Deeside Archives - Page 2 of 3

Ballater Hangs Out The Bunting For Royal Celebrations

Jun 022016

With thanks to Esther Green, Senior Account Executive, Tricker PR.

A band of volunteers from the village of Ballater have organised a Royal knees up in the form of the ‘Happy Birthday Ma’am’ street party to celebrate the monarch’s milestone birthday on Saturday, June 11.

Being located in the heart of Royal Deeside, organisers will use the Queen’s 90th birthday to continue to build up the community spirit which has been evident in the village since it was affected by flooding last December.

Balmoral Castle remains a favourite summer retreat for the Royal Family, and Ballater is often referred to as the ‘Royal Warrant Town’, due to the large number of businesses that hold the prestigious mark of recognition to those who supply goods or services to the Households of HM The Queen, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh or HRH The Prince of Wales.

Many of these businesses have already reopened or are on track to reopen in the summer, and the ‘Happy Birthday Ma’am’ street party is one in a number of events planned to welcome tourists back to the picturesque village.

Both visitors and residents are invited to join in with the celebrations which will see the whole community come together. The free event takes place from 2-11pm on Saturday 11 June at the Churchyard Green in Ballater and will feature live music, a bouncy castle, old-fashioned games, and family karaoke. Funds raised from donations made on the day will go towards those affected by flooding.

In honour of the momentous occasion, Ballater resident Lorraine Barr is encouraging people to sponsor a tree in what will be known as ‘The Queen’s Ballater Wood’. Lorraine and those involved wish to leave a legacy which will remind others of the spirit of community in Ballater. The wooded area will feature 90 trees of different varieties known to be favourites of Her Majesty The Queen.

Rev David Barr, who is helping to organise the Queen’s birthday street party, says that the event is giving those affected by floods something positive to focus on.

He says,

“All of the volunteers involved in the planning of the street party were affected by the floods in some way. We all really wanted to give something back to the community which allowed everyone to get together and celebrate what a fantastic place Ballater is. Visitors are more than welcome to join in the celebrations with us on the day, we’re all keen to show people how far we’ve come as a village and that Ballater is on its way back to its full glory.

“The Royal family took a great interest in Ballater after the flooding and we received daily encouragement through telephone calls from the palace. It meant a great deal to us all, so the street party is our way of saying thank you to the Queen and also to everyone who reached out to us with messages of support, help and donations.

“The support has been absolutely phenomenal and for that we are forever grateful. From individuals to companies, we wouldn’t be where we are today if it wasn’t for the general public.

“The whole situation has definitely brought us all closer together, we’re such a tight knit community and everyone is helping to spread the word that Ballater is still open for business. It’s such a great place to visit, I’m very much looking forward to celebrating with other residents and visitors from far and wide on June 11.”

Richard Watts of Ballater Business Association says,

“There’s been a real buzz in the village in the run up to the Queen’s birthday street party. Local businesses have been getting involved by donating goods and money towards the event, whilst all the volunteers involved have done a brilliant job at organising the ‘Happy Birthday Ma’am’ street party.

“It’s so inspiring to see how far Ballater has come as a village and as a community. This will be very apparent during the street party and we hope that visitors join us in celebrating in the Queen’s birthday and how far Ballater has come in 2016.”

The ‘Happy Birthday Ma’am’ street party takes place from 2-11pm at the Churchyard Green in Ballater. Those attending are encouraged to bring their own picnic.

For more information about the street party then contact Rev. David Barr on revdavidbarr@btinternet.com. If you would like to know more about how to sponsor a tree in ‘The Queen’s Ballater Wood’ then contact Lorraine Barr on 01339 756111.

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Ballater Strides Forward With Five Star Walking Events

Aberdeenshire, Environment, Featured No Responses »

May 192016

With thanks to Gemma Setter, Account Executive, Tricker PR.

A five star walking programme is one in a long line of events showcasing how Royal Deeside continues to keep moving forward after Storm Frank affected the area in December last year.

Walk About Ballater 2016 takes place from May 23-27 and will offer the chance to explore scenic Ballater and its surrounding landscapes by foot.

A fleet of local volunteers will lead each event, giving visitors access to an abundance of in-depth knowledge about the Ballater area and its history.

Taking place over five days, each of the five events venture deep into the heart of Royal Deeside entirely on foot. With a countryside full of majestic mountains, lush greenery and picturesque lochs, it’s not difficult to see why Queen Victoria fell in love with the area over 150 years ago.

The series of events will allow visitors to explore some of the Royal Family’s favourite locations when they holiday in Scotland. Crathie – where the Royals attend church when in the area -Lochnager – said to be Prince Charles’ favourite mountain – and the famous River Dee will all be seen on the walks outside of Ballater.

Wildlife and nature enthusiasts will also be spoilt for choice during the programme, as the area is widely known for being rich in flora and fauna. Walkers may even catch sight of a pearl-bordered fritillary butterfly, a rare species in Scotland although Deeside remains one of its strongholds.

John Burrows of Walk About Ballater 2016 says that the series of walking events will allow people of all ages and capabilities to experience the area and all of its natural beauty by foot.

He says,

“The village of Ballater is set in such beautiful surroundings and the only way you can truly get a feel for the area is by walking through it. Five walks have been organised, with the first starting on Monday 23rd of May.

“Each day will bring a different location, distance and ascent. The days range from a gentle four hour walk providing fantastic views over the Dee valley, to an 18km trek with a 430m ascend up to the impressive Craig Vallich.

“We’re very proud to be able to offer such a wealth of scenery and walking routes. Those taking part certainly won’t be disappointed, as the whole landscape of Royal Deeside is just spectacular.”

Richard Watts of Ballater Business Association says,

“Walk About Ballater is the perfect way to kick start our summer tourist season, the walks are a reminder of exactly why visitors return to Ballater year after year. The event organisers have been working extremely hard planning the perfect walking routes which will showcase the very best of what this area has to offer.

“It’s wonderful to see locals get involved by volunteering their time to lead walks and provide background information about Ballater to visitors. The community spirit which has been shown throughout this year is proving that the only way is forward for Ballater.”

The programme runs from May 23-27, with the first scheduled walk set to take participants on an 18km (11 mile) circular route starting from Ballater through the Glenmuick estates. This route is expected to take five-and-a-half hours and will pass the old curling ponds, as well as the Royal Bridge.

With the opening of the newly refurbished Ballater Caravan Park on Friday May 13, there’s never been a better time to enjoy a walking break in Royal Deeside. More information is available from www.visitballater.com.

Walkers are welcome and can sign up on the day. For full details of the programme and times, please contact John Burrows at johnburrows1@btinternet.com

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Glen Tanar Estate Welcomes Over 570 Scouts

Aberdeenshire No Responses »

Apr 292016

With thanks to Leanne Carter, Account Manager, Tricker PR.

Glen Tanar Estate on Royal Deeside will welcome over 570 Scouts from all over Scotland during the May Day bank holiday weekend as they pitch their tents for The Highland Adventure Camp.
The four-day event is the largest camp held in Scotland for Scouts, and the estate will be used as the backdrop for activities ranging from rafting to circus skills.

The camp will be set up next to Glen Tanar Visitor Centre from Friday, April 29 through to Monday, May 2 and will involve hundreds of tents being pitched over the weekend to create a mini-village inhabited by Scouts aged 11 to 14, along with adult volunteers.

During the adventure camp, which rotates in location each year from the Highlands to Lowlands and the Islands of Scotland, the youngsters will be encouraged to take part in many different activities, including backwoods cooking, crafts, zorbing, archery, grass sledging and even movie making.

They will also have the opportunity to participate in geocaching – a fast-growing activity which Glen Tanar Estate has helped to pioneer on Royal Deeside – where participants try to find ‘treasure’ in the landscape.

There will also be the opportunity for Scouts to learn about the management of the estate and the wildlife to be found in the countryside near Aboyne, and help the Glen Tanar Charitable Trust Rangers on a special project.

Estate owner Claire Bruce says everyone at Glen Tanar is looking forward to welcoming the youngsters.

She adds,

“We feel incredibly lucky to be able to call Glen Tanar our home, and we are thrilled to be able to share it with such a large group of young people.

“We actively encourage people to get out onto the trails and hills of Glen Tanar and enjoy what it has to offer, and the fact that the Scouts are going to be enjoying such an incredible range of activities while they are here is fantastic. It just goes to underline how many different activities can be undertaken in the glen.

“The camp will take up quite a large area near the Visitor Centre but other than that, there will be no restrictions on visitors and we hope that everyone from walkers and cyclists to horse riders will be in the great outdoors enjoying the glen and its scenery over the May Day bank holiday weekend.”

The camp is organised by Bishopton Scouts and has been running annually since 1989: it is the biggest event of its kind in Scotland.

Colin Dair, the camp chief, adds,

“Not only do the camps give Scouts the chance to meet and camp with other Scouts from all over the country, it is an opportunity to experience a wide range of exciting activities.

“As well as the many volunteers in Scouting who make this event possible, we are very grateful to the Estate for allowing us to camp in the grounds.”

Glen Tanar Estate near Aboyne is set in the heart of Royal Deeside within the Cairngorms National Park and offers a wealth of activities and attractions from fishing and walking to adventuring on estate safaris. Glen Tanar Estate’s grand ballroom is available to hire for functions, including corporate events, weddings and conferences and the estate has a number of self-catering holiday cottages.

For more information visit www.glentanar.co.uk

Pandemonium As Parrots Track Down Deeside Weekend

Aberdeenshire, Articles No Responses »

Mar 032016

With thanks to Ian McLaren, PR account manager, Innes Associates

Parrots descend on Deeside ahead of geocaching weekend

If you go down to the woods on Deeside this weekend you could be in for a big surprise. A pandemonium of parrots has appeared, with the birds taking up residence near some of the valley’s best known attractions.
The arrival of exotic birds is adding a splash of colour to some of the region’s walks before spring starts to bloom.

However, local birdwatchers excited by the arrival of tropical avian visitors to Scottish climes at the tail end of winter will be disappointed. The inflatable parrots are unlikely to take flight.

Perched at locations on Royal Deeside, the parrots will help guide locals and visitors taking part in this weekend’s inaugural Going for Gold pirate-themed geocaching weekend. Organised by local tourism body Visit Royal Deeside, the family-friendly event aims to encourage locals and visitors to explore the area’s scenery and attractions by using the award winning Explore Royal Deeside GeoTour as their guide.

The high-tech treasure hunt stretches along the Dee valley from Drumoak to Braemar and features 20 cache boxes hidden near attractions such as Braemar Castle and The Royal Deeside Railway, and on forest walks. Each cache is tracked down using a series of clues and GPS coordinates that are downloaded onto a mobile phone which has its location settings turned on.

The Going for Gold weekend will feature special traditional treasure hunts, children’s competitions, storytelling and face painting. Experts will also be on hand to provide an introduction to geocaching. Saturday’s events will take place at Deeside Activity Park, while World Horse Welfare’s Belwade Farm is the venue for Sunday’s activities. Events on both days will take place between 10am and 2pm, and fancy dress is optional.

On Friday, The Butterworth Gallery at Ballogie is holding a meet the artist event with hot drinks and home bakes between 3pm and 5pm. The venue is an ideal base from which to hunt caches in near Aboyne. Coinciding with the Going for Gold weekend, many Deeside businesses are running special Mother’s Day events and activities.

Alongside the activities, golden tickets will be hidden in six of the cache boxes, with prizes on offer for the first six people to discover the tickets and register their finds on the Explore Royal Deeside Facebook page.

Supporting the GeoTour is the Deeside passport, which allows geocachers to collect code words and stamps to potentially claim limited edition silver or gold geocoins. Code words can be collected at each of the 20 caches and stamps are available from 27 participating businesses, with one stamp being given for every £10 spent.

To help geocachers complete their passports, for this weekend only, all of the partner businesses are offering two stamps for every £10 spent. Until the end of March, anybody who completes all 40 boxes in their passport will receive a silver geocoin in addition to the gold geocoin.

Moira Gash, Visit Royal Deeside project co-ordinator, said:

“The parrots have certainly received one or two funny looks since they started to pop up. Some of the birds will act as an extra clue for people hunting the caches in what is set to be a fun-filled weekend.

“Going for Gold is designed to inspire locals and visitors to get out and explore Royal Deeside. For those geocachers aiming to claim a gold geocoin, many of the GeoTour’s 27 partner businesses are offering two stamps per £10 spent. This is great incentive to get the Deeside passport filled up.”

Jo Robinson, VisitScotland regional director, said:

“This innovative Royal Deeside-dedicated GeoTour is a great draw for visitors as well as locals, as it’s suitable for all ages. As the only one in Scotland and one of only two in the UK, it fits perfectly into Scotland’s Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design, which will shine a spotlight on the country’s achievements in these fields through a wide ranging variety of new and existing activity to boost tourism in every corner of Scotland.

“Geocaching itself is a hugely popular pastime, with over two million active geocachers and 15 million geocaches worldwide. With more than 1,700 caches in a 30-mile radius of Aboyne, this GeoTour offers huge potential to attract visitors who can then go on to explore the region even further, including the outstanding scenery, wildlife, towns and villages, outdoor activities and quality food and drink.

“Tourism is more than a holiday experience – it creates jobs, sustains communities and provides a shop window for business activity. Without tourism, many remote communities would not be sustainable and business sectors like drinks, retail or construction would be severely impacted.”

It aims to grow tourism in the area for the benefit of locals and ensure visitors have the best possible experience to encourage return visits and recommendations to family and friends. More information is available at www.visitroyaldeeside.com or at www.facebook.com/ExploreRoyalDeeideGeocaching.

Deeside Springs Event To Attract Treasure Hunters

Aberdeenshire, Articles No Responses »

Feb 252016

With thanks to Ian McLaren, PR account manager, Innes Associates

Geocaching at Drum Castle, Aberdeenshire

A family at Drum Castle tracking down a cache on the Explore Royal Deeside GeoTour.

A high-tech, pirate-themed treasure hunting weekend on Royal Deeside next month will herald the start of meteorological spring and illustrate that the area is open for business. Organised by Visit Royal Deeside, the area’s first geocaching weekend will take place from Friday, 04 to Sunday, 06 March and will be based around the award winning Explore Royal Deeside GeoTour.

Titled Going for Gold, the family-friendly event aims to encourage locals and visitors to explore the area’s scenery and attractions by way of the high-tech treasure hunt.

Launched nine months ago, the Explore Royal Deeside GeoTour is Scotland’s only official GeoTour – a modern day version of a traditional treasure hunt. The initiative features 20 cache boxes hidden along the Dee valley that can be tracked down using GPS coordinates and a series of clues downloaded onto a mobile phone.

The Going for Gold weekend will have a pirate theme and feature special traditional treasure hunts, children’s competitions, storytelling and face painting. Saturday’s events will take place at Deeside Activity Park, while World Horse Welfare’s Belwade Farm is the venue for Sunday’s activities. Events on both days will take place between 10am and 2pm, and fancy dress is optional.

Alongside the activities, golden tickets will be hidden in three of the cache boxes, with prizes on offer for the first three people to discover the tickets and register their finds on the Explore Royal Deeside Facebook page.

Bonus stamps will be on offer over the weekend to help geocachers fill their Deeside passport which supports the GeoTour. The passport allows geocachers to collect stamps to potentially win limited edition silver or gold geocoins. Passport stamps can be collected at each of the 20 caches and from any of the 27 participating businesses, with one stamp being given for every £10 spent.

Local tourism body Visit Royal Deeside has created the event to encourage individuals and families to visit Deeside’s many attractions and local businesses, giving the area’s tourism industry a boost before the season starts in earnest in late March.

Moira Gash, Visit Royal Deeside project co-ordinator, said:

“The GeoTour has proven to be very popular since it was established last year and it has inspired many families to take up geocaching as a way of exploring the local area. Royal Deeside is a stunning place at any time of the year with lots of sights to see and the GeoTour lets visitors explore some fantastic places that they may not normally experience.

“The weekend is set to be fun filled, with lots of activities to keep all of the family entertained. That is the beauty of geocaching, it is something that people of all ages can enjoy. Going for Gold is designed to spur geocachers on to tracking down as many caches as possible with the aim of collecting enough passport stamps to secure a gold geocoin.

“Geocaching continues to grow in popularity around the world. For those who have never been geocaching and are thinking about taking it up, experienced geocachers will be on hand at the two weekend events to teach the basics.

“With the days lengthening and people eager to get out and explore as spring arrives, it really is an ideal time to visit Royal Deeside and give the area’s economy a boost by supporting some of the local businesses.”

There are over 2.5million active geocachers around the world. The Royal Deeside GeoTour aims to attract visitors from throughout the UK and overseas to the area. Throughout Deeside there are a number of smaller trails that are linked into the official Deeside GeoTour, including ones at Braemar Castle, Belwade Farm and Scolty Hill.

Visit Royal Deeside is the destination management organisation established in 2005 to promote Royal Deeside, Donside and the eastern Cairngorms. The organisation works with over 100 locals businesses to enhance the quality and variety of visitor products and services, providing effective training and support where necessary. It aims to grow tourism in the area for the benefit of locals and ensure visitors have the best possible experience to encourage return visits and recommendations to family and friends.

More information is available at www.visitroyaldeeside.com or at www.facebook.com/ExploreRoyalDeeideGeocaching.

£10,000 Aid For Shire Flood Victims

Aberdeenshire, Articles No Responses »

Feb 252016

With thanks to Esther Green, Tricker PR

Flood-hit Aberdeenshire communities have been delivered £10,000 of aid from Aberdeen Asset Management.
The firm has given a sizable donation to support people in the North-east of Scotland as they attempt to rebuild their lives after one of the area’s worst flooding episodes in living memory.

Last month, the area was devastated by flood waters which caused chaos and misery to communities, with Royal Deeside particularly hard hit.

The clean-up began as soon as the flood waters receded but it has been estimated that it will take many months for businesses and individuals to recover.

The funds will be used to help people and businesses in flood hit areas like Ballater, one of the region’s most badly hit towns. After the River Dee burst its banks, severe flooding caused devastation to homes, cars and businesses. Many residents were evacuated to rest centres and coastguard helicopters and mountain rescue were called in to help with rescue efforts.

Images and reports of the damage and destruction caused by the flooding made national news headlines and many residents were placed in temporary accommodation and may remain there for some considerable time to come.

Dominic Kite of Aberdeen Asset Management’s Charitable Foundation said,

“Seeing the scenes of devastation in flood hit areas of the North-east was hard-hitting.

“Aberdeen Asset Management’s philosophy is to give back to our nearby communities and with the flooding being so close to home we wanted to step in and help those who have lost almost everything.

“With resolve, determination and community spirit, towns and villages are facing up to the challenges ahead and we hope that the funding we are able to provide will help them as they rebuild their homes and lives after facing such difficult times.”

The Aberdeen Asset Charitable Foundation was established in 2012 to formalise and develop the Group’s charitable giving globally. The Foundation seeks partnerships with smaller charities around the world, where funds can be seen to have a meaningful and measurable impact and the firm encourages its employees to use their time and skills to support its charitable projects.

For more information visit http://www.aberdeen-asset.co.uk/aam.nsf/foundation/home

Christmas Spirit Arrives At Glen Tanar Estate

Aberdeenshire, Articles No Responses »

Nov 262015

With thanks to Esther Green, Tricker PR.

A country estate on Royal Deeside is offering stressed out shoppers the perfect antidote to crowded shopping malls – a festive pop-up shop packed full of locally produced Christmas gifts. The store at Glen Tanar Estate, near Aboyne, is also selling Christmas trees and holly wreaths sourced from its very own nursery.

The cosy shop has been created in the Coats Room – a brand new multi-function meeting space within the main estate complex.

The shop opens on November 28 and will stay open until December 22.

It is the second year that Glen Tanar Estate has opened its festive pop-up shop. Estate owner Claire Bruce explains,

“For many years we sold our Christmas trees and holly wreaths down at the nursery, and we would get people making the trip to see us from quite a wide radius.

“When we opened the Coats Rooms late last year, we realised that we could actually use it to add to the festive retail experience and decided to launch the Christmas pop-up shop. It was a huge success and people have been asking for months if we would be opening again this year.

“The feedback we received was really positive, especially about the quality of the products on offer as they were all locally produced and not available anywhere else in the local area.

“We are continually striving to find new and interesting additions to what we offer here at Glen Tanar and we feel that the pop-up shop has been one of the most exciting yet. All we need is for the snow from the weekend to stay and we will be a real winter wonderland.”

This year there are even more local and Scottish gifts to choose from at the pop-up store. Shoppers can expect to find homemade jams, chutney and preserves from Glen Tanar’s own Liz’s Larder label, as well as small accessories and homeware in the estate tweed, including coasters, ties and purses.

There is a large selection of greetings cards, handmade jewellery, biscuits, fudge and Glen Tanar Estate’s own calendar, featuring images of the stunning landscape and wildlife that the glen is famous for.

The Glen Tanar Estate pop-up shop is open seven days a week 9am – 4pm.

Located on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park, Glen Tanar Estate is close to Aboyne and is under an hour’s drive from Aberdeen. In addition to walking and cycling trails, it offers outdoor pursuits, Land Rover safaris, bird photography packages, pony trekking and fishing. For further information, visit www.glentanar.co.uk

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NE Brewery Sign Lucrative Contract With Sainsbury’s

Featured, Information No Responses »

Mar 282014

A popular north-east brewery has launched two of its beers in Sainsbury’s stores to meet increasing customer demand for its Scottish craft beers. With thanks to Rebecca Buchan.

Deeside Brewery, based in Banchory, will offer its Macbeth (Scottish pale ale) and LAF (California steam beer) from this month at twelve Sainsbury’s stores across North Scotland.

After a rebrand in 2012 and a move to larger purpose built facilities at the beginning of 2013; the business now employs three people and has experienced a period of rapid growth with production levels recently doubling from 1440HL per year to 2880HL per year (514,300 pints).

Earlier this month, the brewery’s newest product, Deeside craft lager was acknowledged as runner up in the Best New Retail Product category at the Grampian Food Forum Innovation Awards.

This recent success follows an ongoing relationship with Aldi which saw the brewery supply a number of its products to the chain as part of Aldi’s summer and winter beer festivals. Each festival took place in 49 stores and saw over 150,000 bottles of ale sold from a number of Scottish breweries.

Mike Bain, managing director of Deeside Brewery, said:

“Getting balance right between availability and exclusivity of our products is important. Our beers are currently available in various delis, specialist drinks shops and a number of high end venues across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire and this relationship with Sainsbury’s is a real opportunity for us to engage with a number of craft beer drinkers out with the local area.

“Entering into this agreement with a national supermarket is a real testament to the team at the brewery who work hard to produce new and exclusive products for the craft beer market and will ultimately aid future business growth. We are confident we will be looking at further expansion through exclusive relationships with distributors as the quality of our products is appreciated and reflected by consumer demand.”

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Woodend Barn: Old Blind Dogs – Fri Aug 30 ( And More )

Aberdeenshire, Gigs and Concerts No Responses »

Aug 302013

Woodend Barn Box Office and Marketing man David Officer brings Aberdeen Voice readers news of three upcoming shows featuring some of the finest folk talent around.

Old Blind Dogs

Old Blind Dogs barely need any introduction to north-east folk fans. Jonny Hardie’s group have been wowing audiences around the world for over 20 years and show no signs of stopping.
We’re delighted to welcome them back to Woodend Barn on Friday Aug 30th at 8pm and can guarantee good times!

Tickets are going fast for this and we strongly recommend buying in advance.

Jenna Reid and Kevin MacKenzie

We’ve got a brilliant concert on at Tarland’s MacRobert Hall on Friday 13th September at 8pm with Jenna Reid and Kevin MacKenzie. Shetlander Jenna will be familiar to anyone who’s seen Blazin Fiddles in the last few years but she’s a fantastic fiddler when on her own too. She’s accompanied by guitarist Kevin MacKenzie for what should be a fantastic evening of traditional music.

Luke Daniels and Lauren MacColl

Luke Daniels and Lauren MacColl join forces on Friday 20th September at 8pm to present a night of expressive and inventive traditional music from two of the most gifted players around just now. Not to be missed.

Looking further ahead, we’ve got State of the Union (Boo Hewerdine and Brooks Williams) appearing on Friday 4th October at 8pm, and a very special evening with Rachel Sermanni in the intimate surroundings of Migvie Church in Logie Coldstone on Saturday 2nd November at 8pm – a concert which will have limited tickets available.

Re-launched Service Gives Local Carers A Break

Community, Information No Responses »

Apr 052013

With thanks to Claire McBain.

A Deeside-based service that supports unpaid carers who look after a family member, friend or neighbour who is ill, frail or disabled has re-launched with two new carer support workers who will pioneer new activities to benefit Deeside’s hardworking unpaid carers and help to distribute new funding for much-needed short breaks and respite.

Tracey Bell, carer support and development worker, said:-

“Three in five people will be carers at some point in their lives. There are a lot of services to support the people being cared for. But the carer’s own wellbeing is of paramount importance too.”

“Respite is essential. We recently got access to the Creative Breaks Fund through the Scottish Government and the Change Fund. It can be used flexibly to help carers have a short holiday, pay for leisure or gardening equipment or enjoy a bit of pampering. It can be a chance to have a break from their caring role or spend quality time with the person they care for. It means they can rest and recharge their batteries as well as trying a new skill or picking up an old hobby. I’d urge any local carers to get in touch as soon as possible to get support in applying for this funding.”

“For short-term respite we’re working in partnership with Alzheimer Scotland to offer relaxation sessions for carers at Victory Hall in Aboyne.”

The Aboyne-based centre’s staff are able to advise on care-related issues, such as respite, housing, holidays, benefits, training and support groups. For those who can’t make it to the centre, home visits are available.

“It’s a part of life but the personal costs of caring for someone with a long-term condition, disability, addiction, physical or mental health problem can be high. For some, it’s a 24/7, 52-week commitment. Many suffer due to a lack of understanding about what they do. Some don’t even recognise themselves as carers. Others struggle with health and career problems as they try to look after sick or disabled relatives without help. We want to make life easier for these hard workers and those they look after.”

According to Carers UK, there are nearly 6 million carers in the country. The Scottish Household Survey, conducted by The Scottish Government in 2010 reported 657,300 carers north of the border.

VSA’s Carers’ Services in Deeside is located at Unit 9, Aboyne Business Centre. For more information call Tracey Bell or Kirsteen Heneghan on 01339 887291 or e-mail tracey.bell@vsa.org.uk or kirsteen.heneghan@vsa.org.uk The office is open between 9am and 3pm Monday to Wednesday and between 9am and 5pm on a Thursday and Friday.

The relaxation sessions will be held at Victory Hall in Aboyne between 2pm and 3pm on 12 and 26 April and 10 and 24 May. Each will be followed by a drop-in information session until 4pm.

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