Last weekend, we brought a little colour and creativity to the community with our two-day Traditional Skills: Stained Glass Workshop, giving participants the chance to learn a traditional craft, develop new skills and connect with others in the community.

Led by Carol from Bahill Glass and supported by Kelly from Forres Development Trust, the workshop introduced participants to the art of stained glass, offering a hands-on opportunity to explore a new creative skill and create their own window designs.

Kelly was delighted with how the weekend went, describing the group as engaged and enthusiastic. Participants were given challenges to work through independently, with Carol encouraging them to find their own solutions rather than stepping in at every stage. Happily, there were few problems to solve, and everyone seemed pleased with their finished windows!

The workshop was funded by The Robertson Trust, supporting DDCA’s work to improve prosperity in Dufftown by creating opportunities for people to learn new skills, take part in activities and build stronger community connections.

And it seems the benefits went well beyond the finished pieces of stained glass!

One participant told us:

“Both my friend and I really enjoyed it and are definitely planning on doing more stained glass. It was so nice to get to spend time with our ‘neighbours’. Being new to Dufftown, this was our first opportunity, which is super important in such a rural area.

We will definitely be keeping an eye out for other workshops and activities to join.”

We love hearing feedback like this. In a rural community, opportunities to meet people, learn alongside others and build friendships can make a real difference, particularly for those who are new to the area. Workshops like this help bring people together while opening the door to new interests, skills and experiences.

A huge thank you to Carol from Bahill Glass for sharing her expertise and delivering such an enjoyable workshop, and to The Robertson Trust for supporting opportunities that help Dufftown thrive.

Fancy trying something new? Keep an eye on DDCA’s website and social media for upcoming workshops, classes and community activities. There might just be something that sparks your interest!

Your Community, Your Future: Why Do We Need a Community Action Plan?

What would you like Dufftown and District to look like in five, ten or even twenty years’ time? Perhaps you would like to see better paths, more activities for young people, improved facilities or new life breathed into our much-loved local buildings. Maybe you have ideas of your own.

Whatever your hopes for the future, the best way to shape our community is to do it together.

What is a Community Action Plan?

A Community Action Plan (CAP) brings together the ideas, hopes and priorities of the people who live, work and spend time in Dufftown and District. It helps us understand what matters most, what could be improved and what opportunities we want to create for future generations.

It isn’t a plan written by one organisation, or a list of projects DDCA has decided to deliver. It belongs to the community. Its purpose is to reflect local voices and create a shared vision for our future.

Why do we need one?

1. Local people know best. You understand what works well, what is missing and what would make a real difference to everyday life. A CAP gives everyone an opportunity to share their ideas and help shape local priorities.
2. We need to focus our efforts. There are always more ideas than there is time, money or capacity to deliver them all. A shared plan helps us identify priorities, consider what is achievable and understand what needs to happen next.
3. It can help us secure funding. Funders want to see that projects respond to genuine local needs. A CAP provides evidence of community support and can strengthen applications for funding and investment.
4. Working together makes us stronger. The plan can connect community groups, organisations, businesses and volunteers, helping us share resources, develop partnerships and make good things happen together.
5. Our community will keep changing. A CAP provides a framework that can evolve as our needs and ambitions change, ensuring local people continue to have a voice in shaping the future.

What happens next?

The consultation feedback is being brought together to identify common themes and priorities. These will help us develop a practical plan, considering what can be achieved, who might take projects forward and what support or funding may be needed.

Some ideas may be achievable quickly, while others will take time, partnerships and further planning. Not everything will happen at once, but having a shared direction gives us a stronger starting point.

This is your community. Your voice matters.

You don’t need to belong to a community group, have fundraising experience or know how to deliver a project. You simply need to care about Dufftown and District and what its future could look like.

Our Community Action Plan is about more than planning projects. It is about bringing people together, building on what makes our area special and creating a future we can all help shape.

Because the future of Dufftown and District shouldn’t just happen around us. It should be something we help create, together.

 

For one local resident, borrowing an e-bike from Dufftown & District Community Association (DDCA) has opened up a world of possibilities, helping her rediscover a love of cycling, explore new places and realise that age and fitness don’t have to stop her enjoying the outdoors.

Before borrowing the e-bike, she mostly relied on her car to get around. She regularly walked her dog and led a Health Walk, but arthritis affected her ability to walk long distances.

“I’ve always enjoyed cycling,” she explains, “but old age and poor fitness are a problem. I live up a hill and it is too steep for me to cycle on my own bike.”

For a while, she felt that her cycling days were coming to an end. She loved getting out onto trails and into the hills, but the physical demands of cycling were becoming a barrier.

Giving E-Biking a Go

The opportunity to borrow an e-bike allowed her to find out whether it could make cycling accessible again, without having to commit to buying one.

“I wanted to try an e-bike and see if it is worth investing in one, to see if I used it enough and if it made enough of a difference to my ability to enjoy mountain biking again. And to see if I could keep up with my hubby!”

Initially, getting used to setting off, the gears and power controls took some practice, but she soon felt comfortable.

“I found it easy to use once I got used to the gears and power control. Setting off was a bit tricky to get used to, but I soon got the hang of it.”

Then came the moment that really changed her perception of what she could do.

“I loved being able to cycle up a long steep hill and to be able to keep up with my younger friend.”

That experience gave her a new confidence in her riding ability.

 

More Than Just Getting from A to B

The e-bike hasn’t simply changed how she gets around. It has changed what she feels able to do.

She has explored parts of the Speyside Way that she had never previously visited, as well as forest tracks around Ben Aigen. She has also surprised herself with how far she can ride.

“I did a super 10-mile ride all by myself and could’ve gone further.”

Having access to the bike has encouraged her to be more active and get outside rather than staying at home.

“It got me out for a ride instead of doing chores!”

The bike has also created opportunities to spend time with others. She particularly enjoyed cycling with neighbours, combining activity with social connection.

Feeling Young Again

Perhaps one of the most powerful impacts has been on her wellbeing.

“How does getting out on the bike make you feel?”

“Makes me feel young again.”

Being outdoors, exploring the countryside and achieving things she wasn’t sure she could do has lifted her mood.

“It definitely lifts my mood being out in nature and I’m proud of my cycling achievement.”

Cycling has become something she actively looks forward to.

“I’m keen to find a way to keep cycling.”

A Change in What’s Possible

When asked to describe the difference having access to an e-bike has made in three words, her answer was:

“Opens up possibilities!”

The e-bike has allowed her to go further, explore new routes and enjoy the outdoors in a way that previously felt increasingly difficult. It has also challenged the idea that she was simply getting too old to cycle.

“It’s made me realise I’m not too old.”

Looking ahead, she hopes to continue cycling after the loan ends and would consider investing in an e-bike of her own.

Without access to the loan e-bike, she doesn’t think she would have made these changes.

Give It a Go

For anyone considering borrowing an e-bike but unsure whether it is for them, her advice is simple:

“Give it a go!!”

For DDCA, her experience demonstrates the value of providing access to e-bikes rather than expecting people to purchase one themselves. A period of supported access allows people to discover whether an e-bike works for them, while potentially removing barriers around fitness, mobility, confidence and cost.

In this case, the result has been much more than a different way to travel. It has been about confidence, connection, activity and the freedom to explore.

As she puts it:

“Having access to an e-bike gives me the chance to go further, faster and in comfort in the great outdoors.”

 

Well, the answer is four ceilidhs and quite a lot of willow!

We were delighted with the success of our four summer ceilidhs. They brought people together for some great nights of music, dancing and fun, and we hope to build on this next year and make the ceilidhs a regular fixture in the Dufftown events calendar for both our community and visitors to enjoy.

We were particularly grateful for the support of our local Highland dancers and pipe band, who helped make the evenings extra special.

And, of course, a huge thank you to everyone who came along and supported the raffles. They were very well supported each night, and all of the groups who ran a raffle were delighted with the funds they were able to raise to support their work.

We are delighted to share that the Community Development Officer role is now funded full-time for the next four years.

This is a fantastic outcome for the DDCA and the wider community. Having the role in place on a full-time basis gives us the capacity to plan ahead, develop our projects and priorities, and, importantly, know that there is dedicated support available to help move things forward over the coming years.

There is lots we want to achieve, and we’re looking forward to getting stuck in!

We have been successful in securing funding from HiTrans for six new e-bikes. We hope to place the order for the bikes in the next week or so, with the new bikes expected to arrive towards the end of October.

Some of the new bikes will replace older bikes within the fleet, while others will be additional bikes, helping us to increase the availability of this popular community service.

Funded e-bike hire is still available for local residents. Whether you are looking for a bike for a short-term or longer-term hire, just give us a call or send us an email to find out more.

The new bike lockers have also been a great addition to the project. They make the scheme much easier for us to manage and allow us to be more flexible with customers when arranging collections and returns.

We have been absolutely delighted with the response to our Clock Tower Fundraising Club and the fantastic support from the community.

Our next draw will be in December, and we have set ourselves a target of reaching 100 members by Christmas Eve.

If you haven’t joined yet, or you would like to take an additional entry, now is the perfect time to get involved and help us keep moving towards our goal of restoring the Clock Tower.

Join the Clock Tower Fundraising Club here:
Clock Tower Fundraising Club – Dufftown Community

Every membership makes a difference.

We have now set the dates for our Community Social Afternoons and Warm Spaces lunches for the next six months, and we’re looking forward to seeing lots of familiar faces, as well as welcoming some new ones.

Our Make Do and Mend classes also restart on Monday, so there are plenty of opportunities to get involved over the coming months.

For dates and more information, keep an eye on our Facebook page, visit the Events section of our website or get in touch with us by email.

A reminder that our consultation for the Dufftown & District Community Action Plan closes tomorrow.

If you haven’t had your say yet, there is still time to complete the online form and help shape the priorities for our community over the coming years.

Complete the consultation here:
https://forms.gle/rnDkYi61sjS8ojABA

The feedback received will then be discussed at the next Community Forum on 23 September, after which a draft plan will be shared with the wider community for further feedback.

The DDCA exists to support our community, and your ideas, feedback and suggestions help us understand what matters to the people who live here.

If there is something you think we should be doing, a project you would like to see developed, or an idea you think could benefit Dufftown and the surrounding area, please get in touch.

We’d love to hear from you!

With the warmer days here, we thought it was a good time to remind you of some of the fantastic walking and cycling trails we have right on our doorstep!

Whether you are heading out on one of our DDCA eBikes or jumping on your own bike, there are plenty of opportunities to get out, explore the beautiful countryside around Dufftown and discover a little more of what the area has to offer.

For visitors and tourists staying in and around Dufftown, these routes are a great way to explore the area at your own pace, taking in the scenery, wildlife, heritage and, of course, some of our famous whisky country along the way!

Two other great routes to explore are:

🚲 The Isla Way – a 13-mile route linking Dufftown and Keith, taking in woodland, countryside, the River Fiddich and some fantastic views along the way.

🌿 The Speyside Way – one of Scotland’s Great Trails, following the River Spey through some of the most beautiful scenery in Moray and Speyside.

We’ve included links below to help you plan your route and make the most of your time in the area.

Find out more:

Speyside Way – Official Website

The Isla Way – Moray Ways

So, whether you’re a local looking for a new route or visiting Dufftown and fancy getting out and exploring, why not get on your bike and see where the trail takes you? 🚲💚

It’s been another busy month for Dufftown & District Community Association, and we’d like to share some of the latest news and upcoming events.

Summer Ceilidhs Off to a Fantastic Start

Our first Summer Ceilidh was a great success, and we’d like to thank everyone who came along and helped make it such a brilliant evening. We hope to build on this success over the next three weeks and welcome even more people to enjoy these fantastic community events.

There are still three ceilidhs to come, taking place on Thursday 6th, 13th and 20th. We hope you can join us for an evening of traditional Scottish music, dancing and community spirit.

Tickets can be purchased on the door (cash only), or you can buy them in advance online here:
https://dufftowncommunity.co.uk/events/dufftown-summer-ceilidhs-various-dates/

Each evening also features a raffle raising funds for different community groups. This week’s raffle will support the Dufftown Football Club, so come along, enjoy a great night out and help support local organisations. Thanks to the incredible generosity of local businesses and community members, the raffle prizes are well worth winning!

Community Action Plan Consultation

We’ll be at the Dufftown Farmers’ Market this Saturday as we approach the final stages of the Community Action Plan consultation.

If you haven’t yet shared your views, please come and speak to us at our stall, or complete the online survey here:
https://forms.gle/6fQgPikZ3FUvvBSV7

Paper copies of the survey are also available from the Food Larder.

Every response helps shape the future priorities for our community, so we’d really appreciate you taking a few minutes to have your say.

Housing Master Plan Update

The consultation for the proposed housing development Master Plan has now closed.

Once we receive the consultation report from Moray Council, we’ll share the findings with members, along with any updates on how concerns raised by the community will be addressed.

Robertson Trust Funding Secured

We’re delighted to share that we have secured a second year of funding from The Robertson Trust to continue our work to improve prosperity and wellbeing across Dufftown.

This funding allows us to continue successful projects including our Warm Spaces lunches and Sewing Classes.

We’re also developing a new programme of social activities for older residents to help fill the gap left by the closure of the Over 60s Club. We’re working closely with former attendees to shape activities that reflect what local people would most enjoy and benefit from.

If you have ideas for events or activities you’d like to see in Dufftown, we’d love to hear from you.

Growing Project Update

Unfortunately, our community growing project has hit an unexpected setback, as the council is no longer able to provide access to the piece of land we had been working towards taking over.

The positive news is that the council is now actively looking into alternative options for us as a matter of urgency. We’ll keep members updated as soon as we have further information.

We Hope to See You Soon!

We’d love to see you at one of our remaining Summer Ceilidhs. With fantastic live music, pipers, dancers, a welcoming atmosphere and some amazing raffle prizes, they’re a wonderful way to spend a summer evening while supporting your local community.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support-we couldn’t do it without you.

As we mark Volunteers’ Week, we want to take a moment to recognise and thank the incredible people who give their time, energy, skills and enthusiasm to support our community.

Behind so much of what happens in Dufftown and District Community Association are volunteers who quietly get on with making a difference every single day. Whether it’s rain, shine, wind or snow, our volunteers show up and help make our projects and events possible.

A huge thank you goes to our bike volunteers who help maintain our community bikes and ensure they are ready for hire, helping people get active, explore the area and enjoy the outdoors.

We are also incredibly grateful to our Food Larder volunteers who work tirelessly to keep the shelves stocked and organised. A special mention must go to our wonderful “mini volunteers” from the local nurseries, who regularly help stock the Food Larder with such enthusiasm and care.

Thank you also to the volunteers who support our Warm Spaces lunches, helping to prepare, serve and welcome people through the door. These events simply wouldn’t be the same without your friendly faces and willingness to help.

From clothing swaps and family activities to community events and behind-the-scenes support, our volunteers contribute in countless ways. A special thank you also goes to the amazing team behind our Community Growing Project, who are looking forward to helping people learn and grow together as we continue to develop this project. We are equally grateful to those volunteers who weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty and helped clear all of the accumulated rubbish from the Clock Tower, an important first step in bringing this much-loved landmark back into community use. Every hour given, every task completed and every smile shared helps strengthen our community and makes Dufftown a better place for everyone.

On behalf of everyone at Dufftown and District Community Association, thank you. Your generosity, commitment and community spirit are at the heart of everything we do, and we are incredibly grateful for your support.

Happy Volunteers’ Week!

Interested in joining our fantastic team of volunteers? We’d love to hear from you. Get in touch to find out how you can get involved.