Have you downloaded the Aberdeen Protects app?

This is a free app that promotes Naloxone, a free and safe medicine that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose whilst an ambulance is called.
Anyone can use the app and it works on both Apple and Android phones and tablets.

Help save a life and download the Aberdeen Protects app today via:

• • the App store https://orlo.uk/i4juI and
  • Android https://orlo.uk/F8Qf3

The Aberdeen Protects Naloxone App has been updated with some new features. Go to the app store to update. Make sure location and alert notifications are enabled.

New features include a video about naloxone, able to search for suppliers by Open/Closed, able to see a list of all naloxone supply and a few other wee improvements.

The app provides a valuable way for us to send out alerts and harm reduction support to people at risk, their friends and family. Always carry naloxone! You never know when it might save a life.

Aberdeen City are holding their first Community Appointment Day focussing on Chronic Pain on the 27^th November at Get Active @ Northfield.   Part of this event will be open to the Public to attend between 09:00 – 12:00noon for them to pop in, join the Pain Cafe for peer support, browse the stalls of information & speak to support staff from various organisations providing support around:

• Pain Management
• Sports & Activities
• Employability Support
• Medicine Recovery
• Financial Support
• Mental Health & Wellbeing Support
• Social Activities

The NHS Grampian Chronic Pain Management Team will be there alongside Allied Health Professionals and third sector, voluntary organisations support.

In September Community Planning Aberdeen agreed to become a Volunteer Charter Champion in recognition of the significant role volunteers have in supporting communities and people across the city.

The Volunteer Charter, produced by Volunteer Scotland, is a tool for policy makers, elected members and funders to use when making decisions about how volunteering is represented in decision making processes, policy development, and how volunteering is resourced and utilised.

It sets out 10 key principles which help to underpin good relations within a volunteering environment and is open to any individual, group or organisation from any sector which either involve volunteers, or influence decisions on volunteering.

Councillor Christian Allard, Chair of the Community Planning Aberdeen Board, said: “We are very fortunate in Aberdeen that so many people give up their free time, share their knowledge and skills, and their enthusiasm to support people and communities across the city on a voluntary basis.

“It is in recognition of the importance of volunteers to communities, people and place that Community Planning Aberdeen has agreed to become a Volunteer Charter Champion.

“We would like to thank all volunteers for their dedication and commitment. By working in partnership, we can all ‘do our bit’ to ensure Aberdeen is a place where everyone can prosper.”

Volunteer Scotland and Aberdeen Council of Voluntary Organisations (ACVO) invited Community Planning Aberdeen to sign up to the Volunteer Charter. It was agreed that it could only sign the charter if partner organisations could collectively adhere to the principles.

Partners are supportive of the Volunteer Charter with some; Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership, NHS Grampian and North East College Scotland stating that they will also sign up as individual organisations.

Aberdeen City Council agreed to become a Volunteer Charter Champion at the Council meeting on 3 July 2024.

Following the Chair’s formal pledge of support of the Volunteer Charter on behalf of the partnership the necessary arrangements will be put in place to ensure the charter is integrated within the appropriate Community Planning Aberdeen structures.

Find out more about volunteering opportunities with Community Planning Aberdeen here.

What is it?

• A week long campaign coordinated by the Poverty Alliance which promotes compassion and Justice
• It’s about having a unified voice around the injustice in poverty
• It’s a time to campaign to challenge the stigma and discrimination which can often be associated with poverty, one of the main barriers for people getting the support they need
• It’s also an opportunity to share the anti-poverty work happening in Aberdeen across Scotland
• Involvement can be as small or as large as organisations want to go
• The campaign has been growing year on year

 

Events in Aberdeen

The aim is to encourage a coordinated effort between Aberdeen partners and communities to ensure we have a united voice and are united in action and support,  reducing stigma and improving the lives of people affected by poverty.

 

Monday 7 October – Sunday 13  October @ 11.00am – 1pm, shmu radio

Challenge Poverty Packed Lunch

shmu will host a week of Challenge Poverty “Packed Lunch” specials, with volunteer presenters interviewing third sector and community organisations about their work to tackle poverty in the City.  Tune in on 99.8FM, or on DAB in most of the City.  shmu will also be releasing a series of three visual podcasts during the week, exploring different themes relating to poverty (stigma, health inequalities, and unpaid carers), with lived experience guests alongside academics and representatives of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and others.

 

Monday 7 October @ 10:00am – 4.00pm, Music Hall

Empower Aberdeen

A free drop in community fair, providing direct access to support available across Aberdeen. It will be a day of sharing services, experiences and networking with other like-minded organisations in Aberdeen to improve the lives and homes of those living in our city/area. Aberdeen City Council and Community Planning Aberdeen are just two of the stall holders at the event. All community organisations being invited to sign up by following the link MusicHall2024 (scarf.org.uk)  The event is being sponsored by Community Planning Aberdeen Responsible Business Partner Vital Energi who are paying for the cost of the venue.

 

Monday 7 October @3pm, Marischal College

Marischal College to be lit up in solidarity for Challenge Poverty Week

The Lord Provost will light up Marischal College pink and blue on Monday 7 October to mark the beginning of Challenge Poverty Week.

 

Wednesday 9 October @ 12:00pm – 1.30pm, MS Team

Tackling Financial Disadvantage in Migrant Households

Grampian Regional Equalities Council (GREC) will launch their report about their  ongoing work to explore effective solutions and end cycles of poverty and inequality. The report presents evidence that migrant households face considerable financial disadvantages and barriers to overcoming these which are insufficiently seen or understood in anti-poverty policy measures and interventions. While a great many services and support organisations are working exceptionally hard to support service users, including migrants, the current landscape of provision is not working well to meet migrants’ needs. This event will present their findings and ongoing work to explore and design effective solutions through changes to policy and practice. Click here to register.

 

Friday 11 October @ 10:00am – 12.30pm, Music Hall

Challenge Poverty Aberdeen – Screening and Dialogue

Fairer Aberdeen Fund partners are holding a special event to mark Challenge Poverty Week (7th – 13th October 2024). The event is aimed at raising awareness of the lived experience of poverty and inequality of Aberdeen’s communities, as well as creating a space to share, consider and discuss opportunities and ideas that will help us make the shift towards a fairer and more equitable society. The event will include a combination of short films, presentations, panel Q&A, and lived experience discussion groups.  This is an open event, and everyone is welcome. Please feel free to share this invitation with your contacts. Join us in making a difference and taking a stand against poverty.  Click here to reserve a spot.

 

Online Events

• Poverty Alliance Breakfast Briefing on Housing, 7 Oct @ 9-9.45am
• Housing and women who sell or exchange sex, 7 Oct @ 11-12.45am
• Poverty Alliance Breakfast Briefing on Transport, 7 Oct @ 9.30-10.15am
• Poverty Alliance Breakfast Briefing on Adequate Income, 9 Oct @ 9.30-10.15am
• Child Poverty and Debt, 9 Oct @ 9.00am -1pm
• Ensuring Adequate Income, 9 Oct @ 1-3pm
• Poverty Alliance Breakfast Briefing on Food, 10 Oct @ 9.30-10.15am
• Lived Experiences Online Conference, 10 Oct @ 10-1pm
• Poverty Alliance Breakfast Briefing on Communities and Volunteers, 11 Oct @ 9.30-10.15am

 

Visit https://www.povertyalliance.org/cpw/ for more.

 

Other Ways to Get Involved

• Please encourage your organisation/ staff to get involved, no matter how big or small the activity
• Sign up to the challenge poverty website to access resources to help with posts Challenge Poverty Week – The Poverty Alliance
• If organising events, please consider contacting the Poverty alliance and getting this information shared on their events calendar.
• Social media can be powerful, use it to best effect
  • Remember to use the Aberdeen city #CPWABZ24
  • Spread the reach of posts by Tagging groups and partners
  • Use the Aberdeen versions of the email footers and TEAMs background produced by SHMU
  • Contact communityplanning@aberdeencity.gov.uk to discuss your ideas.

Remember the campaign is a time to showcase the work that happens all year round, it’s a time to be united to reduce stigma, and it’s also a time to connect and strengthen relationships.

 

Community Planning Aberdeen is delighted to invite you to our 2024 Aberdeen Responsible Business Event. This year, the event will focus on the refresh of the city’s Local Outcome Improvement Plan and opportunities for businesses to support place based project in partnership with Business in the Community (BITC).

Event Date: 12^th November 2024

Event Venue: Beach Ballroom, Aberdeen, AB24 5NR

Timings:

09:00 – Arrival, teas and coffees and networking

09:15 – The audience will hear from senior members of Aberdeen City Council and Community Planning Aberdeen on the refresh of the city’s Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP)

09:45 – Scotland Director, Business in the Community (BITC) will share information on the details of BITC’s approach to a Place project and how businesses in the room can get involved

10:00 – Hear from two local businesses on how they have engaged with Community Planning Aberdeen in community based projects across the city, inspiring businesses in the room to get further involved in Place based opportunities

10:30 – Tea and coffee break and networking

10:50 – Be inspired by two more local businesses and the impact they are having on empowering communities and increasing their capacity to lead change in the City

11:20 – Q&A with panel of business representatives: your chance to ask questions to learn more about getting involved

11:45 – Event Close

 

Please register here if your company would be interested in attending.

 

*Keep an eye on the event webpage for updates on event speakers.