Building on Planning For Real 2015
Back in 2015, the community achieved a fantastic whole community action plan developed through the Planning for Real process. Many of the people involved in this process are still involved in various community groups today. The outcome from the process was a fantastic asset in the form of a community action plan which has helped to secure grants for various community projects. Lots of great ideas were allocated to owners to take forward and develop. Fast forward a few years and upon review of the document, some problems highlighted still exist and some actions are incomplete. When the DDCA have asked groups if there were any barriers to them completing the actions from Planning For Real, the key constraint which has been fed back is that they had insufficient volunteers to progress the action.
Looking to the future
The DDCA have been steadily growing our community development activities and have acknowledged that with the scale of community action required to complete these activities, a dedicated resource in the form of a development officer is required. The DDCA have explored funding criteria funding for a development officer and it was noted that a refreshed Community Action Plan would increase funding success.
The DDCA successfully applied for funding of £4,000 from the William Grant and Sons Foundation to appoint Star Development Group to conduct an update of the Dufftown and District community action plan. The new plan incorporates the aspects of the 2015 Planning for Real output and the Dorenell Wind Farm Communities Action Plan that are still to be achieved. All community groups were invited to participate but not all chose to participate. Star Development Group have co-ordinated a survey and a cross community Zoom meeting of community group representatives to consider their current thinking about the future needs of Dufftown and District. The culmination of the work has been a new Community Action Plan covering the years 2021 – 2026 which is available at this link (Downloadable PDF) Dufftown Community Action Plan 2021
Keeping the Action Plan Alive
A lot has happened since the Action Plan was prepared in 2020/2021. The country has been in and out of various lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Community groups have had to focus their efforts to fill the most urgent and essential needs of the community. Furthermore, there has been a restricted ability to have face-to-face meetings and open events. DDCA remains committed to making sure the Action Plan remains a relevant and living document for the whole community. This is done through regular review of the action plan through community meetings.
2022 Review – The DDCA organised an Action Plan review meeting on July 20th 2022.
The purpose of the meeting was to provide a platform for groups, businesses and individuals to come together and share their experiences from the last couple of years to understand how we are progressing with the action plan. The meeting was also a chance to remind ourselves of our shared values for Dufftown and District and review our vision for its future. 22 participants representing 14 community groups attended. Two youth members from the Speyside Youth Committee were commissioned to take minutes of the meeting and write up a brief report, which was published in the local newsletter ‘The Speirins’.
The Speyside Youth report of the Action Plan Review 2022 can be read here: Action Plan report by Speyside Youth
The full report of the Action Plan Review 2022 can be read here: Action Plan Review 2022
2023 Community Forums
Based on the feedback at the Review meeting in 2022, DDCA organise quarterly community forums to facilitate information sharing and partnership working among community-led development in Dufftown & District. See below for outcomes of the community forums.
2024 Community Forums
TBC
