AVA Magazine July 21

July 2021
Newsletter
The Rise of the Social Enterprise • AVA Member Spotlight
Funding success • Children & Families Network

the ava
website
H
bringing you more of the
resources you need...
Funding search
We are delighted to
have teamed up with
Funding Scotland to
bring you a fantastic new
funding search engine
- from small grants to
funding for big capital
projects, we can help
you track down the
funding you need. It’s so
easy to use, and in the
coming weeks, you will
also be able to subscribe
to the new weekly
funding bulletin.
Organisation search
Search for Third Sector
groups and organisations
across Aberdeenshire.
Our search engine will
show you a range of
information for each
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as any volunteering
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on offer.
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A-Z of AVA Members
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Let us know if your
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Use our nomination
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Opportunities
Use our search engine
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Find a range of links
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Guides for new groups.
See the latest Covid
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Services for members,
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Training
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including over 30
e-courses in a range of
subjects.
www.avashire.org.uk

AVA | July 2021 3
A Thriving Aberdeenshire
Dan Shaw
AVA CEO
A
thriving local social economy where
people and values take precedence
over financial profit should and can be
a part of the positive side of the lasting legacy
of the pandemic here in Aberdeenshire.
As we are able to spend more time out and
about enjoying the freedoms in life that until
18 months ago we all took for granted, I am
becoming more aware of the growing number of
social enterprises that are operating successfully
across Aberdeenshire. AVA is currently working
alongside 51 brilliant social enterprises to offer
support in many different ways, from governance
and management to volunteer development
and securing funding. Additionally, AVA as a
part of the TSI Scotland Network have signed
up to a Memorandum of Understanding with
SENScot. We will collectively be working to
demonstrate the social and economic value of
social enterprises, as well as working collegiately
to develop and promote new opportunities for
social enterprises to
flourish. Fundamental to
this is the development
of an Aberdeenshire
Social Enterprise Network
which we are starting
to work on and more
information about this
will be available shortly.
I know that many of
you will be taking a
well-earned break
during the summer,
and during that time you might be thinking
about how your group/organisation can be
learning and developing. THRIVE is an online
learning platform that supports many aspects of
managing organisations, and more details about
this can be found on page 17, including the
opportunity to trial the easy-to-use system for free.
I hope you enjoy this edition of the magazine and
likewise, I hope that if you are able to, you enjoy
some of the services on offer from the many social
enterprises on our doorstep.
With very best wishes
Dan and the entire AVA Team
daniel.shaw@avashire.org.uk
Contents
IN THIS ISSUE
4-6
The Rise of the Social Enterprise
...and their differing legal structures
8/9
10-11
12-14
Member Spotlight: Aboyne Men’s Shed
The challenges of creating an amazing space
Celebrating Funding Success
Funding for lots of exciting developments
15-16
Children & Families
Looking forward to our new Network
Feature: NE Scouts
How the Scouts thrived during lockdown
“...their drive and
passion to deliver
an exceptional
building for the
whole community
to enjoy has been
nothing short of
extraordinary. ”
P8/9

The Rise of the
Social Enterprise
With more Social Enterprises emerging
over the past year, we take a look at
their different legal structures.

AVA | July 2021 5
Your Love Rara CIC
Aileen Longino
AVA Development Officer
specialising in Social Enterprise
During this last year we have seen a
stream of social enterprises starting up in
Aberdeenshire - many people are looking
to address their work/life balance by starting
up an entrepreneurial business. Some of these
businesses become social enterprises and take
the legal form of Sole Trader, Community Interest
Company, Company Limited by Guarantee or
a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation
(SCIO) to name a few. But what is a Social
Enterprise?
A Social Enterprise is an organisation that is
carrying out some form of trading whether it be
with goods or services. The difference between
a Social Enterprise and a charity is that Social
enterprises aspire to generate an independent
income and are nor reliant on funding.
Your Love Rara is a Community Interest
Company run by the amazing Zara Grant.
It has been developed to support Mental
Health and Wellbeing for children/young
people and adults within the Aberdeen
and Aberdeenshire area.
Their ethos and goal is to create a
creative, inclusive environment supporting
mental health, imagination and bringing
community together whilst inspiring others.
Your Love Rara programmes are with
qualified coaches supporting and
teaching resilience, methods to support
anxiety and depression and personal
growth - never more important in our
current climate.
Through social inclusion they aim to raise
funds to organise and support inclusive
environments for all children and adults
to be able to access this service. This
includes but is not limited to children and
adults with disabilities, disadvantaged
households and diverse cultures within
the local area. They want to continue to
support local charities with fundraising
events and spreading joy within the
community.
Visit: www.loverara.co.uk
Key components of a social enterprise include:
• Developed with strong social and/or
environmental purposes at its core
• Having an Asset Lock that ensures any profit
is reinvested into the organisation.
• A dissolution clause that stipulates that on
wind up, assets are transferred to a similar
organisation with similar social purpose.
• An aspiration for financial independence
through income generated trading.
At AVA our Social Enterprise specialist Aileen
Longino works with a wide variety of social
enterprises across Aberdeenshire. We would like
to feature three AVA Members who are all social
enterprises but who all have a different legal
structures.
Photos courtesy of Your Love Rara CIC

6 AVA | July 2021
Fly Cup Catering
Fly Cup Catering are a Company Limited
by Guarantee with charitable status
run by a wonderful Board. They assist
adults with learning disabilities, including
school leavers, to have a fulfilling role
in their local communities by providing
professional catering training and a path
to employment opportunities within the
catering sector.
Their professional catering trains to the
highest standards allowing trainees
the opportunity to achieve nationally
recognised catering qualifications and
enabling employment opportunities in a
range of environments. Inclusion within the
community and developing life skills are
just two of the benefits for both community
and trainees. Ongoing fundraising is vital
for The Fly Cup to maintain the highly
regarded level of service they provide. This
has proved challenging during lockdown
where they have had to diversify and do
home deliveries of meals and afternoon
teas. Delicious!
Visit: www.flycup.org
Absafe
Absafe are a Scottish Charitable
Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) based
in Aberdeen but covering Aberdeenshire
too. Their mission is strong and simple
- they are dedicated to saving lives by
instilling a positive culture and passion
for health & safety through education
and engagement. They do this by visiting
schools making safety fun to learn about,
and businesses delivering programmes
tailored to the needs of customers. Some
of you might have met their CEO, Louise
Richardson, who did some mindfulness for
our last AVA Members’ Forum.
They also have a unique experience
for school children called The Safe. A
visit to The Safe is like no other field trip.
Located just behind the Gordon Barracks
in Aberdeen, this facility is a one-stop
safety shop. They take their visitors on
an unforgettable safety adventure that
gives real-life context to the learning
experience. The Safe is the name given to
this interactive facility, where the Absafe
team and volunteers deliver engaging,
fun and informative sessions that teach
children about everyday hazards and how
to deal with them. Including: road, railway,
home and fire safety, solvent misuse,
anti-social behaviour, cyberbullying and
security.Visit: www.absafe.org.uk
Photo courtesy of Absafe
As these wonderful AVA Members show, social
enterprises come in many shapes and sizes.
We are looking to establish regular forums
dedicated to social enterprises and establish
a network across Aberdeenshire. If you are
looking to set up a social enterprise or are
already established and need some support
moving forward and adapting to our ever
changing landscape, please contact Aileen
Longino at: aileen.longino@avashire.org.uk or
Tel: 07824 096531.

AVA | May 2021 7
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

8 AVA | July 2021
AVA Member
Spotlight|
Aboyne Men’s
Shed
Aileen Longino
AVA Development Officer
specialising in Social Enterprise
Photos courtesy of Aboyne Men’s Shed
It all started on a rainy night in Aboyne in April
2016. Aileen Longino, AVA Development
Officer had been in post less than a week
when she went along to their very first meeting
to see what the response from the community
would be. The bowling club was packed to the
gunnels!
Since that meeting the steering group that
started it all off pushed on and never looked
back. By December 2016 they had formed a
Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation
(SCIO) and the real work started. The Aboyne
Men’s Shed was officially started as had the
hard work. The committee met weekly in a
rented space, planning and mapping a way
forward. The search for serious funders began,
with Treasurer Phil Lay setting the tone for the
next 5 years using his exceptional skills to apply
for and successfully securing large pots of
money so that the reality of the Aboyne and
Mid Deeside Community Shed could start to
take shape. All through this stage the Aboyne
Men’s Shed engaged with local community
with stalls at farmers markets, highland games
and regular drop-in sessions where Dave
Marshall’s bacon butty and coffees are the
thing of legend!
Funding streams started coming in from
Asda, Gordon & Ena Baxter Foundation, The
Robertson Trust, LEADER, The Stafford Trust,
The MacRobert Trust, Vattenfall Unlock the
Future, Coop, Scotmid Local Energy Scotland,
National Lottery Community Fund and our AVA
Supporting Communities Fund. With the help of
our Funding Officer, Donna Speed, the Aboyne
Men’s Shed started to reach their target.
Throughout this massive project, one of the
first new build community facilities in the area
for many years, the skills and community spirit
of local people has been outstanding. The
membership has grown continually over the
years even when there was no physical building
to see.
In October 2019 building work started using local
contractors AJC and Gerry Robb Architectural
Design Services - both Aboyne-based. Work
was coming along nicely up until March 2020
when the pandemic struck. Worked stopped
and then started again with all work being
completed in February 2021 despite the delays
with lockdown.
So, what have they built? What does the
completed Aboyne & Mid-Deeside Community
Shed provide? You will see from the photos
how great the shed looks, but the facilities in

AVA | July 2021 9
the Shed are unrivalled in the Aboyne and
Mid Deeside area. Downstairs is the workshop
managed by Aboyne Men’s Shed with a range
of woodworking and metal working equipment
for general creating, repairing and hobby
activities which will appeal to a range of interest
groups. Upstairs is a very large flexible social
area. There is a kitchen, office and separate art
& craft space with storage - all of which can
be booked for user groups. There is full disabled
access, toilets, baby changing facilities and the
whole build is fitted out with wifi, solar panels,
CCTV, intruder alarms and there is also a sound
loop for those with hearing impairment. They
have thought of everything. We can’t wait to
use it for AVA events in the future!
Our Development Officer, Aileen, has been with
them since day one and has met and spoken
with the Trustees on a weekly basis. Aileen says,
“Its has been the greatest pleasure to support
this amazing group of volunteers who have
worked tirelessly over the last five and a bit years
to achieve the impossible. The journey that
Chair Mike Brooks and his team have been on
has been bumpy to say the least but their drive
and passion to deliver an exceptional building
for the whole community to enjoy has been
nothing short of extraordinary.”
•
“Supporting the Third Sector
and communities across
Aberdeenshire, AVA have
been there for us all the way
through our shed project,
providing advice and
information on what help is
available to us. They have
also recently provided
funding to help us through
the Covid 19 pandemic.”
• Use the space!
Aboyne & Mid-Deeside Community
Shed: aboynecs.org
Get involved!
Aboyne Men’s Shed:
aboynemensshed.org.uk

10 AVA | July 2021
Celebrating Funding Success
Aberdeenshire groups that have been
successful in securing funding recently
include:
Huntly Sports Trust is taking on a massive upgrade
project at the town’s all weather pitch. The
playing surface has been in very poor condition
for a number of years but now the volunteer
group which looks after the facility has secured
funding for it to be replaced. Awards of £250,000
from Aberdeenshire Council and £100,000 from
the Vattenfall Clashindarroch Wind Farm Fund
have been confirmed. Read more here: https://
tinyurl.com/2mvkcvz6
The Grow Free Community Foundation have
secured a Starter Grant of £4,858 from the
ALLIANCE Self Management Fund 2021. The
Aberdeenshire Peer Support Resource will
develop and offer information, events and
capacity building opportunities that promote,
celebrate and support the power of peer support.
Visit: growfreefoundation.org
Waulkmill Menagerie Petting Farm have
been asked by unpaid carers to start a
weekly group for them and their cared for
at the petting farm, where they can meet
weekly and have a variety of activities on

AVA | July 2021 11
offer for all to do. Crafts, animal therapy,
gardening and an occasional guest speaker.
A Starter Grant of £3,380 has been awarded
by the ALLIANCE Self Management Fund 2021.
A Builder Grant of £59,901 has been awarded
to Aberdeen Foyer, by the ALLIANCE Self
Management Fund 2021. The aim of this
project is to increase the capacity of people
across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire with long
term mental health conditions to live well and
in ways that work for them, that they feel in
control, connected and valued.
A Builder Grant of £59,960 has been awarded to
Grampian Opportunities, by the ALLIANCE Self
Management Fund 2021. They aim to set up a
volunteer buddy system to support individuals
improve their digital skills in their own way and
in their own time according to their own needs.
GO have also secured £48,000 for a Volunteer
Coordinator from The Robertson Trust.
Home-Start Deeside, Alford and Strathdon are
delighted to have been awarded £1000 from
the Arnold Clark Community Fund. This money
will go directly to helping local families.
Milne Hall Management Committee have
completed the new kitchen in Milne Hall having
secured funding from a variety of sources for
the project. Our Funding Officer, Donna Speed,
has been supporting the group and was
delighted when they were successful in their
funding applications.
Aden Country Park secured funding support
from both the National Lottery Heritage Fund
and Scottish Landfill Communities Fund (Slcf)
- Suez Communities Trust, to install a new
Interpretation Shelter. Interpretation panels
outlining the various insects and wildlife, along
with the flora and fauna in around the Aden
lake are to be added in due course.
And finally, fourteen local projects aimed at
improving communities and places across
Aberdeenshire are to share more than £2
million in new funding to help drive economic
recovery, improve our town centres and
support regeneration activity. Earlier this year
the Scottish Government announced a £38
million capital injection into the national “Place
Based Investment Programme (PBIP)” for 2021-
22, with Aberdeenshire’s allocation totalling
£2.04m. Included in the fourteen local projects
are:
Huntly & District Development Trust - £824,151
The project will redevelop a vacant former
department store in the town centre to create
a modern flexible enterprise, learning, leisure
and community space.
Mid Deeside Community Trust - £15,000
This project will deliver a significant series of
improvements to Station Square including
landscaping, seating and better provision for
pedestrians.
Broch Skate Club - £151,560
This is a new project to replace the old skate
park in Fraserburgh with a modern, lowmaintenance,
competition standard facility.
The project has significant local support and
will provide another boost to the Fraserburgh
Sports Hub as well as helping to address several
socio-economic factors in the town.
Victoria & Albert Halls (Ballater) Trust - £40,000
This is a new phase of a multi-stage project and
will carry out a series of improvements on the
historic buildings to improve access, reduce
energy consumption and consolidate the work
done on creating a community and heritage
hub.
Deveron Projects - £104,000
The project will involve the construction of a
thermal glasshouse at the rear of the Square
Deal building in the town centre. The glasshouse
will provide additional flexible space for yearround
community use.
Read the full list of successful applicants here:
https://tinyurl.com/re34ydy3
Congratulations to ALL groups in
Aberdeenshire who have received funding
and thank you for making Aberdeenshire a
better place to live!
Search for funding using our funding
search engine on the AVA website at:
www.avashire.org.uk/searchforfunding

AVA | July 2021 13
Children & Families|
Trauma is Everyone’s
Business
Sandra McGuigan
AVA Development Officer
specialising in Children & Families
In May we held our first Children & Families Forum
where we welcomed our speaker, Dr Maureen
Nicol (NES Transforming Psychological Trauma
Local Implementation Coordinator - TPTIC), to
provide an introduction to trauma-informed
individuals and organisations, how we can
become more trauma informed and what
supports are available for us to do so.
The overriding message from this was that
trauma training and awareness is for everyone.
Trauma has no boundaries in regard to age,
gender or race and the National Trauma
Training Programme provides training and
resources to support all members of the Scottish
workforce to meet its vision:
“A trauma-informed and responsive
nation and workforce, that is capable of
recognising where people are affected by
trauma and adversity, that is able to respond
in ways that prevent further harm and
support recovery and can address
inequalities and improve life chances.”
Many people who experience traumatic
events will go on with their lives without lasting
negative effects, others will have more difficulty
where the impact of trauma can affect day to
day life, their ability to learn and can affect
mental health. The effects of traumatic events
can place a heavy burden on individuals,
families, and communities.
One of the best ways to counteract the effects
of trauma is to establish stable and positive
human relationships. In Aberdeenshire, our Third
Sector supports communities and individuals
unconditionally and National Trauma Training
Programme is for everyone, from volunteers,
trustees, and board members, project and
support workers, hall keepers, administrators,
fundraisers, social media & marketing,
managers, sports coaches, drivers - everyone
can benefit from being trauma-informed.
Being more aware and having a tool kit
of knowledge and responses allows us to
enable curiosity, build safe relationships and
connection to help prevent re-traumatisation.
The Trauma Skilled e-modules have just
launched, each of the 3 modules take around
1-1.5hrs to complete and cover:
1. Understanding the impact of trauma and
responding in a trauma-informed way
2. Trauma in children and young people
3. Understanding the impact on mental
health and evidence-based pathways to
recovery
The delivery of these modules is seamless as
you are guided through each section with
plenty of interaction, short videos and further
resources, there is something there for every
learning style.
This type of learning can weigh heavy and for
some it may trigger past experiences, through
out these modules there is a self-care element
and links to the Wellbeing: taking care of
yourself resource.
Take part in the training here:
https://learn.nes.nhs.scot/37896/
national-trauma-training-programme
(You will need to create TURAS/Learn account)

14 AVA | July 2021
Event|Developing Trauma-
Informed Child & Family
Services in Aberdeenshire
Thursday 2nd
September
at 2pm
T
his event is delivered by Aberdeenshire
Children’s Services and will provide an
opportunity for us to be able to explore
what trauma-informed means in terms
of supporting children & families in our
communities and also to show case some of
the really good practice taking place across
all partners services in Aberdeenshire. The
event will provide opportunities to:
• Learn about the impact of trauma and
what a trauma-informed approach looks
like
• Learn from existing good practice
across Aberdeenshire and how a
trauma-informed approach can support
improving outcomes for children and
families
• Hear about existing resources and support
for implementation of a trauma-informed
approach through the National Trauma
Training Programme
• Discuss how a trauma-informed approach
could support your area of work and
organisation and identify tangible actions
that can help embed a trauma-informed
approach in your area of work.
|
Register your interest with:
Chris.Ingram@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Children & Families|Network
In May at our Children & Families Forum we
discussed to possibility of holding regular
Children & Family Network meetings and
the feedback received was hugely positive.
Attendees were subsequently invited to attend
an informal steering group where a Terms of
Reference was established and a date set.
Thank you to those who were able to attend
and make this happen.
The Network is open to any Third Sector
organisations delivering services to children,
young people, carers, families, and adults in
Aberdeenshire and will meet every 2-3 months.
As a Network member you will receive invites to
these meetings and email updates.
The purpose of the Network is about:
• building relationships and providing mutual
support across Aberdeenshire
• receiving relevant updates
• sharing Third Sector views at local and
national level
To join the Network please fill in this registration
form - you will then be added to the network
membership for email updates and will
receive an invite to attend our first meeting
on Tuesday 7th September at 1pm.

AVA | July 2021 15
Lockdown
doesn’t
stop NE
Scouts!
Aaron Wappler
Assistant Regional Commissioner
(Communications), NE Scouts
Photos courtesy of NE Scouts
North East Scotland Scouts prepares young
people with skills for life – helping them
speak up and play their part in the world.
Each week we give almost four thousand
young people aged 6-25 the skills they need for
school, college, university, the job interview, the
important speech, the tricky challenge and the
big dreams: the skills they need for life, right across
the North East of Scotland. Lockdown changed
the way we used to do things, but it did not stop
us completely.
Instead, we took our activities online so we could
support our young people when they needed
us more than ever. From #FillingOurFoodbanks
with 6.8 tonnes in food donations to interactive
games, training and quizzes to even going
international (with an online twist) our volunteers
put on hundreds of online meetings over the
lockdown period for our young people.
On the 16th of March 2020, our nationwide
organisation made the decision to suspend all
face-to-face activities, in light of the government
advice at the time. After the announcement,
Scout Groups across the North East of Scotland,
took to the internet so we could deliver the same
fun and excitement through young people’s
computer screens.
It was a twist on our usual activities, from doing
scavenger hunts outdoors to scavenger hunts
which could be done at home, cooking by the
campfire to cooking at home (with a wee bit
of help from our amazing parents/guardians),
instead of experiencing the great outdoors as
normal, we put on interactive presentations,
quizzes and games and our volunteers taught
our young people about a wide variety of things
from mental wellbeing to tracking symbols to
learning morse code. There were even loads
of different Virtual Camps at home to keep
everyone busy with Templar’s Park Virtual Camp,
Fraserburgh Scout Group’s VE Day celebrations
and Jamboree on the Air.
On top of our jam packed zoom meetings,
looking after our communities and others is
important to us. That is why we took part in Hike
to the Moon to help raise £240,000 for the BBC’s
Children in Need and Comic Relief and in our
region alone we delivered a whopping 6.8 tonnes
continued F

16 AVA | July 2021
...continued:
in food donations to local foodbanks as part
of #FillOurFoodbanks in December and we are
now #TidyingTheTrash as part of our commitment
to the local environment. One of our volunteers
even fundraised for our amazing NHS - Sandy
Kirkwood dedicated some of the profits of sales
from his own online scout shop, raising £5000 for
NHS Charities Together and £5000 for the National
Emergencies Trust.
NEScouts went international during the lockdowns.
Hanna (7) from Forres Scout Group held a zoom
call with Turkish Scouts for her International &
Personal Challenge badges. They spoke about
the similarities in the promise, the scout sign and
what activities they had been doing with Scouts
before the lockdown started. Rothienorman Scout
Group even had a zoom visit from an Australian
Scout Group and spoke about how each country
was the same and in what ways they are different.
Thomas (9) from Rothienorman Scout Group said,
“I have really liked having Scout meetings online
during lockdown as we have lots of fun activities
like baking, quizzes, crafts and staying in touch
with my friends. Thank you, Paul and Maureen.”
Lockdown did not stop us celebrating the
achievements of some all-inspiring young people.
Cameron Barnes from 1st Insch Scout Group was
first up in his household on the 19th of April 2020
at the height of lockdown when he discovered
a fire in his kitchen. He remained calm, woke up
his family and got them outside and thankfully
the damage was contained. Because of his
cool-headedness and following his training
from Scouts, NEScouts honoured Cameron with
Scout Gallantry Cross in December and he even
received the Chief Fire Officers Commendation
from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service - both
two of the highest awards available in both
organisations.
Theo Harvey, a 13 year old Scout from 1st Alford
Scout Group was honoured with a Cornwell Scout
Badge in December. Theo underwent surgery to
remove a brain tumour but, unfortunately, he
completely lost his sight during the operation.
Despite his ongoing challenges, he kept on going
with Scouts, taking part with the same infectious
enthusiasm. He went above and beyond to raise
over £7500 for Guide Dogs for the Blind through
self-organised craft fayres and sponsored cycling,
with support of his parents.
Nine of our volunteers across Aberdeenshire,
Moray and Aberdeen City were honoured
with top awards for outstanding service to the
organisation. Chris Pinnell received the Silver
Acorn with Paul Gray, David Haytack, William
Farquhar, Helen Gallagher, Ryan McGregor,
Jeremy Morse, Eoin Smith and Joyce Webster
receiving their Awards for Merit.
Now as restrictions begin to ease, we are returning
to what we do best in person - but still following
updated guidance.
Enrol your child or join as an adult volunteer by
visiting nescouts.scot and filling out an application
form. We cannot wait to welcome new and old
faces back, it may still just be a little different to
what we were used to!

AVA | July 2021 17
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

18 AVA | July 2021
PROFILE |
Getting to know those who work hard in
your Third Sector Interface
Who are you?
Susan Kinsey – generally known
as Sue.
What is your job (in addition to
AVA Board Member)?
A teacher for several years, I
also ran a safety consultancy
with my late husband. A
lifelong volunteer, I am
presently vice-chair of GCRA+, a board member
of Computers & Integration, Chair of the trustees
of the Garioch Charities Shop and a patient
representative, or public partner, on several NHS
Grampian groups. I am also Secretary of Soroptimist
International of Aberdeen. Before the pandemic
and virtual exams, I was also an invigilator at RGU
and Robert Gordon College.
How did you end up working with AVA?
I was a past chair of Gordon Rural Action, and
a board member of the Volunteer Centre,
predecessors of AVA, and was involved in the
transition to AVA so I knew the values which
underpin the organisation. I was also appointed
as a Third Sector representative on Aberdeenshire
Integration Joint Board and was, subsequently,
approached to join the AVA board.
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
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We want to hear from you!
Give us feedback, suggestions,
whatever - fill in our form here.
AVA Magazine available in large print
What does a typical day look like?
My days are my own and they vary. Sometimes
there are meetings every day, now mostly virtual,
and sometimes I am forced to do housework! When
I am not writing up minutes, or reading meeting
papers, I am a great radio fan and have recently
discovered BBC Sounds and Podcasts. I love
spending time with my grandchildren who are a
constant joy.
How has Covid-19 affected your job?
Everything is via a screen now! This is not always
negative – Soroptimist meetings have been much
better attended now that members can join from
home – especially in the winter. Generally, groups
have stayed connected although we all miss
meeting, holding face to face discussions and
socialising. Some issues need folk round the table so
I hope that we can return, at least in part, to being
able to do that.
www.avashire.org.uk