The Marr Area
Set in Aberdeenshire, in North East Scotland, the Marr area stretches from Huntly in the North, to Banchory in the South East and across to Braemar to the West.
We operate in the largest of the six areas of Aberdeenshire. Occupying 48% of the land mass but inhabited by just 15% of the population.
Who do we work with?
We work with community groups and associations, village hall committees, community councils... and in partnership with other service providers including Aberdeenshire Council, our fellow partners on the Marr Local Community Planning Group (which includes Grampian Police, Fire & Rescue and NHS, as well as the Council for Voluntary Services and Community Learning & Development teams. We also work closely with fellow rural partnerships across Aberdeenshire.
What is our Story?
We are a registered charity and were set up with the support of Aberdeenshire Council as a rural partnership recognised by the then Scottish Executive.
Marr Area Partnership was formed in 1998 by a group of volunteers to help local communities and although the nature of our work has changed, the same broad aims apply. Funding is now largely in the form of grants subject to Service Level Agreements to ensure we are achieving that for which we are paid.
Our Development Officers work closely with the volunteers on the Board, some of whom have been with MAP since the very start and can therefore draw on much experience. The Partners meet bi-monthly, with officers in attendance.
How are we funded?
Our core funding comes from Aberdeenshire Council’s funds for Community Economic Development, which is subject to a Service Level Agreement covering many of our core activities.
An additional Service Level Agreement is in place with the Marr local Community Planning Group, funding our work on Community Ward Forums and the Review of the Marr Local Community Plan, as well as the work updating and supporting users of the Your Hall Manual.
Additional funding is accessed for pilot projects as they are developed
Additional work is undertaken on a consultancy basis from time to tme providing it is within the aims and purpose of MAP
Different areas of our work are led by different volunteers or staff members. Contact Us
Research & Information
Review of the Marr Local Community Plan
MAP have taken the lead role in research and engagement as part of the review process to produce a revised Plan for 2010-2014. This has involved questionnaires, telephone discussions and specially- tailored Community Ward Forums.
MAP Newsletters
Our newsletter is sent out by email to local community groups, Community Planning Partners and many other contacts across Marr, with brief updates and links to useful website features under each of our Work Themes. This forms part of our commitment to keeping up-to-date with important information and sources of help or funding for our local communities.
Strategic Planning & Policy
Community Planning
Representatives of the Marr Area Partnership are part of the Aberdeenshire Community Planning Partnership (ACPP) Board and the ACPP “Developing our Partnership” Theme Group, as well as being very active members of the Marr Local Community Planning Group.
Click here to view the minutes of the Marr Local Community Planning Group on the website.
Click here to access the Community Planning Partnership website
Aberdeenshire Rural Partnerships Federation
Marr Area Partnership is a member of Aberdeenshire Rural Partnerships Federation (ARPF), which brings together the rural partnerships that work throughout Aberdeenshire. The Federation meets quarterly to share the results of their work and best practice, whilst liasing with Aberdeenshire Council’s Community Economic Development team. The group also looks at ways of working together to provide support and advice to community groups and other local organisations.
Third Sector Support
We contribute to the overall support for the Third Sector in Aberdeenshire (which includes all community and voluntary sector organisations and groups) and as a Community Planning Partner (CPP) organisation, we are committed to the Third Sector Compact and to supporting all voluntary and community groups and organisations.
Resource Link
Community Engagement & Facilitation
Community Action Plans
Community action planning is a process to establish the needs and aspirations of local people to improve services and facilities within their own community. This is still a developing process but it has great potential to enable communities to take ownership of issues and get something done about them, and also to support and coordinate developments. It also enables them to complement and inform the planning that statutory agencies undertake.
Community Ward Forums
Community action planning is a process to establish the needs and aspirations of local people to improve services and facilities within their own community. This is still a developing process but it has great potential to enable communities to take ownership of issues and get something done about them, and also to support and coordinate developments. It also enables them to complement and inform the planning that statutory agencies undertake.
Youth Issues Action Plan for Marr
As part of our work on the Community Ward Forums, we worked with Community Learning & Development teams to bring young people along to Forums. They discussed their issues and concerns with community representatives and service providers, returning for a second set of sessions to discuss possible solutions and the part they could play in these. We drew up a Youth Issues Action Plan which will continue to be updated as issues are dealt with and new issues raised.
Resource Link
Public Entertainment Licence Project & the Your Hall Manual.
Marr Area Partnership was the lead partner in a project to respond to the problems experienced by village hall committees dealing with Public Entertainment Licence requirements in Aberdeenshire.
The project partners (including among others the Council for Voluntary Service, Grampian Fire & Rescue and Community Learning & Development) developed a manual for use by village halls to assist in management and development of halls and compliance with regulations. The Your Hall Manual was launched in February 2009 and is being widely used in Marr, with MAP providing support and advice as well as updating the manual when necessary.
Community Planning Newsletter
We were heavily involved in the development of a pilot newsletter in the Marr and Banff & Buchan areas, containing Aberdeenshire-wide and local information about Community Planning in action. The pilot was deemed a success and is being rolled out across Aberdeenshire.
For more information on Community Planning in Aberdeenshire, click here
Grants & Funding Advice
Initiative Grant Scheme
We manage an Initiative Grant Scheme, which is funded by Aberdeenshire Council Marr Area Committee. Grants of up to £1,000 under this scheme are available to support community groups in Marr and have a focus on supporting sustainable development. This may be economic, social, cultural or environmental. If related to larger schemes they can be for project start-up costs which will help groups bring a project idea into reality. Involvement in the grant scheme also enables us to support, advise and help with the development of project aims, management and making the most of the skills and experience within communities to progress projects.
LEADER Funding
LEADER is a major programme of European and Scottish Government funding to support development for rural communities. We are members of the LEADER Aberdeenshire Local Action Group (LAG) and Cairngorms National Park LAG, helping to make decisions on funding from these schemes. To access the LEADER website click here.
General Funding Advice
We support community groups in identifying opportunities for seeking grant funding for projects. We also refer people to the Grant Finder service offered by Council for Voluntary Service Aberdeenshire – Central and South (CVSA). To contact CVSA for access to the Grant Finder database. Click Here
To access the Buchan Development Partnership Toolbox,which includes valuable funding information. Click Here
Work Planning
Community Council Priorities
Marr Area Partnership took notes from the minutes from seven community councils in Marr over a period of up to two years and mapped out what was discussed along community planning themes. This has provided a clear and concise illustration of matters discussed to make communities better informed about issues affecting them, as well as helping Community Councils to plan their priorities.
Community Council Contacts in Marr
To read a list of contacts for Community Councils in the Marr area Click Here.
Social Audit
Marr Area Partnership is undertaking a social audit to assess the benefits of its work to stakeholders by asking their opinion on its work and collating information on work undertaken and achievements. To find out more Click Here
Community Project Support & Capacity Building
Huntly
Marr Area Partnership was a member of the steering group for Huntly Aberdeenshire Town Partnership (ATP), which was set up to create a strategic plan for the long-term and sustainable development of the town. The Huntly community achieved a great deal during the ATP period, but when this came to an end during 2009, the evolution to the creation of Huntly Development Trust was supported through process facilitation and specialist advice on recruitment and management arrangements.
To go to the Huntly website Click Here
Capacity Building
In this area of development we work closely with Aberdeenshire Council’s Community Learning & Development teams to identify where community groups or community councils need additional support or training in order to achieve their objectives.
Resource Link
Sustainability & Environment
Community Economic Development
Community economic development includes a wide range of activities, including social enterprises and voluntary and community sector organisations. We provide support to any organisation or group, and signposting to other agencies that may provide them with support and assistance.
Carbon Reduction Initiatives
Rural Partnerships across Aberdeenshire worked together during 2009 with specialist agency support to explore the potential for a single Aberdeenshire-wide Carbon Reduction project Two seminars were held and the Scottish Climate Challenge fund offered support to groups considering projects that might be funded by them. The outcome was that a number of community groups working on carbon reduction initiatives were identified and a network of groups created. Rural partnerships, including the Marr Area Partnership have made a commitment to support these groups.
Other examples
The Core Paths development, Community Woodlands schemes and the Walking to Health project on Deeside have all involved us in providing a range of support.
Resource Link
To download our newsletters Click Here
Who to contact - for what?
Any of our development officers can be contacted in the first instance and we will work out who is best placed to help with a specific need. However, the following breakdown of special areas of interest by Development Officer might help you.
Mike Powell OBE
- Making It Real community consultations
- Community Action Plans
- Your Hall Manual (Public Entertainment Licence Project)
- Carbon Reduction projects
- Third Sector Interface
- Cairngorms National Park involvement
- Development and viability of projects and enterprises
- Funding - including the Initiative Grant Scheme
- Project management, governance and staffing advice
- Business Plan advice
- Developing Our Partnership theme group (within Community Planning)
Suzanne Wall
- Marr Community Ward Forums
- Community Councils liaison
- Marr Youth Issues Action Plan
- Marketing & Press Relations
- Business Plan advice
- Liaison with Marr Local Community Planning Group
- Links to Homecoming Scotland 2009
- MAP Website
Natasha Pawlukiewicz
- MAP Newsletter
- Social Audit
- Community Research
- Records of MAP's activities
John Lewis - Chairman of the Marr Area Partnership
Chairman of the Donside Community Council.
John also sits on:
Aberdeenshire Rural Partnership Federation
Marr Community Planning Group.
Aberdeenshire Community Planning Partnership Board .
Aberdeenshire Tackling Poverty and Inequalities Group.
Leader - Local Action Group (LAG).
Marr Area Partnership
Main telephone number: 0845 6028817
General email address: enquiry@marrareapartnership.org.uk
or use the email form above.
Postal Address:
Marr Area Partnership
Gellan Cottage
Coull
Aboyne
AB34 5JU
Mike Powell, Development Officer
email: mike@marrareapartnership.org.uk
Tel: 013398 87577
Mobile Tel: 07803 897424
Suzanne Wall, Development Officer
email: suzanne@marrareapartnership.org.uk
Mobile
Tel: 07786 579426
Natasha Pawlukiewicz, Development Officer
email: natasha@marrareapartnership.org.uk
MAP Chair:
John Lewis
email: chair@marrareapartnership.org.uk
Mobile Tel: 07815778672
MAP Vice-Chair:
Dr Eleanor Anderson
email:
dr_anderson@marrareapartnership.co.uk
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