Category: AAD Projects

We noticed that, while there was plenty of activities available during the week, people often found themselves spending their weekends in isolation. This problem became a passion project for our IT guy Jay and he came up with a great solution.

Once a month, our office is taken over by hordes of gamers intent on battling ancient evils, winning the grand prix and saving the princess from another castle. This is RetroFest.

Held in our office on a Saturday afternoon, RetroFest gives people a chance to meet new friends and hang-out in a relaxed atmosphere while playing a few retro games. Consoles and PC’s are available to cover a huge range of your nostalgic needs and we’re always adding more.

As well as casual gaming, there are often organised tournaments.

Like all projects at Aberdeen Action on Disability, RetroFest is free to come along and join in with (though there may be a small entry fee for any tournaments).

Everyone is welcome, disability or not. Bring your friends.

For more details, check out our dedicated RetroFest Facebook page, or the RetroFest website

One topic that seems to arise regularly in discussion at either the social group or with our volunteers is the subject of travel to our location at Kettock Lodge, Campus Two , 2 Balgownie Drive, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen.

There appears to be a perception that our Office is somehow “remote” or out of the way.  

Let’s try to bust a few perception myths.

Our old premises at Spring Garden, were situated on George Street, which is close to Hutcheon Street. Personally I would not regard that as “City Centre” , although many others regarded it as such. Spring Garden had about two car parking spaces with maybe another if we moved those who continually parked in the controlled spaces. To get to George Street, required one bus if you were lucky enough to live on the 17, 18 or 19 Bus Routes run by First Bus, which went between Dyce – Bucksburn To Faulds Gate: or 19 Tillydrone out to Culter.

So depending on where folk lived, two buses were probably required to get to Spring Garden.  

There was a double yellow line at the front door and a busy road that did not help with disembarking passengers from vehicles.

All in all, for disabled folk this was not so easy to get to as folk remember. Getting off a bus coming from the city centre involved crossing George Street and navigating badly and illegally parked vehicles, large waste bins and uneven flagstone pavements.

Kettock Lodge is a modern building with a huge amount of car parking, flat tarmac and slabbed walkways to a controlled access door, and lift to the Office door.

To get there I suggest that people consult Traveline Scotland.

for their particular journey- but a good rule of thumb is that the No.1 stops just outside.

For example ; a client coming from Garthdee to Bridge of Don for a 12 Noon appointment on Wednesday 10 April 2019. :

Leave 10:53 – Garthdee, adjacent to Morrison Drive on Auchinyell Road

Bus

Service Number 1

Operator First Aberdeen

Route Garthdee + Auchinyell circular – Danestone

Duration 43 mins

Fares £2.60

The No 1 Bus is the best bus for our Office and wherever one is coming from in Aberdeen (except on the route of the No 1) it would require a connection somewhere. The number 18 to Dyce does stop at the bottom of Grandholm Brae just over the Diamond Bridge, but for anyone with a mobility related disability that is a very difficult uphill walk and is not advisable if that option is offered. .

This website will also help anyone to see their options for travel to clinics, social appointments or our office or social group.

One option that not many people know about is the community bus for the disabled, that is operated by the City of Aberdeen. To find out more about this community bus in Aberdeen visit this website. h

 “ Community transport services operates in Aberdeen City area between 10am and 2:30pm, Monday to Friday. 

There is also a Lower Deeside Service which operates on Monday and Thursday only between 10:30am and 2pm.

The service provides a door to door service within a particular area for those who are unable to use conventional bus services, the elderly and disabled. Our vehicles are fully wheelchair accessible.

There is no restriction on journey origin or destination within the local area of your collection and all services will travel to the City Centre. Requests for travel between different designated routes will be subject to availability.

As exact travel times cannot be guaranteed, we ask that people travel within flexible times to allow as many people as possible to use the service.”

Our Office is as accessible, and in fact offers better parking and facilities for our members and clients.

One day, with all the house–building that is going on, we will be at the centre of the community in Bridge of Don, and doubtless more buses will pass by our Office.

At AAD, we know how lonely it can be coping with a disability at home on a tight budget. So we are delighted to have recently received funding from the People’s Health Lottery to start up a new social group for people with disabilities in the Aberdeen area.

The aim of the group is to give people the opportunity to explore their interests in a relaxed environment with others who share similar experiences. Participants will be able to decide between themselves the activities they would like to pursue, and the pace at which they do so. Some people might wish to start up something they haven’t tried before, while others can take the opportunity to teach their existing skills to the rest of the group. Activities might include crafting, gaming, music, literature, exercise, or simply having a cup of tea. It’s up to you – it’s your group. Whatever point you are starting from, we hope that you will have fun and grow in confidence.   

The first group sessions will take place on Wednesday 23rd and Friday 25th Jan from 12pm to 3pm, and the same time every Wednesday and Friday thereafter. The first few meetings will focus on giving people a chance to get to know each other and share their ideas about what they would like to do. Participants are welcome to come to one or both weekly sessions on a regular basis, or whenever their health permits.

Our sessions will primarily be held on our premises at Bridge of Don. We have a fantastic large indoor space that can be used both for activities and relaxation. We do understand that some people may find it difficult to travel here. Unfortunately, AAD does not have the resources to provide transport, but we will be looking for other sources of transport assistance. Indeed, suggestions on this matter would be welcome. For the moment, though, there is a frequent bus service, with the no.1 stopping opposite the building. We also have disabled parking facilities at the front door, and further parking at the rear.  

There are so many things going on in the world that I find an overabundance of news to comment on.

However, I am simply going to draw stark lines between various stories and how that affects little charities like AAD.

Yesterday sees the first day of a 0.5% rise in the base rate, as announced by the Bank of England yesterday. For savers who are with a bank or building society that means a wee boost in the nest egg – provided the bank passes it on. For borrowers it means more to pay back.

People are already having incomes squeezed by rising prices. For those who enjoy poring over statistics about retail prices this is the website for you. 

Just check on the price of butter or cream at your local store to see if prices have gone up.

I am sure that money for everyone is tight, as benefits are taken away, income is cut, prices rise, and as folk struggle to pay ever–rising utility bills.

AAD is no stranger to that struggle.   

There is no gentle way of saying this. Our readers, supporters and members have to support us with their cash, in order that we pay the bills. Our charity has provided a welcome and knowledgeable service for the people of Aberdeen since 1992, but, changes in funding, because of economic conditions are affecting usual sources, and that funding gap is putting our service under increased strain.

Charities are being squeezed by the austerity measures of the Government, through lack of donations to charities, and small but very useful charities like AAD who advocate against inequality, or represent the disabled at Tribunals, or give advice on benefits or entitlements are being increasingly recommended but the funding to pay our bills is dropping at the same rate. 

“The Third Sector” –  an online magazine for the voluntary sector quoted Paul Street, Chief Executive of Lloyds Bank, earlier this year.

 “Within the small charities space there is a lot of variation. Running a £1m charity is very different from operating a £10,000 one, says Paul Streets, chief executive of the Lloyds Bank Foundation, which offers grants to charities with incomes of between £250,000 and £1m. “One thing that is true for all of them is that they are dealing with a double whammy of higher and more complex demand, but at a time when their funding is being reduced,” he says.

It would suit some hawks in the UK Government welfare system to see those charities who champion the rights of disabled people, to be effectively silenced or be overworked, whilst at the same time struggling to make ends meet.  AAD understands that income is tight for everyone as spare income is taken away from those who naturally give donations or grants to charity, but are being squeezed themselves. .

The AGM is Saturday 25 November at 1100 hrs at our office.  Renew your very reasonable membership – still only £3, and if possible give a bit more help by signing up to our Easyfundraising campaign that raises donations while you shop online without costing you an extra penny. Just sign up and download the reminder bar for your computer or the app for your phone and remember to search for the product or shop on it before going shopping and a percentage of your spend will make its way to us without costing you anything more than you would have spent already. It works on a huge range of things- just click this link to find out more and sign up.

Once you sign up, get your friends, your granny, your granny’s friends and everyone else to sign up too- if you give them your personal link, we get an extra pound per person!

As a big Supermarket says “every little helps”.