Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action News - May 2021

May 2021 

Newsletter 

Lockdown at Magpie • Celebrating Volunteers’ Week 

AVA Member Spotlight • Children & Families Mapping

2 AVA | May 2021 

Thrive 

E-Learning Hub for groups, clubs and 

organisations in Aberdeenshire 

on-line training 

AVA is delighted to be able to offer 

both members and non-members 

access to the Highland and Island 

e-learning platform. 

This online training resource offers over 

40 courses which are grouped into topic 

areas such as Workplace Development, 

Compliance, Finance, Communications, 

Wellbeing, Self Management and IT Skills. 

The topics covered span a wide variety 

of subjects that are suitable for your work 

colleagues, including your volunteers. 

The online training courses are designed to 

be fully intuitive and easy to use. Learners 

can navigate the system simply. You can 

track and report on your own or you team’s 

progress. It allows you to quickly see who 

has completed courses, set deadlines and 

create reports. As a manager it is easy to 

find out how many users need to finish a 

module, their score percentage and much 

more. 

self-management 

wellbeing 

communications 

covid-19 response 

IT skills 

compliance 

finance 

workplace development 

Sign up here 

H 

The cost of each 12-month user licence 

is £40 for AVA Members and £75 for nonmembers. 

Organisations are free to buy 

as many licences as needed. A free trial 

period can also be arranged. Please 

contact Training@avashire.org.uk for more 

information or complete the online user 

licence application by filling out the form 

here: https://tinyurl.com/vpjm3zy5

AVA | May 2021 3 

Positive Connections 

Dan Shaw 

AVA CEO 

Amongst the many key areas of national 

focus, mental health and the promotion 

of mental wellness is one that is close to 

our heart at AVA. I’m really pleased that we 

have been able to promote awareness of the 

work that just a couple of our members do on 

a daily basis in this edition of the magazine 

(including Befriend A Child, The Seed Box and 

Pillar Kincardine amongst others). The simple 

fact though is that the work of the entire third, 

community, and voluntary sectors in some way 

goes towards improving mental wellbeing, 

even if it’s not the primary aim of the many 

groups and organisations across Aberdeenshire. 

Positive contact with other people and the 

natural world around us is critical and it underpins 

everything that we are trying to achieve at AVA. 

Whether it’s at our Magpie shop in Banchory 

which supports a sustainable approach to 

the reuse of consumer goods; through our 

Forums programme that we have been busy 

redeveloping; or by 

promoting our members’ 

activities to help spread 

the word about what 

Aberdeenshire’s many 

amazing volunteers are 

doing to help improve 

people’s lives (including 

their own because 

of the psychological 

benefits of volunteering). 

Everything we do is 

about trying to connect 

people to opportunities 

for improving lives. 

As spring turns into summer again, I know that I am 

really looking forward to feeling the benefits that 

the warm sun brings, including the sights, sounds, 

and feelings of the summer. The transition from 

spring to summer reminds me that there is always 

hope of regrowth and rebuilding, and now more 

than ever, the value of the third, community, and 

voluntary sectors is being recognised by more 

people for the invaluable work it continues to 

do. Thank you to each and every person across 

Aberdeenshire that contributes to this. 

With very best wishes 

Dan and the entire AVA Team 

daniel.shaw@avashire.org.uk 

Contents 

IN THIS ISSUE 

4/5 

Behind the scenes at Magpie 

A year like no other and work never stopped 

6-11 

12 

13 

Focus on Volunteering 

Celebrating Volunteers’ Week 2021 

15 

Member Spotlight - Befriend A Child 

Learning more about this amazing charity 

Mental Heath Awareness 

Using nature to support your wellbeing 

Children & Families Mapping 

Inviting organisations to get involved 

“Studies prove that 

even just one activity 

outdoors each day 

can contribute 

significantly to 

improvements in 

mental as well as 

physical health. 

Make sure you spend 

time enjoying what 

Aberdeenshire has 

to offer. ”


Behind the scenes 

at Magpie 

Over the past year, 

even in lockdown, work 

went on at Magpie 

reducing waste and 

helping those in need in 

Aberdeenshire 

Lindsay Allardyce 

AVA Communications & 

Membership Manager 

As for us all, the past year at Magpie was 

very different to any other. Like most 

other retailers, we couldn’t welcome 

customers into our shop - and that’s what we 

like to do – so what could we do? You may 

not know, but Magpie isn’t just about selling 

on second-hand furniture and helping the 

environment – we also help people. For the 

past 21 years, Magpie has been involved with 

Aberdeenshire Council Housing department 

to provide much needed goods to those 

in need, making sure that individuals and 

families in our communities have what they 

need. We also work with the Aberdeenshire 

South Foodbank to help deliver food to those 

who need it. 

Gifting to those in need 

Our manager, Renee, and our fantastic 

team of staff and volunteers worked tirelessly 

behind the scenes to accommodate requests 

for emergency household items, gifting over 

40 items to families in crisis. That might be a 

fridge, or a table to allow a family to sit and 

eat together, or beds – whatever we can do 

to help, we do it. During that time, we also 

used our resources to deliver food parcels 

throughout South Aberdeenshire to those who 

needed them and while we wish this wasn’t 

needed, we are happy to help get them to 

where they’re needed. The rest of our time 

was spent making sure the shop was going to 

be safe and could accommodate customers 

when we were allowed to open. 

Re-opening! 

We were delighted to be able re-open our 

doors in July 2020, albeit on a smaller scale 

to ensure the safety of our staff, volunteers, 

and the public. With safety measures in place, 

face masks on, sanitising stations and oneway 

systems in place we opened our doors 

to the public once again. We can’t overstate 

how pleased we were to welcome customers 

back to the shop – selling pre-loved, secondhand 

goods – promoting sustainable living 

and helping the environment along the 

way. We were also just pleased to see folk! 

Customers continued to donate goods for us 

to sell on too – and that invaluable support 

allows us to keep going. After another long 

lockdown at the start of 2021, we are now 

open and welcoming customers once again. 

We’re providing a safe space to shop, taking 

donations by appointment and enjoying that 

little bit of normality once more.


Magpie plays an active part in the 

climate protection agenda 

Throughout 2020, we diverted an amazing 

22.5 tonnes of goods from landfill, addressing 

the ‘throw-away’ society in which we live and 

promoting a more sustainable way to shop. That’s 

the equivalent weight of about 7 elephants or 11 

cars – an amazing contribution considering we 

were closed for half of the year! 

Magpie also has multiple other routes to recycling 

including key partnerships for recycling clothes, 

books, and CDs/DVDs. Whilst not significant 

income generators, the underlying principle 

is one of reuse and recycle to support the 

delay of climate change. Additionally, Magpie 

engages with the Banchory Academy Schools 

Hub to promote the reuse/recycle agenda 

and is a supporter of activities that promote 

raising awareness of this by donating goods to 

be upcycled by children and young people to 

support their learning. 

The positive impact that Magpie has had 

on reducing waste over the past 22 years is 

absolutely amazing – and we could only do it 

with the help of our great customers, donations 

and volunteers. If you are interested in joining our 

team of volunteers, we’d love to hear from you. 

Shop at 

Magpie online 

The money we make at Magpie 

goes straight back into developing 

the charity for the benefit of our 

local communities. We are delighted 

that our new online shop is now up 

and running on our website! You 

can also view items for sale on our 

Facebook and Instagram shops. 

www.magpieshops.org.uk 

We hope you like this new 

way of shopping with Magpie! 

WE ARE OPEN! 

Monday - Saturday 

9:30am - 4pm 

Tillybrake Industrial Estate, Banchory 

NEW STOCK DAILY 

UPCYCLING PROJECTS 

LOW COST FURNITURE 

UNIQUE FINDS 

ELECTRICAL GOODS 

and loads more 

Upcycling 

Magpie is the perfect place to shop if you’re 

looking for an upcycling project to get your 

teeth into this Spring. Many items just need that 

little bit of attention to restore them to their 

former beauty or make them totally unique. By 

shopping with us and upcycling, you’re helping 

the environment, saving money and adding a 

bit of creativity to your life! Did you know that 

being creative can help your mental health, 

giving you a sense of purpose, achievement 

and pride as well as encouraging problemsolving, 

focus and reducing stress and anxiety? 

For loads of ideas on upcycling and what you 

can pour some creativity in, have a look on 

Pinterest and then get down to Magpie and 

get going! 

Keep shopping and supporting Magpie 

– together we’re doing amazing things!

6 

Volunteering 

It’s human nature to feel good 

after helping someone out. 

Volunteering can also help 

you gain valuable new skills 

and experiences, and boost 

your confidence.


This Volunteers’ Week we are encouraging 

everyone to take the time to say thank 

you to all our local volunteers! During an 

exceptionally difficult year, people from all walks 

of life around Aberdeenshire have taken the 

time to volunteer and made a huge difference 

to people and their communities – just as they do 

every year. 

Despite the restrictions coronavirus has placed 

on our daily lives, volunteers and charities have 

been active through lockdowns and new 

waves of restrictions to support people, their 

communities and local environments. We want 

to recognise all of those who have continued 

delivering vital support and aid as volunteers 

over the past 12 months but also all those who 

usually volunteer but have not been able to 

because of the pandemic. 

Volunteers are always active in the heart of 

every community. They are behind many of the 

services we all rely on, often in some of the more 

remote corners of Aberdeenshire. Some are 

now volunteering online from home, others in 

person with a local charity or organisation. Their 

crucial contribution has not stopped, despite the 

uncertain times we find ourselves in. 

The contribution of volunteers is often unseen and 

unrecognised by many, visible only through the 

incredible impact of their volunteering. However, 

the coronavirus pandemic has rightly raised the 

profile of volunteering and more people than 

ever are aware of the immense contribution 

being made every single day by Scotland’s 

volunteers. That is why, during this 37th annual 

Volunteers Week, it’s time to say: thank you to 

Aberdeenshire’s fantastic volunteers! 

Helping you to say 

thank you... 

We are very keen to help you to 

say thank you to your volunteers. 

We can help with Volunteering 

Awards for volunteers of all ages 

and would be very happy to be 

involved in any virtual celebrations 

and award presentations. If you 

would like more information about 

our awards or would like to discuss 

how we can support your group 

or organisation with an event 

during volunteers week, please 

do not hesitate to get in touch at: 

volunteering@avashire.org.uk or 

call Keith Anderson on 07969 603595.


AVA|VolunteeringVolunteering 

Lorna Sandison 

AVA Development Officer 

At AVA we are working a bit differently 

these days with our Development 

Officers now working within specialist 

themes. As AVA’s Volunteering Specialist, I’m 

delighted to say that this couldn’t have been 

a better choice of speciality for me! 

I’ve always been drawn to the Volunteering 

side of things within AVA for many reasons - the 

satisfaction of placing a new volunteer within 

an organisation, or delivering Saltire Awards 

at a local school assembly, or watching 

confidence grow in a person who regularly 

volunteers that previously wouldn’t have been 

able to leave their house. 

Everyone has or will volunteer within their 

lifetime, just sometimes they are not aware 

they are doing it! 

So what do we mean by Volunteering? 

Volunteering is a choice. A choice to give time 

and energy, a choice undertaken of one’s 

own free will and a choice not motivated for 

financial gain or for a wage or salary. 

Formal Volunteering 

This is probably the most obvious and popular 

form of volunteering and happens when 

individuals join an organised community group 

or organisation that is delivering a service, 

running a facility or helping with local activities. 

Informal Volunteering 

This is sometimes seasonal and on a one-off 

basis, although it still often relies on bonding 

with a group. Most informal volunteering takes 

place in communities – of geography or of 

interest - and among people who have similar 

backgrounds. 

Whatever kind of volunteering you’re 

interested in, get in touch with me at 

Lorna.Sandison@avashire.org.uk or check out 

the volunteering opportunities on the AVA 

website at: www.avashire.org.uk. 

• In the past year AVA has had 

155 direct volunteer placement 

enquiries 

• 181 groups have requested 

assistance with volunteer 

recruitment 

• 2020 - 2021 AVA has issued 

159 iVolunteer Awards, 142 Saltire 

Awards and 222 Community 

Spirit Awards (which were directly 

related to Covid-19 volunteering) 

• More than 11,000 young people 

have registered through AVA 

for Saltire Awards


The importance of 

the volunteering 

experience 

“ 

In Aberdeenshire, an 

estimated and above 

average 61,713 people, 

volunteer formally through 

an organisation or group 

“ 

“ 

The annual value of 

volunteering in Aberdeenshire 

is thought to be worth over an 

amazing £100 million 

“ 

The benefits of volunteering should be 

balanced between the difference the 

volunteer is making for others and, equally, 

for themselves. Volunteers don’t volunteer for the 

limelight, but they do need to feel recognised 

and appreciated. 

Looking at the statistics, volunteering is clearly of 

great social and economic importance to the 

people and communities of Scotland. 

Introducing our new Volunteer Bulletin 

Look out for our new focused Volunteer Bulletin 

which will be launched mid-May. The bulletins will 

be advertising local volunteering opportunities 

so if your group would like to include your 

own opportunities, please let us know at 

volunteering@avashire.org.uk. And if you’re 

looking for some volunteering, sign up to see 

what’s on offer. 

Addressing inequalities is vital to continue to 

increase volunteer participation, that’s why 

at AVA, intergenerational volunteering is 

being encouraged - bringing young and older 

volunteers together can generate so many extra 

benefits for everyone involved. 

As part of our support for volunteering we can 

offer training sessions that will help to ensure your 

volunteering is managed safely and effectively, 

just let us know if you think we can help. 

Subscribe H 

Subscribe to our Volunteer Bulletin at: 

www.avashire.org.uk/volunteering.html 

Contribute H 

Send your volunteering opportunities to: 

volunteering@avashire.org.uk 

Register H 

Register your interest in volunteering at: 

www.avashire.org.uk/volunteer-survey.html


What volunteering means to me 

Aileen Keith 

AVA Administration Officer 

& Volunteer with HomeStart 

I’ve been a Homestart volunteer for almost 10 years, starting 

in Carmarthen when I was first made redundant from my 

job and transferred to Homestart Garioch once I moved to 

Aberdeenshire. 

Helping others gives a great sense of achievement. Although 

at times it may feel that I’m not doing much in the way of 

helping, sometimes just being there and lending a listening ear 

to someone may be all that is needed to help them through 

difficult times. No two families are the same and they all require 

different levels of support. 

I also started volunteering with AVA back in November 2019, 

when I was helping with admin support. I was looking for work 

and attended Employability Support in Ellon Library and met 

Pauline Anderson and Julie, who together suggested a role 

in volunteering administration to help me get back into paid 

employment. 

I’m delighted to say that my volunteering with AVA has 

developed into a paid position, while I continue to volunteer 

with Homestart.


Introducing| 

The Community Volunteering 

Enterprise project 

Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action is 

pleased to announce a new year long 

Community Volunteering Enterprise 

project specifically for young people aged 

between 16-24. 

The project has the aim of engaging with young 

people and helping them to improve their 

personal situation or circumstances through 

a programme of challenging development 

activities. 

We aim to run at least three programmes and 

each is in 3 stages: 

1. Initial engagement in a learning environment 

where the participants are reminded of the 

skills and experience they already have. 

2. Being offered an opportunity to enrol in a 

SQA Employability Award, which if completed 

would lead to the achievement of an SQA 

certificated award. 

3. Support to engage in a relevant volunteering 

activity with all the benefits that can come from 

volunteering in the community (volunteering 

can continue beyond the planned end of the 

phase). 

• Each programme will last approximately 16 

weeks. 

• Support and guidance will be given at all 

stages. 

• All necessary paperwork will be provided. 

• 1-1 sessions can be arranged if needed. 

• Participants must be able to use IT 

equipment and have access to support 

with IT if this is required. 

For further information please contact: 

Pauline Anderson, CVE Project Officer 

Tel: 07436 033169 

Email pauline.anderson@avashire.org.uk 

Due to Covid-19 restrictions all correspondence 

and Tutor led sessions will be online.


AVA Member 

Spotlight| 

Befriend A Child 

Hannah Adams 

Befriend A Child 

Befriend A Child are a charity who offer 1:1, 

group befriending, mentoring programmes 

and projects to children growing up in 

difficult life circumstances across Aberdeen 

City and Aberdeenshire. 

We match children and young people referred 

to us with trained volunteer befrienders 

and mentors who act as positive adult role 

models, enjoying regular outings with the aim 

of increasing the children’s confidence, selfesteem, 

helping them learn new skills and 

ultimately show them more of what life has to 

offer. 

Volunteer befrienders and mentors wanted 

Since the beginning of the pandemic, we 

have seen referrals to our programmes spike 

by 48% with more young people than ever 

before in need of a befriender or mentor and 

we are currently recruiting volunteers to join 

us in changing the lives of local children and 

young people. 

We are looking for volunteer befrienders and 

mentors who can bring enthusiasm, fun and 

stability to the life of a local child or young 

person through regular outings and activities. 

Volunteers can apply individually or as a 

couple and aren’t required to have worked 

with children before as full training and regular 

support is given from the experienced staff 

team. 

‘Our role is to provide the child with a friend, 

an adult they can trust and learn from, but the 

friendship goes both ways. I’m as excited for 

outings as my befriendee, and I look forward 

to the days when we go out. I’m always eager 

to hear what they’ve been up to and what 

new things they’ve tried, and they’re happy to 

teach me and get me to try these things.’ - Siobhan 

Caughey, Volunteer Befriender, Befriend a Child. 

Following training and a PVG certification, volunteers 

are asked to give a minimum commitment of one 

year to the young person they are matched with. 

Volunteer befrienders spend 2-3 hours a fortnight 

with their befriendee and mentors spend 2-3 hours 

each week with their mentee. 

‘We would love to hear from individuals and 

couples who want to make a real difference to 

the life of a local young person, to help build 

skills, nurture interests, discover new experiences 

together and to offer a safe space allowing for 

growth and development for the young person and 

yourself,’ – Aleisha Douglas, intandem Mentoring 

Coordinator, Befriend A Child. Enquire about 

volunteering with Befriend A Child by emailing 

volunteer@befriendachild.org.uk. 

Fundraise for Befriend A Child 

If you are interested in taking on a fundraising 

challenge or hearing more about our upcoming 

fundraising events we would be delighted to 

hear from you, please contact Bethany Hogg on 

bethany@befriendachild.org.uk for more information 

on how your funds can help Befriend A Child.


Mental Health 

Awareness 

Week|Nature 

Lesley Lawrinson 

AVA Communications Officer 

Good health is about the mind as well 

as the body; feeling physically fit, and 

feeling good about ourselves, means 

that we can go and achieve more of the 

things we want to do in life. 

This years’ Mental Health Week, hosted by the 

Mental Health Foundation, highlighted how 

nature is so central to our psychological and 

emotional health. Direct contact with nature 

has many benefits and will often improve 

people’s overall mood, mental health, and life 

satisfaction. We are very fortunate to live in a 

place that features beautiful coastlines, pretty 

seaside towns, rugged cliffs and sandy bays. 

There are hundreds of attractions and hidden 

gems dotted across the region, many of which 

offer therapy to help improve social, health 

and physical health of their service users. 

AVA Member, Pillar Kincardine, is a local 

charity that supports people who are coping 

with serious emotional, social or mental health 

difficulties. Their services include allotment 

gardening and a weekly walking group ‘Porty 

Paths’ where members can benefit through 

the companionship and stimulation enjoyed in 

these group activities. 

Another AVA Member, The Seed Box, provides 

horticultural and outdoor therapy to its service 

users with numerous mental health benefits, 

specifically by increasing independence and 

self-esteem, encouraging creativity as well as 

decreasing the severity of depression. 

With studies proving that even just one 

activity carried out outdoors can contribute 

significantly to improvements in mental as well 

as physical health with reductions in tension, 

depression, anger and confusion, greater 

self-esteem and enhanced enjoyment of life, 

make sure you spend enough time enjoying 

what Aberdeenshire has to offer. 

For top tips on looking after your mental 

health visit: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/ 

publications/how-to-mental-health


AVA Membership | Join Us 

Community and third 

sector organisations are 

invited to join AVA as 

full members, and people who 

either work or volunteer for 

those organisations are invited 

to join as affiliated members. 

Volunteers are the lifeblood 

of our sector and those who 

volunteer on a regular basis 

are invited to join AVA as 

associate members. 

Apply here H 

www.avashire.org.uk/join-ava.html 

Become an AVA Member: 

• Enhanced communications 

through specialism networking 

and information mailing lists 

• Priority access to news, updates and 

information 

• Free and priority access to AVA 

membership and specialist forum events 

• Priority access to AVA Training resources 

• Priority access to AVA services and facilities 

• Access to discounted rates for AVA 

Office Support Services 

• Access to professional services offering 

discounted rates to members 

AVA Office Services 

AVA members can access office services at very competitive rates. 

Payroll services 

AVA can provide 

monthly payroll services, 

including production of 

monthly payslips, HMRC 

submissions and end of 

year returns, assistance 

with auto enrolment 

compliance and pension 

file uploads. 

Independent 

examination 

of accounts 

Receipts and Payments 

Accounts examination 

is available for noncompany 

charities 

and groups with a 

gross annual income of 


AVA Children & 

Families|Services, 

Wellbeing & 

Support Mapping 

Sandra McGuigan 

AVA Development Officer 

We would like to invite organisations 

to tell us more about the services 

they deliver through filling in the 

mapping form below. The purpose of this 

is to increase awareness of the range of 

support available to our children, young 

people and families across Aberdeenshire. 

This mapping exercise will help to inform the 

contributions of our third sector organisations 

who make a real difference in children and 

young people’s lives. This will enable us to 

better promote and recognise the valuable 

role the third sector has in Aberdeenshire. This 

mapping may also highlight whether there are 

any gaps in support whether local or Shire-wide. 

The results of the mapping will sit in a dedicated 

place on our website when complete and can 

be a resource to share with partners for referral 

or future collaboration/partnership working. 

Please fill in the form for each service at: 

https://forms.office.com/r/6M9C1xLBYi 

If you have any questions get in touch with 

Sandra McGuigan on Tel: 07585 330348 or 

email: Sandra.McGuigan@avashire.org.uk. 

Children & Families Forum 

Tuesday 25th May, 9.30am - 12 noon 

I am delighted to share the launch of AVA’s Children and Families Forum and 

have been really fortunate to secure some great contributors. We have: 

• Maureen Nicol, TPTIC from the NHS providing an introduction to trauma 

informed individuals and organisations, looking at how we can become more 

trauma informed and what supports are available for us to do so 

• Leigh Jolly, Children’s Service Manager giving an update on GIRFEC 

• Louise Richardson, CEO at Absafe bringing mindfulness and self-care into our 

own day. 

We have allocated time for questions and also a space where we can get 

together and discuss how we can keep you informed and look forward to how 

we best represent our third sector at a strategic & national level. 

It would be lovely to see you. 

Register F 

Register for the forum here: 

https://forms.office.com/r/cwM1hsmgj6


PROFILE | 

Getting to know those who work hard in 

your Third Sector Interface 

Who are you? 

Fiona Smith 

What is your job (in addition to 

AVA Board Member)? 

I’m a founding director of 

Delfinity, a management 

consultancy, which advises 

businesses and not-for-profit 

organisations facing significant 

change. I lead our work on strategy and business 

growth. 

How did you end up working with AVA? 

I worked as interim CEO of AVA for 3 months in early 

2019, which gave me a good knowledge of the 

organisation. I was impressed both by AVA’s passion 

to support the third sector across the Shire, and the 

great work undertaken every day by our members. 

After I’d stepped down as interim CEO, I was 

approached to join the board and am delighted to 

continue to support AVA’s development. 

What does a typical day look like? 

There’s no such thing! I can be visiting clients 

anywhere in Scotland; for example in the last 2 

weeks I’ve been to the islands of Luing and Jura. Or 

I can be working from home in Tarves. I’m lucky in 

that I have great flexibility in how I organise my time, 

meaning that I can get outside into the garden if it’s 

suddenly great weather and then catch up on work 

later - client meetings allowing. I’ve also got a few 

volunteer commitments, which I can fit in. 

Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action is a 

charitable company limited by guarantee. 

Company number: SC137343. 

Scottish Charity Number: SC014223 

Registered office: 57 Station Road, Ellon, 

Aberdeenshire AB41 9AR 

Tel: 03718 110008 

Email: enquiries@avashire.org.uk 

Website: www.avashire.org.uk 

Follow us on Facebook 

AberdeenshireVoluntary Action1 

Twitter @AVAShire 

Instagram @magpieshops 

YouTube AVA Shire 

We want to hear from you! 

Give us feedback, suggestions, 

whatever - fill in our form here. 

How has Covid-19 affected your job? 

Covid has accelerated changes that were 

already underway in society and business, which 

has increased demand for the work that I do. As 

I already worked mainly from home, there’s not 

been a huge impact personally. The positive has 

been the wholesale switch to online and remote 

working; it’s now acceptable and accepted to 

have video meetings, which saves me a lot of 

travel time. However, there are projects where it 

is vital to see a site or location or to meet face-toface, 

particularly when sensitive or complex issues 

have to be discussed. So some pieces of work were 

delayed until protocols were better developed and 

understood. 

www.avashire.org.uk

Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action News - May 2021

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