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In November 2022, we organised the second Dufftown & District Community Forum. The aim of the forum was to identify community priorities and discuss next steps. 32 individuals attended the meeting and a diverse range of community groups and other organisations were represented. 

Two members from the youth committee at Speyside Youth took photos and videos of the meeting and made a video about it. It is a fabulous piece of work and it was great to see local youth get involved with the forum. You can watch the video on our Facebook page.

During the first half of the meeting, participants were asked to write down their top priority for Dufftown & District they would like to see people and groups work together on. Below is a word cloud created with all the participants’ priorities. The larger the word, the more frequent it had been written down as a priority. 

In the second part of the meeting, the priorities were divided into 5 themes as outlined in the Dufftown & District Community Action Plan 2021-2026:

1. Environment and Heritage
   2. Community, Youth and Recreation
   3. Local Economy and Tourism
   4. Sustainable & Resilient Community
   5. Access to Services

Everyone was invited to select a topic they were most interested in. Working in groups, participants were asked to discuss the priorities and make a time-line between now and two years from now. 

The Community Forum in November 2022 showed that there is a wealth of ideas among the community on community development in Dufftown and District, as well as an impressive list of projects and services already taking place. This meeting further identified the top priorities and highlighted the collaborative spirit among community groups and residents. 

If you want to read a more in-depth summary of the meeting, you can download the Meeting notes. 

Did you know that individuals and groups in the community can apply for a Dufftown & District microgrant of up to £1000 for charitable activities? 

The microgrant fund is part of the EDF Dorenell Community Benefit Fund as is distributed through Dufftown and District Community Association. Between April 2020 and November 2022, £10,156.15 was awarded through the Dufftown & District microgrant fund to local groups and initiatives. 

Awards made since the beginning of the fund are already having a positive impact through community events, new equipment and sports activities. For example, the Royal British Legion in Dufftown used the microgrant towards the cost of the Queen’s Jubilee Weekend, with live music, food, children’s party and cinema screening all free of charge for the community. Furthermore, Dufftown FC applied for a microgrant to run a children’s football camp in 2022. 20 kids participated over the course of one week. In five days they achieved a combined total of 7080 minutes of activity in glorious weather! Dufftown’s outdoor environment has also benefited from the microgrant fund. Keith and Dufftown Railway Association used the fund to purchase bike stands for their railway station, while Dufftown in Bloom purchased planting materials to keep Dufftown looking bonny in the summer.

You can read more about the Dufftown & District microgrant fund 2020-2022 in our report. 

Do you have an initiative that you would like to make happen? Individuals and groups can apply to the fund by submitting an application form, stating the details and benefit of proposed activity. The application form can be downloaded on our website.

Decisions on grant awards are made by the Dufftown and District Community Association Board of Trustees. There is no set application deadline. Grant applications are reviewed at monthly Board meetings. Get in touch if you have any questions! 

As 2022 is coming to its end, Dufftown and District Community Association would like to wish all residents and friends a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 

We would also like to take this opportunity to send out a big thank you to all the wonderful people who have supported and worked with us over the past year. 

First of all, we are grateful for all our members, old and new, who make up our charity. It is thanks to your support that we can keep going. Secondly, we would like to send warm wishes to partner organisations that have worked with us to deliver valuable and exciting activities this year. Third, a big thank you to our donors and funders who have supported us to make things happen, such as the community food larder, Dufftown wellbeing week, eCar hire, community forums and much more. 

Having started my post as Community Development Leader for Dufftown and District Community Association in February 2022, I would like to especially thank all the representatives from local community groups, the DDCA board and the Moray third sector for giving me such a warm welcome over the past year. Getting to know you all has really been the highlight of my job so far. 

Warm wishes to all,

Viktoria

Did you know that Dufftown is surrounded by lovely trails that are great for cycling? Have you heard that you can hire an eBike for £15 per day, and get interest free loans towards buying your own eBike? We are passionate about promoting active travel and during November we joined both national and local cycling organisations to provide free cycle activities here in Dufftown!

On Sunday 20th November, we brought our wide range of eBikes down to the Royal British Legion car park for people to come along and give them a try. 14 people from Dufftown and the surrounding communities tried our hybrids, mountain bikes, kids bikes and recumbent bikes. Perhaps the most exciting one was our eTrike. It takes a while to get used to the steering when on three rather than two wheels but once you get the hang of it, the trike is great fun. People of all ages came along on the day – some cycle regularly and others had not been on a bike for 50 years. Majority had not cycled on an electric bike before and it was lovely to see people’s faces when they experienced how easy it is to use an eBike. 

On the day, we were joined by the local social enterprise Tyred n Cranky, who provide mobile bike servicing and various cycle activities. We are very grateful that Tim and Darren have come along to Dufftown several weekends in November to do free bike servicing of people’s bikes and taught them basic roadside repairs for bikes. In case you still have a bike sitting in the shed and needs some TLC, Tyred n Cranky are hoping to come back to the Dufftown Royal British Legion car park in 2023.

As if we weren’t spoiled enough with bike activities in Dufftown, Cycling UK also came along to the RBL car park with a variety of different eCargo bikes for people to try out. These are a perfect alternative to small delivery businesses using cars. They are also great for individuals and families that wish to reduce the use of their car. With the electric assistance, it is easy to take your shopping or kids on the cargo bikes. 

Last but not least, Outfit Moray visited Mortlach Primary School in November to provide Bikeability training for the P4s!   

If you missed the bike activities in November, you can hire our eBikes here in Dufftown on our website. We hope to organise more led rides in 2023 – make sure to watch this space for more information. 

Despite social media and constant access to news through our mobile phones, it can be tricky to weed through all the information to stay up-to-date with what’s going on at your own doorstep. Recently, a really useful leaflet was distributed through Costcutter with things that are on in Dufftown & District. Well done to those involved in pulling it together. Another useful place to find local information is the local Facebook Page The Speirins.

As we are approaching the Christmas season, lots of fun activities and events will take place in Dufftown and District. We have compiled a list of some of the activities that will be on for the remainder of the year: 

Dufftown Bike Activities

Sunday 20th November, Saturday 26th November

At Royal British Legion car park

Come along to lots of free bike activities here in Dufftown! On 20th November, DDCA is bringing our eBikes for free trial sessions, Tyred n Cranky will be providing lots of free bike activities, and Cycling UK Moray will be there with cargo bikes to try out. We look forward to seeing you at the Royal British Legion Scotland, Dufftown from 10am. 

https://www.facebook.com/events/1972511439760614?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22page%22%7D]%7D

 

Christmas Tombola for Dufftown Games

Thursday 24th November 7.30

At Royal British Legion

Star prize £100, £1 admission

 

Dram Tram Open Day

Saturday 26th Nov 12pm – 4pm

Keith and Dufftown Railway

Exclusive preview of KDRAs latest jewel. The Dram Tram will be open for inspection. Refreshments will be provided

 

Live music 

Saturday 26th November 9pm

At the Royal British Legion Lounge

Scott Ramsay

 

St Andrews Day Ceilidh

Saturday 26th November 7.30-11pm

Glass Hall

Dancing to Broma Ceilidh Band, £10 per person, BYOB

https://fixr.co/event/st-andrews-night-ceilidh-tickets-855577611

 

Wreath making

Thursday December 1st 2-4pm

Glass Hall 

Glass SWI invite you along to our Christmas Wreath making.Tea and mince pies provided. For for SWI members, all others £5 , We will provide greenery and metal wreath rings. There will be some ribbon but please bring your own other embellishments. Please bring your own scissors/secateurs and wire to hold greenery in place. If you wish to bring your own Oasis to make a wreath please do, we will help as best we can but there is no guided instructions, however we do all help each other.

 

Pre-Christmas Wine Tasting

Saturday 3rd December 7.30pm

Glass Hall

Get set for Christmas! Make the most of the wine offers ahead of the festive season. Showcasing 10 brilliant festive wine ideas. Cash Bar – Free Nibbles – Raffle. Hosted by Tom Macpherson and Marc Day

https://fixr.co/event/wine-tasting-night-tickets-861356563 

 

Bring a Party to a Party, with A&J Catering

Saturday 3rd December 6.30pm for 7pm meal

Royal British Legion

£35 per person, includes a wee bottle of fizz each upon arrival. Pre-order bookings with deposit of £25 per person by November 18th

 

OLD TIME DANCE IN DUFFTOWN MEMORIAL HALL

Saturday 3rd December 2022  at 7.30PM

DANCING TO SCOTT BAND. dancers £10.00, spectators £5.00

https://www.facebook.com/DufftownSCDC 

 

Dufftown Horticultural Society Winter Talk

December 7th, 7.30-8.45pm

Mortlach Memorial Hall

More details to be confirmed.

https://dufftownhorticulturalsociety.uk/ 

Festive Door Wreath Making

Saturday 10th December 10.30am-1.30pm

Acorn Centre, Cabrach

Join the Cabrach Trust to make a beautiful festive door wreath with the award-winning Wild Blossom Floristry. During this workshop, you will learn the basic principles of floristry, make and take away your very own door wreath, just in time for the festive period!

https://fb.me/e/5nnkJTYZu 

 

Breakfast with Santa

Saturday 10th December 9-11am

Commercial Hotel. Adult £10, Child £5. Booking essential, call 01340 820313

 

Christmas Market

Saturday 10th December 3-6pm

Royal British Legion 

The Dufftown Christmas Market returns to host a wonderful array of stalls, right in time for you to get into the festive mood. There will be both an indoor and outdoor market, entertainment for kids including a kids Santa run and grotto, hot food and drinks. The Dufftown Christmas Market will come with a big raffle with tickets being on sale as from the November farmers market. Main prize will be a brand-new Apple iPad, with various other prizes also to be drawn.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1135430004033818 

 

Live music at the Royal British Legion Lounge

Saturday 10th December 9pm

Diane Barber

 

Kids Clothing Swap

Sunday 11th December, 9-4pm

Royal British Legion

Organised by DDCA and RBl, exchange for all ages from tots to teens. We can only accept clean, unmarked, neatly folded clothing, good condition footwear and school uniforms. Donation drop off at the Dufftown Royal British Legion 09:00 until noon. Take your pick 1-4pm.

https://fb.me/e/4JoxBVtoe 

 

Carol Service

16th December 2-4pm

Mortlach & Cabrach Parish Church

 

Christmas Cinema

Saturday 17th December 

Royal British Legion

 

Hogmanay at the Commercial

Saturday 31st December 7.30pm

The Commercial Hotel

David Hood and Dufftown Pipe Band. Stovies & Dram served. Adults £15, children £8

 

Hogmanay at Royal British Legion

Saturday 31st December 

Louise Low and Hogmanay Raffle. Raffle tickets available from the Legion Lounge Bar & Rustic and Roses flower shop. £1 per strip

 

Midweek Mix

Every Wednesday until 19th April, 10am-3pm

At Royal British Legion

Join us for a free weekly get-together during the cold winter months for all who want to share company, coffee, entertainment and snacks. Hosted by various associations and organisations in the Dufftown community.

 

We have done our best to find as many of the upcoming events as possible. If you know of an event that is not yet on the list, get in touch and we’ll make sure to add it!

Have you got an idea for a community project in Dufftown and District? Or are you already working on a great initiative that needs financial support? There are currently various different funding opportunities available in Moray:

tsiMoray Just Transition Participatory Budgeting

Deadline: November 14th 2022

Up to £50,000

Capital expenditure of equipment towards Net Zero. Project needs to be completed by the end of this financial year

 

tsiMoray/National Lottery Community Wellbeing

Deadline: November 21st 2022

Up to £2,000

Any project that concerns community wellbeing

 

Dorenell Community Benefit Fund

Deadline: November 30th 2022

Up to £30,000

For community-led, charitable activities and provides benefit to people living in the fund area.

 

Community Led Local Development Fund

Deadline: December 5th 2022

Information and guidance still to be published

 

tsiMoray Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund

Deadline: January 9th 2023

Up to £12,000

Any project that concerns adult mental health and wellbeing

 

Moray Council Town Centre Greening Space

Deadline: February 3rd 2023

Up to £5,000

For purchasing of planting material for green spaces in Dufftown

 

Moray Council Sport and Culture Hardship Fund

No deadline

Up to £300 annually

The fund is to be used to support children & young people under 18yrs to access funding for leisure and recreation opportunities outwith the school setting.  The fund will also support individuals between 18-25 years old to access a training/education course outwith school/further education that can support them into employment or develop key life skills.

 

DDCA microgrants

On a rolling basis

Up to £1000

For ‘charitable purposes to the general benefit of local residents, including individuals and non-constituted groups’.

We strive to continuously improve the ways we communicate with our members and supporters. So from now on, we will have DDCA newsletters to be circulated on a monthly basis! Why not have a read of the November newsletter and see how you can get involved in local community action this coming month.

Click here for the DDCA November newsletter

Want to make sure you don’t miss our newsletters? Go to the very bottom of our website to sign up and receive them straight to your inbox!

 

While I’m writing this, the leaves are turning yellow, insects are finding places to hibernate and the birds are well under way migrating. As the seasons turn, DDCA’s community development leader is taking a little break.

This summer was great. Lots of good weather, beautiful evenings and I got into lots of fun projects in my garden. I also  did some travelling around Scotland to see friends and family I hadn’t seen in a long time. This summer was also pretty busy! Me and the volunteers in DDCA ran lots of fun events like the Dufftown wellbeing week and the Clocktower abseil. A lot has also happened behind the scenes, like working on a business plan for the Clocktower, setting up the DDCA community car and renting out bikes.

As we’re moving into autumn and things start to wind down, I too will take a little break. While I have been writing weekly blogs for nearly 8 months now, they will pause for October and resume in November. My challenge to you all is to take a moment, stop, and notice the changes of nature around you this time of year. If you have any beautiful photos of autumnal Dufftown, please send them our way! As always, you can get in touch with the DDCA on e-mail on facebook.

The Keith and Dufftown Railway Association (KDRA) is working on a very exciting project – a dram tram! This week I went along to have a look at all the progress they have made the last couple of months. 

With the ambition and hard work of the KDRA volunteers, an old carriage is being restored into a whisky-themed dram tram. Every detail has been carefully thought through. During the past months, a carpet has gone in, curtains have been tailored, lamps have been installed, and windows have been painted.

The most exciting addition is the custom-made barrel bar that has finally gone in! One of the volunteers, John, is about to make a bar lamp made out of copper pipes. 

The dram tram will consist of three areas. There will be a whisky snug, suitable for whisky tastings. In the remaining areas there will be barrel-lidded tables and comfy leather seats. If you want to make a financial donation towards a table or seat, get in touch with the KDRA team. Once the dram tram is up and running, it is estimated that it will hold up to 30 people. It is an exciting addition to the KDRA fleet and we can’t wait to see the final result. 

If you want to volunteer at the railway, just get in touch with the KDRA team. 

Interested in trying an e-bike but not quite sure? Come and give it a go!

For the rest of September, we are offering a week hire of our hybrid bikes for £40 and a month hire for £80. 

Dufftown and District offers a great number of paths and trails for cycling. Using an e-bike is a great way of exploring them. For those that have never used an e-bike before, fear not. It is easy to use and we will show you all the details when you collect it from us. All our bikes come with a helmet, bike lock, battery charger, puncture repair kit, pump and a few useful maps of good cycling routes in the area.

Below is a video of the DDCAs latest e-bike led ride in the Cabrach:

The September offer is limited to 4 of our Raleigh bikes:

https://dufftowncommunity.co.uk/…/ebike-motus-tour…/

https://dufftowncommunity.co.uk/…/ebike-motus-tour…/

https://dufftowncommunity.co.uk/…/ebike-motus-tour…/

https://dufftowncommunity.co.uk/…/ebike-motus-centro…/

Book online or call 07498 151441.