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It has been a busy month for DDCA, with a strong focus on meeting key deadlines for major funders to help progress the Clock Tower project.

If we are successful in the next stage of the National Lottery Heritage Fund application, we will move into the Development Phase. This will include further public consultation to ensure the project delivers real benefits for the community and creates as many opportunities for involvement as possible.

DDCA continues to organise the Community Forums in Dufftown. These are a valuable opportunity for local groups and clubs to come together, share updates and support one another. Alongside this, we have begun refreshing the Community Action Plan and are at the early stages of public consultation. A short survey is now available, and we would really appreciate you taking a few moments to complete it. We will also be out and about at local events, as well as engaging with Speyside Youth and the school, to gather as much feedback as possible.

Survey link-https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfhPWfwqNKDJENt2iMheNxYY3iwAsCEJV-6oxiX9RTh7sWC2g/viewform?usp=dialog

There is plenty coming up over the next few months, so please keep an eye out for posters and social media updates. Events in the pipeline include Thursday night ceilidhs, led cycle sessions with the Dorenell Rangers, Bike Doctor sessions in Dufftown and Glenrinnes, cooking classes for both adults and young people, mending workshops, and traditional skills sessions.

We are also working with the council to secure land for the growing project. We hope to have a temporary site in place this year while arrangements are made for access to a larger area. In the meantime, seeds are growing and tatties are already in the ground, so watch this space.

We are aiming to have new bike lockers installed by the end of the month. These will make bike hire more accessible, with keypad access allowing users to collect and return bikes without needing a volunteer present. The lockers will be located near the Bike Shed in Tininver Park.

As we move forward with both the Clock Tower project and the Community Action Plan, your support as members is more important than ever. We would really value your input. As always, please get in touch if you would like to get involved, volunteer with any of our projects, consider joining as a Trustee, or simply share your thoughts.

We were delighted to welcome so many people along to our recent Meet the Funders and Community Action Plan event. It was fantastic to see such a strong turnout from both local groups and community members, as well as the funders who support so much of the great work happening across Dufftown and District.

A big thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the event such a success. Our funders shared that they had some really positive and engaging conversations throughout the session. It was a valuable opportunity for them to reconnect with groups they have previously supported, hear about the progress of funded projects, and learn more about the inspiring work continuing in our community.

Alongside this, attendees were able to share their thoughts and ideas to help shape the next Community Action Plan. It was great to hear so many perspectives on what matters most locally and where future efforts should be focused.

There is still plenty of time to get involved. If you weren’t able to attend, you can still have your say by completing our online survey via the link below, or by picking up a paper copy from the Community Food Larder.

https://forms.gle/zjkBxB8w1awfcqcR8

Thank you again to everyone who took part, we really appreciate your time, input and ongoing support.

Tickets for the Summer Ceilidh’s are now on sale!

Join us for four evenings of Scottish Music and Dance.

The bar will be open and there will be raffle prizes to win.

Book in advance and get a ticket for all 4 nights for the price of 3.

Links below to book..

Adult 4 Night Ceilidh Ticket

OAP 4 Night Ceilidh Ticket

We have received a further update from the Council regarding the ongoing road works on Fife Street. We recognise that these works, particularly at a key entrance to the town, have been in place for some time and understand the impact this is having on residents, businesses and visitors.

We have raised the importance of resolving this matter as a priority, particularly ahead of the busy summer period when traffic levels are expected to increase significantly.

The Council has advised that the situation is currently being progressed by their Consultancy team. They are awaiting the outcome of a stability review, which follows the completion of an intrusive inspection at the site.

Once the findings have been received and assessed, a further update will be provided, including any indicative timescales for the completion of the works.

We will continue to engage with the Council and share updates as soon as more information becomes available.

Over the past year, our warm spaces lunches have become an important part of the community, offering both social connection and practical support. Attendance data shows that the majority of participants, 64%, come every month, with a further 32% attending occasionally, and just 5% joining for the first time. This demonstrates not only that the lunches are well-attended, but also that they are successfully retaining participants, building a consistent and welcoming environment.

One of the strongest impacts of the lunches has been on community connection. An overwhelming 91% of attendees reported that coming to the lunches helped them feel more connected to others, while only a small proportion, 5%, felt “No” difference, and another 5% felt “Somewhat.” This shows that the lunches are achieving their primary goal of fostering relationships and a sense of belonging. This is further supported by the responses regarding friendships and relationships: 75% of participants said they had made new friends or strengthened existing relationships by attending, with just 19% reporting no change and 6% indicating “Somewhat.” It is clear that these lunches are helping people build meaningful social ties, which is a key factor in reducing isolation and promoting wellbeing.

The lunches also make a tangible difference to participants’ day-to-day lives. Sixty-four percent said the warm space positively impacted their day or week, 23% said it made “A little” difference, and only 5% said “No.” This highlights the role of the lunches in improving overall wellbeing, providing a consistent source of support and comfort in people’s weekly routines. In addition to social benefits, the warm spaces are a valuable source of information and practical advice. Over half of attendees (55%) reported receiving helpful information, advice, or resources, with 32% sometimes receiving support and 14% saying “No.” This demonstrates that the lunches are not only social hubs but also places where people can access practical help and guidance when needed. This year we have been supported by NHS Health Point, Police Scotland, Fire Safety Scotland and REAP.

When asked to rate their overall experience, participants were overwhelmingly positive. Fifty-nine percent rated their experience as “Excellent,” 27% as “Very good,” and 14% as “Good,” with no one rating “Fair” or “Poor.” This high level of satisfaction reflects the meaningful impact the lunches are having on attendees’ lives, offering not just food, but friendship, support, and a sense of community.

Overall, the Warm Spaces lunches are proving to be a vital resource in the community, helping to reduce isolation, foster connections, and improve wellbeing. High levels of regular attendance, positive social outcomes, and practical support underline the success of this initiative, highlighting its value both to individual participants and to the wider community. Below, you can see what attendees felt were the best aspects of attending the lunches. We look forward to welcoming everyone again in the Autumn.

As we welcome the arrival of spring, we’re delighted to share an update on what’s been happening across our projects and what’s coming up in the weeks ahead.

 Funded Bike Hire Returns
We’re pleased to confirm that we have once again secured funding from HiTrans, allowing us to offer funded bike hire to the community. This will include both short-term and longer-term hire options, helping make cycling more accessible for everyone. Please get in touch if you would like to book a bike!

 Upcoming Events
We have a couple of exciting events coming up:

• Reloved Event, Swap. Shop and Car Boot Saturday 18th April
  Join us for a clothing swap, shop, and car boot sale, a great opportunity to refresh your wardrobe sustainably and pick up a bargain. If you would like to sell, just pop through and email and we will book you in,
• Meet the Funders & Community Action Plan Event, Wednesday 22nd April, 5.30 to 7.30pm, Mortlach Memorial Hall
  This is a key event for us, and we would love to see as many of you there as possible. We’re developing our Community Action Plan and want it to truly reflect the needs and aspirations of the whole community. Your ideas, feedback, and input are essential in shaping this. This is also a great opportunity groups to chat to local funders and the community support officer from the council- so a packed night not to miss!

 Clock Tower Project Update
We’re excited to share that we have received approved Expressions of Interest from both Historic Environment Scotland and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Work is now underway behind the scenes to prepare full applications, and we look forward to keeping you updated as this progresses.

 Warm Spaces Lunches
Our final Warm Spaces Lunch took place at the end of March. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed hosting these over the winter months and appreciate everyone who attended and supported them. We’ll be sharing feedback in due course and hope to bring the lunches back in October.

 Growing Project
Work continues to secure suitable land for our growing project. In the meantime, we’re making great progress, our tatties are chitting and seeds are already sown. Thanks to the generosity of one of our steering group members, we’ve been able to get started on a small plot while we continue to explore longer-term options.

 Summer Ceilidhs
Following positive feedback on social media, we’re moving ahead with plans to bring summer ceilidhs back to Dufftown. We’re currently liaising with musicians, dancers, and pipers, and will share confirmed dates as soon as we can.

 Get Involved
As always, we’d love to hear from you, whether you’d like to get involved, share ideas, or find out more about what we’re doing. We are also currently looking for a Treasurer. It’s an exciting time to join as a trustee, with a wide range of projects gaining real momentum.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

Best wishes,
Dufftown & District Community Association

We have made it to spring! It has been another busy and productive month progressing projects, getting out and about at events and making plans for the year ahead.

This month we ran cooking classes with Moray Food Plus. I was lucky enough to attend a few of the sessions, spend time with Sarah who led the classes, and meet some of those who came along. It was brilliant to see people coming together in a relaxed space, learning new skills, sharing ideas and having a good chat while creating some amazing food along the way!

We also held our first Community Forum of the year. The main focus was the Community Action Plan and our plans to refresh it. We really want to make sure everyone in the community has the chance to get involved and share their ideas, so we will be looking at different ways to reach people and gather views over the coming months.

I attended an event at Number 30 in Huntly on the 12th of February which was a fantastic learning opportunity. It was great to hear about their project to turn an old building into a mixed-use space with a cinema and café. The event was also a brilliant chance to meet and network with other groups and charities across Moray who are working on restoring heritage buildings. It was really interesting hearing about their journeys so far, especially around project timelines, working with funders and the challenges and opportunities of working with older buildings. This was really helpful learning as we continue planning for the Clock Tower Project.

I have also continued developing my own learning for my role this month by attending the Development Officer Network, Social Impact Training and building my knowledge around AI for social enterprises.

Last week I headed up to Glenrinnes to support Claire, their Community Liaison Officer, at their coffee morning before heading back down to be at our own Warm Spaces lunch. It is always great to see these community spaces being well used, with lots of conversations, connections, delicious food  and good company.

We were also really pleased to hear that our Expression of Interest to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for the Clock Tower Project has been successful. This is a really exciting step forward. We will now start gathering the information and evidence we need to move towards the full application and progress the capital works phase of the project.

We currently have three potential sites for the Growing Project and will continue working with the council and a private group to try and secure a suitable location so we can hopefully start making progress during this growing season. In the meantime, we will be at the Farmers Market on the 14th of March with more growing bags available, so the community can start growing at home and hopefully support the project once we have a permanent home for it.

Looking ahead, we have a few more events in the pipeline which we hope to share more details about soon once dates are confirmed. Our next clothing swap, car boot and re:loved sale will be on 18 April. Please get in touch for more information or to book a space for either the car boot or clothing sale.

As always, please do get in touch with any feedback, ideas or anything you would like to chat through.

aileen@dufftowncommunity.co.uk or 07928986261

DDCA Takes Over Stewardship of The Glenrinnes Way.

Dufftown and District Community Association (DDCA) is pleased to announce that it has taken over the maintenance and stewardship of the Glenrinnes Way following the winding up of Mortlach Area Leisure Trails (M.A.L.T).

The trustees of M.A.L.T have generously passed on the charity’s remaining assets to the DDCA, ensuring that the Glenrinnes Way, a vital and well-used local path, continues to benefit the community. The DDCA extends its sincere thanks to the M.A.L.T trustees for their dedication over the years. Their work began with the formation of Mortlach Area Leisure Trails in 2004-  and culminated in the official opening of the Glenrinnes Way on Saturday 21st October 2006 by Bill Grant, one of the path’s oldest users, and Alec Gauld, one of the youngest.

The Glenrinnes Way, which forms part of a popular circular walk from Dufftown past the Golf Course, has provided a safe route for walkers and cyclists along the B9009, a stretch of road previously considered hazardous due to blind bends and heavy lorry traffic. Since its opening, the path has been a valued community resource, attracting over 250 walkers per week as well as numerous cyclists.

The DDCA will continue to maintain the Glenrinnes Way and  support the wider network of local paths. These routes are important not only for the health and wellbeing of the community but also for supporting the local economy by encouraging tourism.

“This handover ensures the Glenrinnes Way remains a safe and enjoyable route for everyone, We are grateful to M.A.L.T for their vision and hard work in establishing the path, and we look forward to continuing their legacy.” Fraser McGill, DDCA Chairperson.

Back in 2021, after a huge amount of community effort and conversation, the Dufftown and District Community Action Plan was created to guide our priorities from 2021 to 2026. Built around five key themes: Environment and Heritage; Community, Youth and Recreation; Local Economy and Tourism; A Sustainable and Resilient Community; and Access to Services, the plan set out an ambitious vision for our town.

Since then, an incredible amount has been achieved. Highlights include the launch of the e-bike hire service, improvements to pathways, the growth of our Farmers’ Markets, enhanced Christmas lights, and upgrades to community buildings, Tininver Park, and the Bike Shed. At the same time, several exciting projects continue to gather real momentum, including the Whisky Heritage Museum, the MUGA, the Clock Tower Project, and the Growing Project.

Now, as we approach the end of this plan period, it is time to look ahead. Through a series of community forums, we will be revisiting each of the five themes and setting up sub-groups to help shape the next stage of Dufftown and District’s future. We warmly encourage everyone to get involved. We want to hear what matters to you, your family, and your neighbours.

There will be open evenings for brainstorming and conversation, chances to chat with us at the markets, and an online form for sharing ideas if you prefer to take part virtually.

Dufftown and District is full of passionate groups, charities, and individuals working hard to help our town reach its full potential. We hope you will share your ideas and join us as we refresh the Community Action Plan and continue building a strong future together.