The Alford BULLetin 29 - Spring 2023

Home-Start is a local community network of trained volunteers and expert support, helping families with young children through their challenging times. We are there for parents when they need us the most because childhood can’t wait.

Our fully trained volunteers work with families in their own home, where there is a child or children aged 5 or under, our approach is as individual as the people we’re helping. No judgement, it is just compassionate, confidential help and expert support. We also offer support through one of our three local parent and toddler groups.

Being a parent has never been easy. It can be lonely, frustrating, heartbreaking and over-whelming. Life-changing events can happen to anyone. That is why HomeStart is ready to support families through their toughest times.

Every Home-Start volunteer is trained to help them work alongside you to overcome the challenges you are facing. We work with you to build on your strengths and give you the support that you tell us that you need.

We have a fantastic charity shop in Alford. Our shops are social enterprises, meaning all monies raised go straight back into the charity and supporting local families. We have various volunteering opportunities within our shops to suit a variety of needs. If you have a child/ren aged 5 or under and you feel you could benefit from some support, or you would simply like to find out more about our services and volunteering opportunities, please get in touch by telephone on 01330 824443 or email info@homestartdeeside.org

Find us on Facebook: Home-Start Deeside, Alford & Strathdon

Alford + District Men’s Shed

Alford & District Men’s Shed meets on a Tuesday and a Thursday from 9am to 4pm and welcomes men of all ages from 18 upwards.

We have woodworking areas, metal work areas etc and a café where you can sit and read the paper and have a cuppa if that’s what you fancy.

It is free to join – all you pay for is your cuppa.

Please come along and see what we have to offer our community for the men of Alford and district.

Pictured are pupils from Alford Primary School receiving their Mud Kitchen from Alford Men’s Shed and their resulting Thank You artwork.

What is YOUR group up to?

Cos the BULLetin wants to know...

There are lots of activities and events across the Donside area, every week and every year. They all do wonderful things and many have struggled to keep going, or keep going in the same way, since Covid and the Cost of Living crises.

What’s your passion? Does your group or event need new members/volunteers?

Get in touch. I’d love to feature you in the magazine. Send any words, pictures, posters and important dates to the contacts below.

Remember the copy deadlines – 1st of February, May, August and November, every year.

I live in Ballater (another fabulous place!) so I can’t always have my ear to the ground with what’s on but I do want to help the Alford and surrounding area tell folk about what is out there for them.

The rewards are huge for all. Be it tennis, hula hoops, reading, debating, blethering or rolling out Father Christmas every year, let me know, and I’ll do what I can with the space I’ve got. Cat x

News from Secretary Edna Harris

Community Film

Friday 17th March 7.30pm. Doors 7pm. The Railway Children Return (Cert PG) A family drama, set 40 years after the first story, where a new group of children are evacuated to Yorkshire during WWII. £5

Clairvoyant Evening with Annie Moon

Friday 14th April 7pm. An evening with Annie Moon, well respected clairvoyant. Doors open 6.30pm. Tickets £20 per person, (incl teas/coffees/homebakes) available from Everlong Art, Main St, or from Carol phone 07799874004 or via this link: https://app.promotix.com/ events/details/Annie-Moon-ClairvoyantEvening-tickets.

The Tully Bus will be running from Alford car park at 6.30pm and picking up in Montgarrie at 6.40pm. Please note this is NOT a BYOB event.

Producers’ Market

Our next Producers’ Market will be on Saturday May 27th 10am til 1pm. Come along and support your local producers. We will have our famous cafe with a view and grand raffle. Free entrance. The Tully Bus will be running a shuttle once more from Alford main Car Park.

Resilience Hub

Lots of work is going on behind the scenes, writing a Resilience Plan with a view to becoming a Resilience Hub for our rural neighbours in times of need.

Blended Meetings

A reminder that we have all the necessary equipment for local clubs/organisations/ groups to hold a blended meeting, if some members cannot attend in person. Everything is provided along with help and support.

Members and Board Members

We have vacancies for three Board Members. If you would like to join us please get in touch with our Chair (chair@ tullynesslehall.org). We especially need someone with an interest in or experience in marketing. As we are an Incorporated Charity we also have Members, who do not sit on the Board. They live in AB33 area and wish to support the Hall. They can call special members meetings to discuss hall matters if they so wish. There is no fee. The Secretary has Membership forms if you wish to support the Hall in this way.

Local Governance

Donside Community Council

All of our meetings are open to the public, whether you want to raise an issue or just come along and hear what we are talking about first hand.

The meetings are attended by our local

area Community Council representatives (who are all volunteers) and by Aberdeenshire Councillors for Wards 14 and 15.

We meet every second Tuesday of the month, except for July and December. Most of our meetings are held at Alford Community Campus but we hold at least two meetings in other parts of our area during the year.

Follow us on Facebook to keep up to date. If you have a questions or want any information, contact us by email: chair@ donsidecommunitycouncil.org.uk

There are already lots of businesses, community groups and organisations listed on www.enjoyalfordanddonside. com. Check out the Explore page to see what’s there. You can list YOUR organisation on the site, which aims to promote all aspects of Alford and Donside to residents and visitors. All you need to do is complete a form online via the Facebook page /enjoyalfordanddonside or email info@ enjoyalfordanddonside.com

Who’s in charge here? If you have a problem or would like to see something change or happen in the area, there are a few places from which you can start...

Evelyntreasurefinder2

Vintage | Fashion | China Glass | Antiques + Funky Stuff

open from March 28

49 High Street Alford AB33 9PX eviejanem@gmail.com 07880 790027

Tullynessle Hall Film Club

with Annette Wright

Film showings start at 7.30pm, door, 7pm. Refreshments are available but the audience is welcome to BYOB. Entry £5pp

9th March: Licorice Pizza (15)

The story of Alana Kane and Gary Valentine growing up, running around and going through the treacherous navigation of first love in the San Fernando Valley, in 1973.

17th March: The Railway Children

Return (PG)

Follow a group of children who are evacuated to a Yorkshire village during the Second World War, where they encounter a young soldier who, like them, is far away from home.

23rd March: Boiling Point (15)

Enter the relentless pressure of a restaurant kitchen as a head chef wrangles his team on the busiest day of the year. For further details about the film programme beyond March, go to www. tullynessleandforbeshall.co.uk/ filmclub.asp

Professional Tree Surgeons serving Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire

Alford Valley Community Railway

Thanks to the Just Transition Fund, Alford Valley Community Railway have taken delivery of the new plastic railway sleepers which our local volunteers are going to be installing over the coming few weeks –replacing the original wooden ones. We would like to offer the opportunity to become a supporter of our community railway by adopting our new sleepers. Each sleeper will be individually numbered and your name and donation level will be recorded on the ‘Wall of Fame’ to be located in the upgraded station building. Each £25 level of adoption will allocate a 1/4 length of a sleeper with the adoption levels being as follows:

Bronze Level (£25) – 1/4 sleeper

Silver Level (£50) – 1/2 sleeper

Gold Level (£100) – complete sleeper

The new sleepers have a 50 year guarantee, and due to the light loads they will endure will probably last much longer. You would have a family legacy recorded in support of the Railway ensuring its future growth and existence within the local community. You can donate as little or as much as you wish with payment being possible through the PayPal system.

Please support us in our endeavours to develop this local community railway enabling it to grow and expand in the years to come.

the Absinthe Distillery on your doorstep...

Lost Loch Distillery is a craft operation based in the Deeside Activity Park, owned and run by locals Pete Dignan and Rich Pierce since 2017.

Starting small with a secret family recipe for Haroosh, a whisky, bramble and honey liqueur, the duo realised that nobody in Scotland was making absinthe.

Leaping on this glaring omission, they came up with Murmichan (an old Scots word for a wicked fairy), Scotland’s first absinthe, distilled with local honey for a smooth experience.

Next came eeNoo, as in “it’s time for gin

eeNoo” made with local berries, honey, rosehips and heather flowers. Visitors are welcome, with tours and tastings available to book, plus an inhouse Spirits School, where participants get to create their very own spirits in mini stills to take home.

This year other plans include a regular Lost Loch Live, where the distillery will open as a bar for the evening, showcasing local musicians and food.

So, if you’ve made it your mission in 2023 to find out more about your local area, or you’re looking for somewhere to go with friends, drop us an email or follow on socials, we’d love to see you.

www.lostlochspirits.com

visitus@lostloch.com

We are now looking to welcome new faces to our 2023 volunteer team in three key areas in advance of our reopening on April 1st!

If you have an interest in a role in the following areas please get in touch!

Events Team - Volunteers on our events team help plan, set up, and host the events offered at the museum. Volunteers in this area are welcome to make as large or as limited a time commitment as they feel fits their personal schedule and capabilities. Whether you’d like to have an active role in event planning or would be happier serving cups of tea at our monthly coffee mornings, we’d be happy to have you join us!

Education and Children’s Activities - The museum hosts visits from schools and youth groups throughout the year, as well as offering our Museum Minis craft and storytelling sessions for ages 0-5. We are looking to expand these offerings and need to grow our volunteer team to do so. Individuals with a background in education or youth services are particularly welcome to apply, but full training will be provided so no formal experience is required. Volunteers in this role will be required to undergo a PVG check.

Front Desk Volunteers - The front desk team are crucial to the museum being able to open to the public every week during our April-October open season. The museum will be open from 12-4 pm every Thursday through Sunday from April 1st to October 29th this year and our front desk volunteers are there each day to welcome museum visitors. Front desk shifts are from 11:30 am

to 4 pm, typically one day per week. No relevant experience is needed for this position, but confidence in a public facing role and willingness to learn to use our gift shop payment systems will be necessary. Reliability is important for this role, but availability can vary - in addition to our weekly front desk regulars we will also be looking to create a bank of volunteers who are willing to train to provide sickness and holiday cover for our core volunteer team. Notes of interest or requests for additional information can be emailed to volunteers@alfordheritagemuseum.com with follow up meetings offered in person at Alford Heritage Museum.

Love Local scheme to benefit many

Aberdeenshire Council has confirmed that £1.33 million is being invested in the Scotland Loves Local Aberdeenshire Gift Card.

The scheme will support households in Aberdeenshire with the challenges around the cost of living and is being financed by the Scottish Government’s Local Authority Covid Economic Recovery Fund (LACER).

More than 11,300 households in receipt of Council Tax Reduction will initially receive a £100 pre-paid gift card later this month, with the remaining funds being used to provide additional financial support for those who need it most.

It will also provide a much-needed boost for those businesses signed up to the gift card scheme, particularly as they recover from the Covid pandemic.

Currently around 200 businesses are already enjoying the benefits of the initiative, ranging from clothing retailers to convenience stores, food outlets to health and wellbeing services and the council is actively promoting the scheme to shops, services and attractions in villages and towns across the region.

The gift card can be used in any of the participating stores across Aberdeenshire and can also be used online at participating retailers, provided that retailer has a physical presence in the region.

Letters with activation codes are already being issued to households followed by a second letter containing the gift cards a week later. Cards must be activated within 3 months of receipt and recipients will have 12 months from the date of activation to spend the full gift card balance.

1/4 page - £30

1/2 page - £60

Full page - £120

Back page - £150

FOOT CARE IN YOUR HOME

All relevant C-19 precautions taken