SensationALL, Westhill’s dynamic multiple support needs charity, have set out their ideas on how they could utilise the Old Schoolhouse in an inclusive, sustainable way. I popped in to see the group last week when they held a very successful public consultation day.
Full details about the project can be found here.
Improvements to Westhill Academy and Westhill Swimming Pool – following on from last month’s area committee, new windows for the academy and replacement of the air conditioning unit at the pool have now been included in the Planned Maintenance 2015-2018, albeit in the latter years of the plan. I know the parent council and school staff have been raising the issue of the condition of the windows for a long time. At the time the draft Planned Maintenance report came to councillors, I queried why Garioch area, including Westhill fared badly in terms of spending compared to other areas in Aberdeenshire and why the windows at Westhill Academy were not on the plan along with other schools. The service responded by advising they would replace single glazed windows first but agreed that Westhill could be included, subject to approval of P&R Committee. I am delighted that this was approved. Good news for our swimmers when they finally get their improvements as well!
From 1st April 2015, Aberdeenshire Council’s Service Point is moving from the Westhill Police Station to Westhill Library.
Customers will now be able to access Council services during the following hours:-
Mon – 10.00 – 7.30
Tue – 10.00 – 5.00
Wed – 1.00 – 7.30
Thu – 10.00 – 5.00
Fri – 10.00 – 5.00
Sat – 10.00 – 1.00
Service Points act as a single access centre for face-to-face contact making it easier for residents to access council services. It means the council is able to resolve the majority of enquiries at the first point of contact.
Due to work being carried out to improve drainage, the Brimmond Drive play park in Westhill will not be usable during the winter period. Landscape Services have confirmed that work will start around 18th/19th December 2014 and apologise for any inconvenience.
Please note that due to essential maintenance of the movable floor, Westhill Swimming Pool will be closed on Thursday 8th May 2014 from 0800-1430 hrs.
SensationALL is a fantastic organisation run by a small group of enthusiastic and highly skilled volunteers. SensationALL is a registered charity located at Lawsondale Pavillion, Westhill and indeed started out life in a cleaner’s cupboard! The charity provides a multi-sensory play centre for children and young adults with multiple support needs and their families.
You can find out more about what they do at http://www.sensationall.org.uk/
The volunteers want to grow the group to meet the needs of the community and although they are big on ideas, they are in need of funding. SensationALL have applied for a community award from Engage Mutual Assurance. Customers and members of the public can vote for their favourite project. Make SensationALL your favourite – you can register to vote here:
https://www.engagemutual.com/foundation/login-logout/
Let’s help them win an award of £25,000 and see more of their dreams come true! Closing date is 31/05/14.
Westhill Men’s Shed has won the Achieving Better Outcomes Gold Award at the Cosla Excellence Awards held at St Andrew’s Fairmont Hotel.
The award is given to projects and organisations that demonstrated creative approaches to partnership working and integration in their local area. The men’s shed has attracted over 3,000 visitors since it opened in February last year and there are now plans to open more across Aberdeenshire.
Aberdeenshire Deputy Provost Norman Smith who was at the awards ceremony said: “I would like to congratulate all those at the shed on winning this well deserved award as well as those at the council and in the community who helped in establishing the shed. It has changed the lives of the people who attend there.
“Hopefully in a few years men’s sheds will be common place not just in Aberdeenshire but throughout Scotland.”
Some of the projects that have been taken on by people at the shed, include the restoration of a standalone engine and water pump, a ‘friendship bench’ being constructed for a local primary school, and a set of raised flowerbeds for a retired local gardener.
The men who use the shed have also carried out a variety of personal projects, from boating chairs to camping boxes.
Chair of Social Work and Housing committee, Cllr Karen Clark said: “The men’s shed is the type of community project we are keen to promote. It allows retired people to use the skills they have gained to help others and it enables people to remain active in to later life.
“Aberdeenshire Change Fund has agreed to fund a post that will aim to build on the achievements of Westhill Men’s Shed and to help other communities to establish a similar project near them. Plans are currently in place for sheds in six communities across Aberdeenshire with hopefully more to come.”
Members of the Westhill Men’s Shed Board have been travelling to other parts of Scotland to help people set up sheds in their area. With the help of Age Scotland there are now more than 30 sheds planned throughout Scotland.
Chairman of Westhill & District Men’s Shed, Marty Kehoe, said: “The Men’s Shed has been well received in Westhill by offering many opportunities for local men to get together, work on projects, share ideas and have a satisfying and enjoyable time.
“Although our shed is the first in Scotland, visits from staff from voluntary agencies around the country have been impressed with our set up, have recognised the benefits for health and well-being that this kind of facility brings to its members and are looking to set up sheds in their own communities.”
Men coming to the shed do not require any prior training or expertise. Whilst the shed does have men with a lifetime of craft, engineering, and teaching experience, there are also amateur DIY enthusiasts and men who have worked in non-manual jobs.
Councillor Ron McKail who helped in getting the Men’s Shed up and running said: “The success of the Men’s Shed has shown just how much the local community needed this type of project. The community has benefited from the work the men are doing and it has improved the health and wellbeing of men in the area at the same time.”
The COSLA Excellence Awards celebrate the very best in Scottish local government. Their emphasis is on rewarding the most innovative and passionate developments, and on recognising projects that are changing lives. The 18 finalists will meet at the 2014 awards ceremony next Thursday 13th March. Westhill Men’s Shed is shortlisted under the “Achieving Better Outcomes” category going head-to-head with Glasgow City Council and Angus Council projects.
Men’s Sheds grew from the idea that men like spending time tinkering, repairing, and making things while socialising with others who have similar interests. Many too are interested in working on projects that will aid the community and be of use to other people. The Men shed idea started in Australia and has flourished there but the Westhill group started the first Men’s Shed in Scotland.
To find out more about the Westhill Men’s Shed click on the link below:
Scottish Liberal Democrat MEP George Lyon is calling for changes to EU tax rules which could make mountain and lowland rescue teams exempt from VAT.
Mr Lyon met with EU tax commissioner, Algirdas Semeta earlier to discuss changing the law in a move that would allow member states to axe VAT payments on essential equipment.
Mr Lyon, who is working with Chris Davies, MEP, has launched an online petition through his website that allows people who support an exemption to add their names to a joint consultation submission which will be passed to the EU Commission.
He said “In 2011 alone almost 600 incidents were responded to by Scottish mountain rescue teams and these numbers seem to be increasing every year.
“These are volunteers who regularly put their lives on the line to help keep people safe. They deserve our full support.
“At present, EU rules allow sea rescue teams to benefit from VAT exemption. I think it is only right that mountain and lowland rescue teams get the same help. The EU tax commissioner has said that he is willing to listen to the arguments we are making on this issue.”
Sign George’s petition here:
http://www.georgelyon.org.uk/vat_exemption_for_mountain_and_lowland_rescue_teams
The Westhill and District Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) has been awarded £82,722 from the Big Lottery Fund’s Support and Connect programme to pay for an outreach support worker for a period of 20 months.
The development will allow home visits for people who cannot access existing services as well as other initiatves, including advice sessions in locations such as Ballater, Braemar and Tarland.
Westhill and District CAB covers an area of 1,200 square miles and already runs outreach services in Aboyne, Alford and Banchory.
Manager Eveline Crossan said “We are trying to make sure that people have access to the service before it reaches crisis point – for example being pursued for insurmountable debt.
“We’ve had to turn down some clients in the past – not very many – because we didn’t have the resources to be able to get the service to them, which we’ll be able to do now”.
The Support and Connect programme provides funding for organisations offering welfare advice, financial skills, training and services, as well as action to address food and fuel poverty and provide clothing and household goods.