A programme of tutor led Introductory Workshops suitable for interested parent helpers/leaders, coaches just starting out or coaches within your club new to this type of workshop/course. These will take place at Inverurie (Town Hall) on Monday evenings, 7.00pm - 9.00pm (except Working with Disabled Sportspeople which will be on a Thursday evening, 7.00pm - 9.00pm). The first two scheduled courses unfortunately had to be cancelled due to a poor response. Please support these excellent courses.

The vast majority of those clubs/organisations responding to the questionnaire (Help Us To Help You) indicated that a Monday or Thursday evening would be a suitable time to hold the workshops. Inverurie has been chosen as a central venue given that clubs from throughout Aberdeenshire indicated a wish to attend.

Cost of each workshop is only £7.50 for those who are members of a club affiliated to Aberdeenshire Sports Council and £12.00 for those who are not, inclusive of resource booklet and tea/coffee.

Why not sign your club/organisation up for the six workshops and pay for only five?!  Different personnel within the club could attend the various workshops if you wish. If you are hoping to share a lift we can put you in touch with other participants from your area. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity!!

Workshops still available are as follows -

•    Coach in Action                                          Mon 19 Nov 2001

     Helps coaches plan, conduct and evaluate their sessions more effectively and develop the skills and knowledge needed for successful coaching.

•    Mind Over Matter                                   Mon 3 Dec 2001

     Includes the fundamentals of skill development and sport psychology, explains the basic mental skills of goal-setting, confidence building, emotional control and concentration.

•    Planning & Practice                                Mon 14 Jan 2002

     Offers practical guidelines on how to plan and organise sessions and schedules to ensure they are safe, enjoyable and effective; includes advice on managing groups.

•    Working With Disabled Sportspeople            Thurs 31 Jan 2002

     Raises awareness about sport for people with physical, sensory and learning difficulties.

•    Safety & Injury                                           Mon 18 Mar 2002

     Identifies potential hazards for coaches, provides guidance on health and safety issues, offers practical ways of dealing with injuries and accidents.

•    Body in Action                                          Mon 15 Apr 2002

     Explains the principles of fitness and how the body works; provides examples of exercises and tests; and helps coaches to construct safe and effective fitness programmes.

For application forms, further information and details of the Introductory Workshops and ‘Running Your Sport’ courses contact:

Mike Seed at 1 Church Street, Macduff AB44 1UR.
Tel 01261 813383 or E-mail: Info@Aberdeenshire-Sports-Council.org.uk

‘Running Your Sport’ Workshops

Aberdeenshire Sports Council has organised the following tutor led ‘Running Your Sport’ Courses which will be of value and benefit to all clubs and organisations. Venue will be Inverurie (Town Hall), times 6.45pm - 9.45pm.  Costs have been subsidised for Aberdeenshire Sports Council affiliated clubs/organisations.

•    Raising The Money                                   Mon 26 Nov 2001

     Most clubs are after increased levels of funding for a wide range of reasons. The workshop includes advice and suggestions on fundraising, sponsorship, marketing and grant aid.

     Affiliated members - £5.00; Unaffiliated £8.00 (includes advisory booklet)

•    Sports Development Planning                   Thurs 17 Jan 2002

     How well does your club plan for the future? This workshop will highlight the benefits of planning and help you plan your club’s progress to make the best use of all available resources. Effective planning will also help you with any future funding applications.

     Affiliated members - £7.50; Unaffiliated £15.00 (includes comprehensive workbook)

•    Valuing Volunteers                                    Mon 4 Feb 2002

     Finding and keeping volunteers is getting harder for everyone. The course will give you lots of ideas on how to recruit, retain and reward your volunteers.

     Affiliated members - £7.50; Unaffiliated £15.00 (includes comprehensive workbook)

For application forms, further information and details of the Introductory Courses and ‘Running Your Sport’ Workshops contact: Mike Seed at 1 Church Street, Macduff AB44 1UR .  Tel 01261 813383 or E-mail: Info@Aberdeenshire-Sports-Council.org.uk

Sports Coach UK (National Coaching Foundation)

Coach Education Programme

Coach Workshops

A range of excellent courses, targeted at coaches with some previous experience, have been organised by the Activ-8-Grampian office between October 2001 and May 2002. These take place at Summerhill Education Centre, Aberdeen on Wednesdays and Thursdays 6.30pm - 9.30pm, cost £20.00 each workshop (it may be possible to subsidise these costs).

Courses still available are as follows:

•    Improving Practices & Skill                    14 Nov 2001

•    Fitness Training                                        29 Nov 2001

•    Analysing Your Coaching                         12 Dec 2001

•    Motivation & Mental Toughness            24 Jan 2002

•    Coaching Disabled Performers                27 Feb 2002

•    Fuelling Performers                                   7 Mar 2002

•    Coaching Methods & Communication    27 Mar 2002

•    Good Practice & Child Protection           18 Apr 2002

•    Injury Prevention & Management            2 May 2002

•    Observation Analysis & Video             15 May 2002

•    Goal-setting & Planning                           29 May 2002

For further information and details of all the above courses contact:

Margaret Barnes, Administrator, Activ-8-Grampian, Gordon House, Blackhall Road, Inverurie, AB51 3WA.  Tel: 01467 628126 or E-mail: activ8@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

Grampian Coaching Courses

A brochure detailing National Governing Body Coaching Courses to be held in Grampian during the next 12 months is available from:

Margaret Barnes, Administrator, Activ-8-Grampian, Gordon House, Blackhall Road, Inverurie, AB51 3WA.

Tel: 01467 628126 or E-mail: activ8@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

Sports covered include: Athletics, Badminton, Cricket, Football, Gymnastics, Hockey, Netball, Rugby, Swimming, Tennis and Triathlon.

A Coaching In Grampian Seminar is being held on Tuesday 13 Nov 2001 to launch the Strategy for Coaching in Grampian and to discuss coaches needs regarding local coaches forum, etc, at 7.00pm at Edwards, Inverurie. All welcome.

Aberdeenshire Tennis Forum, who were recently awarded a starter grant from Aberdeenshire Sports Council, held a successful practical workshop recently to which all Tennis Club personnel and coaches in the region were invited.

The workshop which was free of charge  took place at Turriff and was run by Kris Soutar, District Tennis Coach. Seventeen participants, including seven who travelled from Moray clubs received many useful tips from Kris on ‘The Way Ahead in Mini Tennis.’ This included practical sessions and latest information on the mini tennis initiative.

Club/Org’n/Individual                 Category   Grant

Anne Woffinden (Boccia)               Individual   £300

Angela Shearer (Athletics)            Individual   £150

Michael Milne    Individual   £200
(Clay Pigeon Shooting)

Pamela McNaughton (Gymnastics)   Individual   £100

Sonya Mackie (Squash)              Individual   £250

Martin Leel (Swimming)          Individual   £250

John Fyvie (Athletics)            Individual   £200

Ewan Buchan (Swimming)          Individual   £100

Janice Borland (Triathlon)             Individual   £300

Mary McKean (Triathlon)             Individual   £300

Benjamin Kilner (Snowboarding)     Individual   £100

Christopher Thomson (Cricket)               Individual   £200

Murray Duff (Tennis)               Individual   £100

Clare Turnbull (Judo)                  Individual     £200

Lisa McNeil (Hockey)              Individual   £250

Colin Richardson (Sailing)               Individual   £200

Katharine Mieras (Dressage)           Individual   £150

Debbie Rhind (Dressage)           Individual   £150

Pippa Morrison (Dressage)           Individual   £150

Rebecca Stephen (Dressage)           Individual   £150

Alistair McGregor (Hockey)              Individual    £300

Peterhead Sailing Club          Event   £200

Peterhead Sailing Club          Travel   £150

Leading Edge     Club Starter   £200

Colin Richardson           Coaching    £100

City of Aberdeen Trampoline Club   Development   £450

1.  Don’t participate beyond paying your dues. Let ‘them’ handle the things. Then complain that the members have no voice in the association.

2.  Decline all offices, committee meetings and appointments - You Are Too Busy. Then offer vociferous advice on how to do the things.

3.  Even then, if appointed to the executive committee, don’t work - it’s a courtesy appointment. Then complain that the association has stagnated.

4.  If you do attend General Body Meetings, don’t initiate new ideas. Then you can play “Devil’s Advocate” to those submitted by others.

5.  Don’t volunteer your talents - that’s ego fulfilment. Then complain that you are never asked and never appreciated.

6.  Don’t rush to pay your dues - these are too high anyway! Then complain about the poor financial management.

7.  Don’t encourage others to become members - that’s selling. Then complain that the membership is not growing.

8.  Don’t read and respond to mail from the headquarters - it is not important. Then complain that you are not kept informed.

9.  Don’t inform about your change in job and address - it is ‘their’ duty to find out. Then complain that you are not receiving the mail and bulletins.

Awards for All is a programme set up to help small community groups access lottery funds. You can apply for up to £5000 in any one year.

To apply for a grant your group only needs to complete a short application form and give us some basic information about your group. Awards for All has been described as the easiest way to access lottery funds!

So what’s new?

•    A new lottery distributor, the New Opportunites Fund has come on board, joining the Community Fund, Scottish Arts Council, sportscotland and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

•    Until now Awards for All has funded community, arts, sports and heritage activities. Now it will also fund projects in the areas of health, education and the environment!

•    More groups can apply for funding. Your group can now have an annual income of up to £20,000 a year and still apply - and the New Opportunities Fund will consider applications if your annual income is even higher than that provided your project focuses on health, education and the environment.

What kind of groups can you fund?

Awards for All can fund a wide range of groups - from senior citizens groups to youth choirs, and from football clubs to local history societies, with everything in between!

Most of the groups funded through the programme are small groups, usually run by volunteers offering people in their local community the chance to get involved in worthwhile activities.

Now, with the expansion of Awards for All to include the New Opportunities Fund, we are able to consider applications from different kinds of organisations. Through Awards for All, the New Opportunities Fund will also consider applications from organisations with larger incomes, for example, schools, community councils and health bodies, but such applications must focus activity on health, education or the environment or a combination of these themes.

More information about these new opportunities is contained in the new application pack.

How can we apply?

Phone 0845 600 2040 and request a new application pack for Awards for All.

Complete the form! Use the form to tell us about the project you want funds for and how you will carry it out during the next twelve months.

Send us the completed application form and the other documents we ask for:

•    a constitution or set of rules which has been signed as adopted by your group

•    a bank statement which gives details of a bank or building society account in the name of your group

•    a set of annual accounts no more than a year old which has been signed by your management committee as a true record of your group’s finances

Contact Details

Application Pack Hotline:0845 600 20 40

General Enquiries: 0131 659 7000

Textphone:  0131 221 7122

Postal Address:
Awards for All, Norloch House
36 King’s Stables Road, Edinburgh  EH1 2EJ

Aberdeenshire Disability Sport runs a series of multisport classes for children and adults with disabilities across Aberdeenshire.  One of the aims of this year’s development plan is to increase the spread of these classes.  The group was successful recently in obtaining a grant of £4,298 to purchase equipment to enable these groups to enjoy a variety of mainstream and adapted sports.  Various sponsorship and grants are also being sought to cover the other costs of running the groups.

Over the summer and autumn period Aberdeenshire Disability Sport has been working with Aberdeenshire Social Work to run a series of outdoor activities days for children with a disability.  Costs have been met by the Respite Care Fund and have enabled transport, carers and instructors to be provided on twelve separate activity days.  Bigfoot Adventures at Strathdon, Loch Park Adventure Centre at Keith, the Huntly Nordic Ski Centre and the Aberdeenshire Council Ranger Service provided a series of exhilarating outdoor activities such as skiing, mountain biking, abseiling and jumping off 30' poles.  Especially pleasing was that these activities were particularly popular with teenagers who can sometimes be hard to attract.

A winter programme of adventurous activities is also planned with ice skating, golf, skiing, dancing, ten pin bowling, pool kayaking and outdoor activities planned for Saturdays and Sundays during November to March.  These sessions are free to any child resident in Aberdeenshire who is eligible, because of a disability, for respite care.

For more information on any aspect of disability sport in Aberdeenshire please contact Rachel Boal on 01467 628158 or John Wills on 0777 3149185.

Due to final confirmation (received recently) of the Aberdeenshire Council grant aid settlement to Aberdeenshire Sports Council for 2001/02 (for the amount requested) there are still grant aid funds available to affiliated clubs/organisations under the various categories -

•    Talented Individual

•    Club/Forum Starter

•     Coaching/Officials/Administrators Education

•    Event

•    Travel

•    Development e.g. developing a junior section, new initiatives, etc

Don’t miss out on the possibility of much needed funding. Contact the office on 01261 813383 for a grant aid pack.

We are most grateful to Aberdeenshire Council for their continued support.

Whilst some of you may not even have got around yet to thinking about the festive season this will be our final Newsletter of the year.

May we therefore wish all our readers a very Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.

We look forward to supporting and working with sports clubs, organisations and individuals once again next year.

Hope you have an exciting and successful year of sport in 2002.

The 1998 - 2001 Aberdeenshire Sports Development Plan expires this year. This was a joint development initiative between Aberdeenshire Council and Aberdeenshire Sports Council produced following extensive consultation and was well received. It has proved to be a valuable document with many of the aims, key objectives and proposed development initiatives having been achieved and implemented during the last three years. Affiliated clubs have had the opportunity to comment on the progress via annual reviews of the plan.

Aberdeenshire Council Sports Development Team and Aberdeenshire Sports Council are currently in the process of putting together a draft document for 2002 - 2005 which will go out for consultation in January 2002 to all appropriate bodies, organisations, clubs and individuals. This will be a slimmer document than the last three year plan but hopefully useful and valuable to all involved in developing and promoting sport, health and fitness and  active lifestyles. It is hoped to launch the new three year plan in April next year. Please ensure that you respond to the consultation should you and/or your organisation have any queries or comments.

There are some 80 clubs, organisations and individuals who affiliated to Aberdeenshire Sports Council in 2000/01 who have still not affiliated for 2001/02. Affiliations to date stand at 165. (Detailed below.) We hope that this is an oversight and you wish to remain affiliated.

Please do not delay any longer - forward your affiliation form (sent previously and published in the last two newsletters) and cheque for £20 by return of post or as soon as possible. If you have mislaid affiliation forms contact the office.

It may be necessary to begin to delete clubs/organisations from the mailing list if affiliation fees are not forwarded prior to the end of the year. We don’t want to do this.

We believe that members receive excellent value for money and we are constantly trying to offer a quality service and increased benefits of affiliation. New members are most welcome - contact the office on 01261 813383 for Affiliation Form.

To see who is affiliated for 2001/2002 have a look through our Sports Directory