priorities which have been developed around the five Community Planning themes of Community Wellbeing, Jobs and the Economy, Lifelong Learning, Sustainable Environment and Developing our Partnerships.
“The Council has adopted a proactive stance towards rural communities and industries. The progression of the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, including LEADER, from its earliest proposals to fruition, was keenly observed and discussed through the Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee during the development and consultation process.
“I understand the two main themes the Rural Aberdeenshire LAG’s Strategy will focus on are Revitalising Communities and Progressive Rural Economy. Again, this fits very comfortably with the Council’s Economic Development priorities.
Vicky Thomson, LEADER Co-ordinator
“One of the most appealing aspects of LEADER is it’s capacity to consider new innovative solutions, be it through provision of rural community services, flexible training and development programmes or environmental enhancement. I feel this presents a great opportunity for participants to develop initiatives that are relevant and specific to their community’s needs and aspirations.
“Another area where I view the potential benefit of LEADER is that as many rural businesses are small, often isolated with limited access to other services and customers, there is capacity within LEADER for these businesses to work more closely together through perhaps sharing resources, or developing collaborative actions.
“This leads me to believe that LEADER is very diverse in what it can actually deliver.”
Vicky Thomson, LEADER Co-ordinator, then gave a demonstration of the new LEADER website (www.aberdeenshireleader.org) which went live on the Launch day. The website features guidance on making application for LEADER funding and includes details of application submission dates and application forms.
James Knowles also welcomed Anne MacLennan, recently appointed as LEADER Administrator.
The LEADER office is based at Gordon House, Inverurie. Potential applicants are asked to contact Vicky Thomson, LEADER Co-ordinator, on 01467 628383 or e-mail vicky.thomson@aberdeenshire.gov.uk, before they consider making application.
From left to right: LEADER Administrator, Anne MacLennan,
Aberdeenshire Council’s Assistant Accountant, Liz Gordon and
Scottish Women’s Rural Institute Vice-Chair, Moira Gordon
