Aberdeenshire Community Resilience Strategy

A new grant fund has been created for Third sector, voluntary, SCIO, community groups, faith groups; to support projects that improve the preparedness and resilience of its community to an emergency, severe weather event or prolonged power outage. Details of the fund are available here https://engage.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/19576/widgets/151914/documents/106729 and https://engage.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/19576/widgets/151914/documents/106728

Any queries to aimi.blueman@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

The closure date for the first tranche of this fund is 31st July

Community Resilience Groups can opt for one or more of the engagement and training events designed to support them. These are a mix of online and in person events with some being tailored to specific group needs. Hope to see you at one of them! https://engage.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/19576/widgets/83455/documents/106725

A Flooding safety advice document has been created by WSS members such as RoSPA, SEPA, the Scottish Flood Forum, and SFRS. This document ensures that we have the most up to date advice that reflects Scotland's national context and risk environment. Flooding | Water Safety Scotland, guidelines and tips

The MET office has released its 2026 prospectus for online training for Community Resilience groups which you can access here https://engage.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/19576/widgets/63091/documents/101113 These courses are worthwhile attending and includes understanding weather patterns and interpreting weather warnings.

The MET office has just released its 2025 prospectus of online training courses for Community Resilience Groups. These are really useful and informative sessions and include how the MET office warns and informs and how to interpret weather warnings. They are free of charge and last around 1.5 hours. MET Office Online CR Training Prospectus

Community Resilience Conference 2024

Thursday 3rd October 9.30-3.30

Holiday Inn, Westhill

The link to sign up this year’s Community Resilience Conference is here https://forms.office.com/e/Gn906P9Ry6

This year we will have a range of speakers in the morning including presentations from the Police, Met Office and SEPA, and presentations on communications, first aid and insurance.

In the afternoon we will have a Tabletop Exercise on a National Power Outage for Community Resilience Groups. There is information in the National Risk Register relating to UK wide power outage 2023_NATIONAL_RISK_REGISTER_NRR.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)

We look forward to welcoming you on the 3rd October.

Starting on Monday, September 2, we will be releasing weekly communications on social media suggesting ways in which individuals, families and households can improve their resilience.

We will be signposting to resources which will enable people to prepare for emergencies in simple and cost-effective ways and would encourage sharing and reposting where you are able.

In line with the UK government Prepare - Prepare and Scottish Government Advice for emergencies in Scotland (ready.scot) messaging we will encourage preparedness and individual resilience for up to 72 hours wherever possible.

You will find our content on the council’s Facebook and X profiles, as well as internally on Viva Arcadia and Viva Engage. Please feel free to share the content to your own channels.

SSEN have released details of their Powering Communities to Net Zero Fund, more information can be found at the links below. The Fund will be open until 31st August 2024.

https://www.ssen.co.uk/news-views/2024/SSEN-opens-applications-for-new-3m-community-fund/

https://www.ssen.co.uk/about-ssen/our-communities/powering-communities-to-net-zero-fund/

The Aberdeenshire Community Resilience Framework has now been published and is available here Ready communities - Aberdeenshire Council

Alongside the framework document a series of advice notes and templates have been produced to provide the operational or technical detail for community resilience groups.

Aberdeenshire in common with many communities across the country has faced several significant crisis events over the last decade where our collective response has been challenged; Storms Desmond and Frank in late 2015 and early 2016, our response to significant global events such as COVID-19, the tragic train derailment in August 2020 and recent winter storms and disruptive weather events.

All of these events have the potential to impact on a community in both the long and short term. While each event is different, they all share common factors and can happen with or without warning. Emergency services and the council can be stretched with competing demands for resources; a willingness by many people, be they volunteers or responders, to step forward to help is vital.

The Aberdeenshire Community Resilience Framework is a positioning document outlining the roles and responsibilities of the Emergency Services, Aberdeenshire Council and Utility Services; and establishing how Community Resilience Groups can contribute safely and effectively to an emergency.

We aim to promote resilience through the Four C's of increasing capability and capacity and encouraging connectedness and co-operation between groups.

We also recognise that one size doesn't fit all and there is no ‘right’ way for a community resilience group to operate. Our principal role in the council is to remove obstacles to effective community resilience and signpost groups to opportunities.

The UK Government have just released their Prepare campaign. Visit Prepare - Prepare for their information on preparing for emergencies, being informed about hazards and getting involved in your community.