Important News

We are delighted to announce that Church services began again on Easter Sunday, 4th April at 11.30.

Please note that restrictions will still apply including wearing face-coverings and social distancing.

The ‘Wild South Esk’ trail shares an insight into the life history of 40 native species at ten sites as well as 15 local walks suitable for a range of abilities. Eight new on-site interpretation panels incorporating beautiful bespoke illustrations are in urban parks, native woodland, upland heath and importantly by the riverside. Sites can be cycled to from various locations in Angus and the next stop on the trail is shown at each site.

Click Here to visit the Wild South Esk website

Community Councils – Of the people, by the people, for the people

Angus is home to 25 Community Councils.

They are a focal point for their community and represent residents’ views, opinions, concerns and wishes to the local authority – that’s us, Angus Council.

Community Councils make a wide range of activities possible and promote the well-being of local people. They bring local people together to help make things happen locally. Many of them work tirelessly to protect and promote the identity of their community.

They advise, petition, influence and advocate numerous causes and concerns on behalf of their neighbours and townspeople.

Community councils in Angus have and continue to –

Carry out projects to enhance their community for people of all ages and backgrounds, including the elderly, young people, single mums, minority groups, and others.
Deliver community newsletters and distribute notices.
Carry out local surveys (Local Development Plan).
Campaign on local issues.
Highlight infrastructure issues such as potholes, dropped kerbs.
Organise community events at all times of the year.
At their best Community Councils are brilliant.

But it’s no secret that some need support as they face challenges that include attracting enough volunteers, which in turn makes it harder to engage with their communities. Sadly, Aberlemno and Friockheim have no community councils operating at present because not enough people have volunteered.

As part of our efforts to develop and support our community councils, we are carrying out an Angus Community Councils survey to gather information about what you think about your community council, the influences and barriers that you think exist around it and, hopefully a bit about yourself.

The findings of the survey will inform ongoing work into the sustainability, reach and impact of community councils in Angus.

The survey is live now and available until Monday 12 April.

Please take time to take part. Your views matter.

A Community Council is a voluntary organisation set up by statute by the Local Authority and run by local residents to act on behalf of its area. As the most local tier of elected representation, Community Councils play an important role in local democracy.

This official status provides them with the strongest platform for local people to get involved in local matters. They can provide a good understanding of the workings of local government and what is going on locally and nationally.

Community engagement, planning and partnership is and will continue to play an increasing role in the co-delivery of local services. The role played by your community council will be more important than ever.

Please take time to contribute your thoughts and opinions to this important survey. The Community Planning Team is staffing a dedicated helpline between 10am to 12 midday (Monday to Friday) for anyone requiring assistance with the survey. The number is 01307 492040.

Cycling Scotland is excited to announce that we are now promoting our Family Essential Cycling Skills courses. We are hoping this is going to prove popular and is a great way to launch our 2021 training.

These sessions are free and fully funded and will be allocated to families on a first-come first-served.

4 adults from 2 households and a “child” in these sessions can be aged over 16 as long as they are part of the family unit.

*****************************

The Great Tay Whale - live online performance

From Thursday 8th - Sunday 11th April at 20:30 each evening - the story of the Tay Whale told by four people who were involved in its life and death. Each story is about 30 minutes long and is suitable for all the family.

The stories are told 'live' on Facebook and are free to view - please find the event on Bespooked's FB page.

First story Thursday evening - the anatomy of the Whale by Professor John Struthers

Second story Friday evening - the exhibition of the Whale in Dundee and nationwide by John Woods

Third story Saturday evening - the capture of the Whale told by a fisherman from Gourdon

Fourth and final story Sunday evening - The Heart of the Whale

The stories will be available on Youtube after the live performances.

Scottish Government Consultation

Local Place Plans – fancy a plan for your area developed by the local community? Find out more and tell the Scottish Government what you think about their ideas…

https://consult.gov.scot/local-government-and-communities/local-place-plan-regulations/

Scottish Spca Warning - Bogus Inspectors
The following message is being circulated following a post on social media by the Scottish SPCA

The Scottish SPCA are issuing a warning about bogus Inspectors trying to remove animals from properties. We’ve had reports in Renfrewshire and Perthshire areas but are asking everyone to be vigilant
They are using a white van with Scottish SPCA stickers on it. Our vans are predominantly black with our branding as shown in the image below
Genuine Inspectors will be able to produce photographic ID and will be happy to provide you with their vehicle registration.
If you are unsure about someone who comes to your door please ask them to wait outside and call us immediately. Our Inspectors will respect your need to do this.
Our confidential animal helpline can be reached on 03000 999 999. Find out more on the following link:
https://www.scottishspca.org/news/scottish-spca-issues-warning-over-bogus-inspectors

Message Sent By
Willie Clark (NHWN, National Co - ordinator, NW Scotland)

Information - Age Scotland - Friendship Line

Times are difficult so when we saw the information below we thought it may be of use to you, your family, friends and neighbours. Please pass this to anyone that you think might find the service and number useful.

Do you shop on Amazon? If yes, read on....

When users shop on AmazonSmile, the retailer's foundation contributes 0.5% of eligible purchases to the charity of your choice. For frequent Amazon users, this additional perk is a great way to give back to charities effortlessly.

There is no cost to the charity or to you, the customer, and 100% of the donation generated from eligible purchases goes to the consumer's charity of choice.

Why not consider using Amazon Smile and select the Aberlemno and District Hall Fund as your charity of choice. You can use the link above to take you there.

Remember to go to smile.amazon.co.uk each time you shop on Amazon for all of this to work, although you will usually be promoted each time to log in to your normal Amazon account.

We thank everyone for continuing to support the Aberlemno Village Hall in these challenging times.

We are delighted to let you know that the Aberlemno Pictish Stones, incorporating the Pictish Room, have been included as a location in the Hidden Gems category in the brand new ‘Insider’s Guide to Angus’.

As you may be aware, over the summer months there was a campaign on Visit Angus inviting residents and past visitors to Angus to tell them about their favourite places in Angus across ten different categories.

They have used this information to create an ‘Insider’s Guide to Angus’ which will be featured on visitangus.com. In addition, they will be producing a number of new blog pieces and will be promoting this on the Visit Angus social channels. We hope this will create a buzz around Angus and encourage people to visit us so they can experience these places for themselves."

Check out visitangus.com

Resources that can help with fatigue, sleep and anxiety:

The central theme of the National Wellbeing Hub is: You look after us so we’ll look after you

The wide-ranging content is aimed at encouraging everyone in health and social care services, wherever they work, and unpaid carers, to look after themselves and seek help seek when they need it.

It contains information on (evidence-based) resources to enable self-care and the most comprehensive information on services available (e.g. helplines, peer support) at national, regional and local levels.

A number of key resources (free for health and social care workers) are available on the National Wellbeing Hub, including apps and online programmes:

Sleepio (click to access the evidence based sleep improvement programme)
Daylight (click to access ways of improving general wellbeing)
Silvercloud (click to access a structured programme based on CBT focusing on supporting your wellbeing, including managing your mental health, resilience, stress and sleep. Use code NHS2020)

For more info, follow @PRoMISScot @scotgovhealth on Twitter.

If you are self-isolating and need any help or support with shopping, picking up medication or just want someone to chat to, please do contact us or call 07551 779347 and we will do whatever we can to help. Below are several other organisations that you can also contact:

Scottish Rural Network - COVID-19 Rural Information Hub

Charities Aid Foundation – Coronovirus Emergency Fund

Angus Council - services, welfare, advice

Age Scotland

Angus Foodbank is open as normal, with normal procedures for collections. A delivery can be arranged and will be delivered by a member of voluntary Angus where someone is showing symptoms of Covid-19. If anyone would like to make a donation then this can be done via Tescos, Lidls etc, dropped off at the food bank during opening hours, or if out with opening hours can be left behind the wheelie bins as this is checked every morning.

If you are interested in getting involved in some of the activities that take place in Aberlemno through the Village Hall Committee, please do get in touch with us. We are a friendly group of people and would welcome you along to get involved as much or as little as would suit.

We hope to soon be able to provide details of our Christmas Craft Fair which we plan to have on Saturday 28th November.

If you want to know more, please call Jacqui on 07551 779347.

Click here to download a copy of The Aberlemno Chronicle 2000

Church News:

Click here to download a full copy of the March 2020 parish newsletter for Aberlemno, Guthrie & Rescobie.

There is now a defibrillator at the Church.

For more information Contact us

Please click here to view our Privacy Notice