Blog – Aberdeen Action on Disability

July 25, 2025

Barclay Bissett

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden and unexpected passing of our long time staff member Barclay Bissett. Peacefully passed at Ninewells Hospital, on Thursday, July 10, 2025 aged 78 years.

Barclay Bisset had worked tirelessly for many years dealing with disability issues, he was original member of the organisation before it officially became Aberdeen Action On Disability in 1992 when it was granted OSCR charity status and became a Limited Company. Over his time with AAD he held the position of Administrative Assistant and Company Secretary, being involved with a variety of office duties, office admin and the general running of the charitable organisation. He was every present in our offices in Aberdeen until the Covid Pandemic where he then chose to work remotely from home in Montrose due to his ongoing health issues and concerns. He continued to be a regular attendee at our monthly board meetings which he did via zoom right up until this month ( July). He also actively took part in communication and engagement with local third sector organisations, national bodies and various other companies who help and were involved with Disability rights and Welfare rights. He was respected, well known and well liked in the Aberdeen area with a wide range of charities, third sector and public organisations. He was a founding member of the Aberdeen Bon Accord access panel along with several other colleagues at AAD who were working tirelessly to ensure accessibility, and that disabled peoples voices and input where being heard and taken on board by the local authority and publicly accessible buildings and areas ensuring that they were meeting the needs of the disabled community and abiding by the Disability Discrimination Act of 1995 along with the updated Disability Equality Act of 2010. He was a tireless advocate for the disabled community here in Aberdeen with all the staff and volunteers at Aberdeen Action On Disability.

On a more personal note, his colleagues at Aberdeen Action on Disability will miss him dearly and his absences will be felt throughout the organisation and further afield. Our Chairperson Roslynn had known and worked with Barclay for more than 10 years, having been involved when AAD since being in the old premises at Spring Garden before we moved to our current location on Bridge of Don attended his funeral yesterday (24/07/25) in Montrose on behalf of everyone at AAD.

July 6, 2025July 6, 2025

New website

We’ve updated our website, we’re still in the process of getting more content on.

Please let us know of anything you’d like to see here, or any other feedback.

July 11, 2021July 6, 2025

A Tribute To Isobel

It is with great sadness that I learned of the very recent death of our charity stalwart Isobel Hunter on Saturday 10 July 2021.

In our lifetimes, we will bury our loved ones, and probably attend funerals of relatives, colleagues and workmates who all led unremarkable and good lives. Sometimes unknown and illuminating facts about their life becomes clear at the funeral.

We will not often come across people like Isobel, who had a deep burning passion for the people she served with dedication and selflessness. It would be true to say that Isobel’s life was the ethos of the charity, and her personal ethos were one and the same.

It was only recently she gave up doing the flower tubs at the War Memorial for example. Little things that she did for the community, in local community social activism and caring.

She did not suffer fools gladly, and would put officialdom in its place if injustice had been done to anyone. One had to be sure of one’s facts when assisting her in factual research for any evidence that the DWP or other Government dept were failing the disabled.

She was unafraid to take on “the powers that be”, and often won on behalf of her clients. She recognised that many of her clients at the charity had exhausted many others with the complexity of their conditions, but Isobel recognised that if she did not fight for the forgotten and those who were wronged, then who would?

Isobel will be greatly, and sadly be missed by all her family, friends, colleagues and I suspect even those who disagreed with her viewpoint. Isobel had a way of making others see an aspect of life that spoke volumes of experience in her humanity and compassion

February 7, 2021July 6, 2025

The Espanade

To update actions by Aberdeen City council as regards my article on Esplanade Cycling on this blog September 2021, I can report that all the bollards, road markings and restriction have been removed between Bridge of Don at King Street, and the left turn at the first traffic lights at Beach Boulevard. The restrictions at this stage seem to be in place along that stretch of The Esplanade at the carnivals and cafes, restaurants, and beyond there to Footdee.

On the one hand some credit has to be afforded to the Council Committee who ordered the removal of these restrictions, in the face of strong lobbying by their own Officials and outside interests. That action by the Council in restoring that section of the Esplanade is obviously liked, as can be seen in the number of people populating the beach area. One can almost feel a collective sigh of relief as folk, walk, cycle, and enjoy their socially -distanced exercise.

That having been said: This scheme which cost about £1.6 million and came from the Scottish Government , “ Spaces for People” fund under the grants to provide social -distancing in Public Spaces, probably did not come with a money -back guarantee should it all go wrong.

The resistance and outcry against this scheme should have been anticipated, and gauged long before the changes suddenly appeared like a pet project to encourage or force a cycling habit on those who would use that route into Aberdeen. In short, lack of consultation with the wider public and a deeper consideration of the route, benefits and cost will have to be employed in the future.

As those good folk in Aberdeenshire might say as regards the similar cost to remove the restrictions “ it’s tatties ower the side noo”. Something that could have been avoided, but which is now lost.

It is clear that pedal bikes, E -bikes, and all kinds of rechargeable personal transport will have to become part of the ongoing strategy for the whole country as it is the ambition of both Governments to outlaw petrol and diesel vehicle by 2030/35 with regard to climate warming.

The challenge will be to put into production, far and away more than there is now, suitable personal electric transport for the disabled with suitable accessible charging points available just about everywhere. Local public transport that meets needs for many situations, but meshes with accessibility to places that able -bodied take as granted. Transport for the future is a huge consideration for any Government, but Disability Rights Groups have to get their act together now, and start informing, agitating and campaigning so that we are not left behind. We shall see what the UK Government say at COP Glasgow in November. Or whether this conference will blow even more hot air into the atmosphere and as usual, say a lot and achieve nothing.

There is still a lot of research to be undertaken by the Scottish Government, so that disabled people are not simply left behind, as any future Government whether in Holyrood, or Westminster, pursue changes in the banned retailing of petrol and diesel vehicles.

There is a great opportunity to get an integrated system of transport for the future, but I suspect that like the circular road, all talk will be stifled and put aside by parochial interests.

Scam Calls

My wife and I decided to modernise our telephones at Christmas. Family wanted us on What’s App, or whatever, and our sturdy tried and tested Star Trek style flip- phones were getting past it. Excellent for simple messaging and making a telephone call, and the inner workings were easy to deal with. I must admit snapping shut a flip -phone is a very satisfying way of cutting off an unwanted caller, or if one has inadvertently dialled a wrong number.

Android phones are not the easiest things in the world to learn at speed and get oneself knowledgeable about.

The advantages of a good camera, and online instant communication with family and friends, has been outweighed by the number of scams from determined criminals. Recently my wife and I have received four of these calls WARNING: National Insurance scam leads to surge in calls to Action Fraud | Action Fraud which to my thinking would panic some people, which of course is what these criminals want. I received an automated call from a very “ Radio 4” type voice speaking very posh English, advised me that my National Insurance Number had been found along with a number of others in a raid by the Action Fraud team, and it was now compromised, and I should therefore press button one immediately to speak to an Officer. Nae chunce – as they say in Aberdeen.

Luckily I had set my phone to reveal spam callers, so it was blocked and reported to my network provider. I also reported the details to the ICO. Nuisance calls and messages | ICO As I quickly found out though that these “ National” bodies are very quick to direct any complaint from Scotland to Police Scotland. So there is a bit of confusion . I simply emailed Police Scotland and left the various numbers for the attention of the Cyber Intelligence team, and I was reassured, in the email reply that is what would happen. Telling anybody about these calls seems to be somewhat confusing and different departments have separate responsibilities.

In Scotland these auto -calls are seen as “ phishing, “ and the actual point of fraud, or criminality only begins when or if you speak to these people. That is beginning of the Fraud, and must be reported to the Police in Scotland. So the obvious advice is on receiving these calls not to be panicked into anything. Citizens Advice Scotland have a reporting number as well, along with advice. Report a scam – Citizens Advice Scotland

Consumer Advice Scotland also have a reporting service and advice. Latest Scams – Trading Standards Scotland (tsscot.co.uk)