A Sunny Success: Vintage Vehicle Rally

We are thrilled to announce that our Vintage Vehicle Rally was a huge success! It proved to be a fantastic day out for all ages, with classic cars, great company, and even a little sunshine to brighten the event. Thanks to the amazing turnout and generous support from the community, we raised just over £2,000, which will go towards important local initiatives. We couldn't have done it without you!

Christmas Lights Coming to Insch

Earlier this year, we voted to use some of the funds raised from our successful Strawberry Fair to bring new Christmas lights to the village. After consulting with experts, we have applied to the council for consent to install festive lights around the square, and, with the support of Insch Medical Practice, plan to light up the hospital and health centre grounds. We are excited to help make this year’s holiday season even more magical for everyone in Insch. Keep an eye out for updates as we await approval and plan for this festive project.

Cycling Without Age Trishaw Demonstration

Last week, we had the pleasure of hosting a demonstration of the "Cycling Without Age" trishaw at the Bennachie Leisure Centre. This incredible initiative aims to provide elderly and less mobile members of our community the chance to enjoy the outdoors on specially designed trishaws, pedalled by trained volunteers, known as "pilots." We are enthusiastic about the possibility of launching this scheme in Insch and believe it will bring joy and connection to many.

**We are now calling on anyone interested in getting involved to help make this happen. Whether you're keen to train as a trishaw pilot, assist with organising, or offer storage space for a trishaw, we would love to hear from you. Please get in touch if you’d like to be part of this exciting new chapter for our community.**

Moving Forward: Community Engagement and CAT Exploration

Those who attended our public meeting in May will know that we distributed a survey to determine the way forward for us, as a group. This survey was shared both online and throughout the community during May and June. While we received a reasonable response—76 forms returned—it didn’t provide us with a strong enough mandate to make a firm decision. The survey results are attached for your reference.

Following this, we made the decision to form a group with those who expressed interest in exploring a Community Asset Transfer (CAT) for Insch Hospital. The group has now met, and although potential services and a layout plan was discussed for the existing building, it was agreed that, initially, we would write to the Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership (AHSCP) and local councillors to update them on the consultation efforts made by the Friends since the interested parties meeting on 9 May 2024. At the IJB meeting on 1 June 2022, it was recommended that further development and consultation on health and social care services in the community be carried out by AHSCP. Sadly, two years later, it’s clear no progress has been made by the Partnership on this front.

The Friends, however, have taken action. We held a public meeting on 18 May 2024, distributed feedback forms about service provision in Insch, and collected further input during the Strawberry Fair. We believe these efforts should be considered as part of a broader consultation on the community's needs.

We are eager to meet with the Partnership to discuss how we can work together to address the needs identified through our consultations this year. While the group acknowledged that it’s too early to draft a formal report on which services could be provided in Phase 1 of the current building, we are keen to explore the possibilities. Concern was raised about pursuing a CAT, given the level of commitment and resources it would require, and we are keen to collaborate with the Partnership to explore all options moving forward.

Maud Resource Centre

In the meantime, on Friday 13th September, we were invited to the Maud Resource Centre for a presentation by the Manager on their facility, what it offers and how it is funded.  This proved an interesting visit, particularly regarding the staffing and how this is funded. This is another item we would like to discuss further with NHS Grampian and AHSCP executives.  A meeting has been requested.