THE INCHY FEBRUARY 2021

understand it can be difficult to keep the wee ones busy all
We
You can enjoy our playpark with your kids anytime
day.
waiting to resume her
While
at Inchgarth, Mandy
classes
sharing step by step
is
on her facebook. Go
artwork
The Inchy
February 2021
OUR PLAYPARK REMAINS
OPEN DURING LOCKDOWN
STEP BY STEP
ARTWORK BY
MANDY
during the week or weekend.
Inchgarth Playpark is equipped with
Our Playpark remains open during
lockdown as it follows government
a few swings and slides, structures
guidelines. We are happy for
for the kids to have fun and more.
Garthdee kids under 12 only to
Unfortunately, we are not allowed
check it out!
Mandy has been teaching Art
enjoy the Playpark during those
to lend anything so if you want to
classes at Inchgarth for over a
play ping-pong, basketball or try out
difficult time. We understand it is
hard to keep the wee ones busy
our Mini-golf, you will need to
decade now and has never had to
bring your own equipment.
during the lockdown and you may
stop before Covid-19 happened.
enjoy some fresh air yourself.
Lockdowns are particularly difficult
for our group leaders as they can't
For the Playpark to stay opened, we
work, unless organising online
classes. Mandy is keeping a good
need people to be cautious and
reasonable. Adults must keep their
spirit and is sharing step by step
artwork on her Facebook page for
distance between themselves and
make sure their kids are also social
everyone to enjoy. And if you'd like
to draw like her, well she can teach
distancing as much as possible.
We are also asking to refrain from
you once we are back open!
using the playpark if it looks like
enough people are using it. We will
be monitoring the playpark to
So please, feel free to enjoy our
ensure everyone's safety.
playpark at anytime,
but keep in
mind there is no lighting at the
As the playpark is outside, face
moment so it can get pretty dark.
masks are not mandatory, but feel
free to wear one if it makes you feel
And remember to keep your
CELEBRATING FRANK ROBERSTON
distance to ensure everyone's safety.
safer.
We want to remember Frank
Robertson of Garthdee, a long term
friend of Inchgarth who past away
recently. Frank sat on the committee
of Inchgarth for many years,
volunteered in the community, and
was a long term member of
Garthdee community council. Frank
was well known and liked by many
and our thoughts are with his family
and friends during this time.

the new lockdown put to a halt the few activities we had at Inchgarth until the end of
While
we are still planning behind the scenes how we can re-start most of the groups that
December,
the centre being closed to the public, there
Despite
still some services available to you.
are
LOOKING AHEAD: RETHINKING OUR
PROGRAMME TO FIT YOUR NEEDS
The Inchy
February 2021
were running before the crisis and find new ones that may interested you.
To gather your opinions, we created
a online survey that you can
complete to help us planning for the
future. Find it here:
With your help, we should be able
to make a better programme
focusing more on what people want.
We are looking forward to resuming
In December, we were pretty happy
organising the next few months:
with the state of things at Inchgarth:
Reopening Peggy's Cafe as soon as
our classes, groups and activities
Peggy's Cafe was open daily with
possible and classes outside once
and to offer you ways to have some
fun outside the home!
seating in the main hall, not all but a
the weather (and the government)
few groups were back and we were
allows it. We know outside classes
planning for more and more
are not ideal, but they are a good
activities to resume in 2021.
middle ground (especially when it's
the only way to have a class).
It was wonderful to have people
back inside at Inchgarth after
In the meantime, we are staying in
months of closure and outside
touch with all our class leaders to
activities, and to see long friends of
ensure they will be back and in the
the centre coming back, such as
best conditions once we reopen.
Nemesis Kickboxing, Ultimate
It is also a good opportunity for us
Judo, Illusion Dancing, Create
to update our programme based on
Aberdeen and more. For now, it's
what our members want and what
GREEN BAGS, FOODBANKS
& DONATIONS
iefeifneinfeinfeinen
We are also running a foodbank on
Wednesday from 2.30 to 4pm and
one Monday from 4 to 6pm. Please
they could enjoy.
back to planning and
wear a mask if you come to the
foodbank.
You can still make clothes donation
In addition to our support project,
can still collect them at Inchgarth.
in the green bin outside. Pennies
We only ask you to knock on the
donations can still be made at
we are still running a few services at
Inchgarth that you can access.
door, stay away from it and wear a
Inchgarth, while wearing a face
mask. Thanks a lot!
If you need some green bags, you
mask. We will bring them to you.
dfdfd

many of you will be aware, since March 2020, Inchgarth's
As
has been working hard to roll out a large support
team
for those who are struggling socially, financially, and
project
as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. We are
mentally
volunteer Lucas
Young
is organising a
Mackenzie
without donation
fundraising
Future Choices.
for
INCHGARTH 2021 COVID-19
SUPPORT PROJECT
The Inchy
February 2021
FUTURE
CHOICES
FUNDRAISING
continuing throughout 2021.
Saltire Awards Achiever Volunteer,
Lucas Mackenzie, 13, is fundraising
for Local voluntary led charity
Future Choices, but isn't asking for
your donations directly.
He's launched an online shopping
fundraising effort which means
members of the public are being
encouraged to freely register with
shopping websites Easyfundraising
& Amazon Smile to support Future
Choices if they wish.
This new phase is a partnership
you must provide to us by any
means the receipts for all items
between Inchgarth community
The person then does there normal
centre, Garthdee community
bought. You must spend the money
shopping & a small percentage is
on the items agreed with us and
council, Create Aberdeen and
then donated to the charity by the
funded by SCVO, the National
nothing more. Priority will be given
retailer & not the customer.
to those who we have not managed
Lottery and the Scottish
Government. We are committed to
to assist before, however this does
not stop you from requesting
help any struggling families or
individuals during these difficult
support again. It is important that
you follow the simple instructions
times.
We know how tough things are for
on how to apply below. Our
decision is final and we cannot enter
many families and individuals just
now, and we are both proud and
into debate or negotiation with those
To have Lucas leading this unique
fundraiser in these most unique
privileged that Inchgarth has your
not happy with the outcome, so we
kindly ask for respect and patience
challenging times shows real
trust and in a position to help when
determination for him to still help &
it's needed most. As a strict
as we work our way through your
HOW TO APPLY?
fdfdf
application.
condition of receiving our support,
support the most vulnerable even in
lockdown.
You must live in: Garthdee, Broomhill, Kincorth, Torry, Altens, Cove,
Ferryhill, Riverside, Mannofield, Red Moss, Airyhall.
Contact us on 07546 336 995 or 01224 325191 or email
inchgarthcc1@btinternet.com and answer confidential and basic questions.
You will be expected to email or text us evidence of your address. If that's
not possible, arrange to show us it at the centre.

in normal times, people would need support to preserve
Even
mental health. With the pandemic, you may face new
their
or feel down. We compiled most of the mental
challenges
services available into a booklet to help you get the
health
knitting for the
From
Wildfire to
Australian
for Aberdeen's
knitting
people.
homeless
The Inchy
February 2021
HOW TO GET THE MENTAL
HEALTH SUPPORT YOU NEED
STICH'N'BITCH
KNITTING FOR
THE HOMELESS
support you need.
Asking for help is never something
easy and it is sometimes even
Our Stich'n'Bitch knitting group was
already helping the best they could
harder to ask for support regarding
your mental health. There is indeed
back in 2019 when Australia was
burning, making mittens and other
a lot of stigma around asking for
help and therapy for example, but it
things to help the wildlife impacted
by the fires. Since the pandemic,
doesn't have to be that way.
they are knitting blankets, scarves,
You are not responsible for what is
hats and gloves for Friends Helping
the Homeless. They also made a
happening in the world and you are
clothes donation just before
not responsible for the effect these
events have on your mental health.
Christmas. With the new lockdown,
they cannot be as productive as they
If you need help, please check out
our booklet to find the services that
were but are still knitting for good
causes.
will help you get back on your feet.
With the pandemic, people have
There is nothing disappointing or
They have adopted an Alpaca named
Mr Darcy, which is now the first
been struggling financially, but also
shameful in asking for help to get
mentally. The lockdowns, the loss
through one of the hardest times the
official Aplaca of Inchgarth!
world has known for decades.
If interested in joining the group
of friends and/or family members,
the stress and anxiety from potential
once the centre reopens, email us
furlough or loss of job could put a
Our booklet includes resources to
at volunteerinchgarth@gmail.com.
local services such as Penumbra,
They are looking for new
strain on everyone's mental health.
members, especially men!
ACVO,
Mental Health Aberdeen,
You may have experience loss of
Man Chat and more. We also
motivation, difficulty to do simple
compiled national services and
tasks, lack of energy and/or feel
services who focus more on
depressed. These can be symptoms
students, who are also going
of mental health issues and you may
through very difficult times and lots
need support to get better.
of uncertainties. You can also find
more urgent services, such as
To help you find the support you
Samaritans, Childine or Shout for
need, as it may not be easy
good measure.
especially if you are feeling down,
we made a booklet with most of the
You can download our Mind Your
mental health services available in
Head booklet on our website here.
Aberdeen that could help you
We hope that helps you get back on
during these difficult times.
your feet!

waiting to reopen, we thought it would be nice to share with you some memories shared by
While
team, members or community overall. Today, we would like to take you with us to our last
our
you are looking to buy good fishes in Garthdee,
If
no further! Come at Inchgarth any Wednesday.
look
The Inchy
February 2021
A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE: A TEAM FIRST
AID TRAINING
team first aid training!
With lots of children and vulnerable
We take this kind of training very
people using the centre, we need to
seriously, as it is very important in
know what to do in case of injuries.
our line of work. We must know
Which is why we regularly have
what to do in every situation to
first aid training, to stay up to date
ensure the safety of your members
with new techniques and guidance.
and users.
Our last training was on the 27th of
During the training, we were
January 2020 (although without
blessed to be able to count on
special pandemic training), and it
volunteers such as Irene Buchan and
was a lot of fun! The trainer had a
Margaret Flett to take care of
good sense of humor, lots of energy
Peggy's Cafe for us. Thanks to our
and was genuinely nice, which
volunteers, we didn't have to close
made the training way better.
the Cafe for a day. A big thank you
to our volunteers who help us
We went over the classics: if your
consistently.
burn yourself put the burn under
water, the CPR technique, the
The good news is that we all passed
Heimlich maneuver and how to put
our level 3 Emergency First Aid at
on a bandage.
Work, but it doesn't mean you must
We also made out with mannequin,
get injured at Inchgarth just to find
to work on our mouth-to-mouth
out!
technique (it is not as easy as it
looks like!).
We can also organise free first aid
training for our members with the
We learned to identify the different
Red Cross. We would have to wait
types of injuries and what is the best
until the end of the pandemic to
CHATERS FRESH FISH AT
INCHGARTH
ways to treat them.
ensure everyone's safety.
Chaters Fresh Fish is at Inchgarth
Fiona started their delivery business
If you're looking for some of the
every Wednesday from 11 to
in 2007. Thanks to Gary's
best seafood in Aberdeen. They are
11.25am.
experience, he knows how to source
not staying long in Garthdee so
Gary, an ex fisherman, and his wife
the best and freshest products.
don't miss the clock!
www

Inchgarth
community centre
WWW.INCHGARTH.CO.uk
ABOYNE PLACE, AB10 7GD, GARTHDEE
01224 325 191 inchgarthcc1@btinternet.com