Marr Local Learning Community

Marr Local Learning Community Partnership

#2 Navigating red tape with Bill Slee

Thursday 25 September, 1 pm to 1.45pm

Bring your lunch for a series of online talks focused on developing skills and overcoming common challenges experienced by community groups, established and emerging. Learn and connect with other groups and be inspired by examples of great community work – as well as learning from what hasn’t gone so well!

The talks are being organised by the Marr Local Learning Community Partnership (LLCP) and are planned to take place monthly. They will cover a range of topics that groups often find challenging in achieving what they want to do, from recruiting volunteers to dealing with red tape, dealing with conflict to making decisions as a group. Each time we will hear from a local community group or worker who has experience of that particular challenge.

For the second talk, we are glad to welcome Bill Slee from Alford. Bill will lead a session on navigating red tape in community work called A worm’s eye view, leading us through the process of establishing Alford and District Men’s Shed Greenspace, including Alford Community Orchard and allotments.

Bill Slee is a social scientist with over 40 years of experience teaching and researching rural land use and development. He has worked on social innovation, community energy, forestry, economic diversification of rural areas and policy evaluation, and chairs the Community Asset Transfer panel for Forest and Land Scotland which advises on transfer of forests to local community groups.

Each session will be facilitated by a member of the Marr LLCP who can signpost people to further support and information as required. These events are free and everyone is welcome.

Further information:

Register to join this talk by visiting this link.

The group organising these talks is made up of representatives from Aberdeenshire Council, NHS Grampian, Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action and Deveron Projects.

If you have questions related to this event, please email ed.garrett2@aberdeenshire.gov.uk / phone: 07342 057699.

Accessibility:

• This talk takes place online using Microsoft Teams. Automated captioning is available.

• There is no requirement to have your camera on.

• Questions can be asked in person or via the chat function.

Calling on young colleagues (up to 25 years), your views being sought!

Scottish Youth Parliament sitting is in 10 days time. The Youth and Communities Team are supporting Aberdeenshire MSYPs to get out and about gathering the views of local young people 12-25 years. You can help our MSYPs more widely represent Aberdeenshire by taking 10 minutes to share your views on motions they will be debating - see link https://engage.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/aberdeenshire-msyps and QR Code below. You can also follow MSYPs on their own Facebook page - (20+) Facebook

All colleagues please feel free to share with other young people (12-25) across Aberdeenshire. For more information get in touch with roisin.daly@aberdeenshire.gov.uk Thank you Roisin Daly, Senior CLDW, Youth and Communities Team

Year 2 CLD Partnership Plan 2024-2027: Engagement on themes

The Aberdeenshire Community Learning Partnership (ALCP) are currently engaging on the second year of the CLD Partnership Plan for Aberdeenshire 2024-27.

By completing the following questions, you will be supporting us to create a more informed CLD Partnership Plan for Aberdeenshire.

Click here for link to survey

https://engage.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/aberdeenshire-community-learning-and-development-partnershipplan/surveys/year-2-cld-plan-2024-2027-engagement-on-themes

The ALCP met with Local Learning Community Partnerships (LLCPs) in June 2025 to gather local intelligence and data. These considerations along with the consultation responses will provide the reassurance to continue with a priority focus into year 2 of the CLD Partnership Plan.

Theme 1: Community Empowerment Empowering people, individually and collectively, to make positive changes in their lives and in their communities, through learning.

Theme 2: Employment and Skills Mapping the community learning offer across Aberdeenshire ensuring progression and pathways are available to young people, adults and communities. This will develop clear progression access routes for learners to build the necessary skills and qualifications to progress in learning, training, employment and life.

We now ask you to consider if these themes are the right priorities, or not, and why. We also invite you to comment if any other priorities should be included now, or in the future CLD Plan for Aberdeenshire 2024-27.

A summary of this engagement will be posted here 2-3 weeks after the closing date.

The CLD Partnership Plan will be submitted to Aberdeenshire Community Planning Partnership Committee for approval in early-November and will be posted on this site thereafter.

This survey will close on Monday the 15th of September 2025

Free Family Learning Sessions at the Linden Centre in Huntly for primary school aged children. Booking essential and all children must be accompanied by an adult.

• Tuesday 15th July Arts and Crafts 10 am to 12 noon
• Thursday 17th July Scavenger Hunt 2 pm to 4 pm
• Tuesday 22nd July Circus Skills 10 am to 12 noon
• Thursday 24th July Learning Together 2 pm to 4 pm

To book a place please contact: Carol Ann Taylor, email carolann.taylor @aberdeenshire.gov.uk, Tel 07721 355403

The PDA in Youth Work has been designed for those working with young people in a Youth Work context. It is suitable for people who have experience of youth work in a paid or volunteering capacity but who might not have formal qualifications in youth work.

The PDA in Youth Work offers a nationally recognised, SQA accredited qualification at SCQF Level 6.

PDA in Youth Work: to register interest

PDA in Youth Work Eventbrite Link

Ready for Youth Work: eLearning

Ready for Youth Work Eventbrite Link

If you would like more information please contact douglas.findlay@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

The Aberdeenshire Local Action Group’s Rural Communities Challenge Fund 2025-26 has been launched and is now live and open for applications.

The programme delivers funding from the Scottish Government’s Rural Community Led Local Development programme.

Grants are being invited from community groups, charities and cooperatives throughout Aberdeenshire (excluding the Cairngorms area) and can fund specific activities aimed at benefitting rural communities in the region.   

Applications will be assessed and approved by the Aberdeenshire Local Action Group (LAG), a cross-sector partnership which represents rural communities throughout Aberdeenshire.

Grants will be targeted towards capital expenditure which can be delivered before 28th February 2026 and supports one or more of the following priorities:

1) An inclusive and connected Aberdeenshire – Enabling better connections within and across rural Aberdeenshire Communities. 

2) Accountable and Fair Aberdeenshire – Ensuring no one community is left behind or exposed to the devastating effects of inequality and poverty. 

3) Sustainability of Places and Planet - Achieving a just transition to net zero through reducing emissions and regenerating the local environment.

Grants of between £10,000 and £49,999 will be available for Capital Projects, and Grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 for Revenue Projects. A minimum 10% match funding contribution to projects by applicants is desirable but not essential.

The deadline for submission of applications is Sunday 17th August 2025 and potential applicants can access the application forms and guidance on the following webpage: Rural Communities Challenge Fund - Aberdeenshire Council.

Applicants are also encouraged to contact us for more information and support at externalfunding@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

Ongoing newsfeed from partners about events, activities, funding and strategic developments

Marr Area Partnership bulletin: These short, up-to-date, weekly Bulletins aim to provide organisations, communities and individuals with useful information on a wide range of topics relevant to community support and development. See Bulletins | Mysite (marrareapartnership.org.uk)

New Aberdeenshire Council Plan: The Council has a new plan for 2024-29 with a focus on sustainable economy, connected communities and living well locally. See Plan 2024 – 2029 - Aberdeenshire Council

Some resources for community groups:

• Aberdeen City community empowerment toolkit

https://communityplanningaberdeen.org.uk/community-toolkit/community-empowerment-toolkit/

• Scottish Community Development Centre capacity building toolkit

https://scdc.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4f5385f196c9c37fbbd6edbef&id=b4890290cb&e=bc31f42ad8

New Aberdeenshire CLD Partnership Plan

Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray

The Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray is a 10-year programme of support to accelerate the transition to net zero in the region. We are pleased to confirm that we will be launching a new open bidding round worth up to £8.5 million in to the Fund for the 25 / 26 financial year.

This additional capital will build on the £75 million we have allocated through the Fund since 2022, creating jobs, supporting innovation and helping to secure the highly skilled workforce of the future. More information about the first round of projects supported through the Fund can be found here.

2025 / 2026 Funding Call

The funding call will open on the Just Transition Fund page on the Scottish Government website on 6th May for six weeks closing on 17th June. Applicants will be asked to submit an application form in support of their bid and accompanying guidance will be provided on the website. We are inviting bids carrying a minimum value of £500,000 and a max value of £5 million for projects to be completed by 31^st March 2026.

For this second open bidding round into the Fund, we will focus on projects that support jobs, skills and economic opportunities, addressing immediate priorities facing the region. This reflects our mission to ensure the Fund is responsive to identified needs and continues to maximise the impact of our investment to deliver benefits for businesses, workers and communities as we transition to a net zero future.

Information and Support

The Fund team will hold a series of online information sessions for prospective applicants to attend on the following dates:

• Wednesday 21st May 14:00-15:00
• Thursday 29th May 11:00-12:00
• Monday 9th June 14:00- 15:00

If you would like an invitation to one of these sessions or have any queries regarding the funding call, please get in touch with the team at: justtransitionfund@gov.scot