Jun 19, 20236 min read

BSCX June 2023 Newsletter

Hello Everyone!

Introduction from the Editor...

Many of you will know and have seen the ‘Where2Today’ buses out and about in the Badenoch and Strathspey area. Since changing our company name and whilst looking at the length of time we have had both of our vehicles, we found we had the opportunity to apply for 100% funding to replace two of them through Motability. So, with thanks to Motability, seen here with Maggie and Derek, we have been able to take receipt of our first vehicle, the Combo which is also in our new colours. The Vauxhall Combo, which takes 7 passengers and is wheelchair accessible. The Volkswagon Crafter, which seats up to 12 passengers, will arrive later this month. We will still be keeping the Citroen van but the Berlingo and Peugeot van are off to new homes. I have also attached an invitation for you for the ‘Back to School for Volunteers Week’ event on the 12th June.

Enjoy the newsletter and best wishes for 2023... Victoria

Certified One Day First Aid Training Course

Wednesday 21st June: 9.30 – 3.30pm

This is a one day first aid course which is being made available to all our volunteers, on a first come first served basis. It will be held at the Fire Station here in Aviemore. Tea and coffee will be provided , but if you could bring your own lunch. There are 12 spaces. As we have many more volunteers that may like to attend, we will be holding another 2 sessions in the following months. If you would like to book a space, please call Dorothy on 01479 810004. If this course becomes full, we will put your name down on a waiting list for the next scheduled day.

Back to School for Volunteers Week

Monday 12th June: 12md – 2pm

The Home Economic students at Grantown Grammar are keen to show off their cooking talents as well as get a chance to meet local volunteers to hear about why volunteering is such a wonderful thing to do. This will be a great chance to encourage the future generation by listening to your stories of what volunteering means to you, the experiences you have had and why it could be important for them to build this into their lives. We are invited to join them at Grantown Grammar on the 12th June for a coffee/tea or soup lunch. If you would like to come along, please ring the office on 01479 810004 or email me at volunteering@bscx.co.uk I for one am really looking forward to meeting the students and spending time talking about volunteering.

SCAMS WORKSHOP run by AGE Scotland

You may well have received what is thought to be a scam call and it can be very easy to take up their offer, so the best way to ward these calls off is by attending a workshop where they tell you how to be both aware and avoid them. The Scams Workshop is being held at St. Andrew’s Church Hall here in Aviemore on Wednesday 21st June from 10.30 – 12.30pm. You will need to book a space by calling the office on 01479 810004

NEW VEHICLE ORIENTATION

As we will now have two brand new vehicles, we are going to shake up the paperwork required for when taking the vehicles out on the road along with giving each of the designated accessible vehicle drivers a full orientation of each new vehicle. The Combo is also wheelchair accessible. So when you next come in to the office to do a run, one of the members of staff will go through what will be required each time you are driving the vehicles.

BSCX ON TOUR 2023

Now that the better weather is here, BSCX will be out and about promoting the company and chatting to potential volunteers.The first two events (below) have already taken place starting with having a stand at the Badenoch & Strathspey Volunteer Drop In Day held in Kingussie. 25 local charity groups came together under one roof to show our community what they are about, to chat with the public and with the hope of recruiting potential volunteers. The second event was having a stand at the annual Nethybridge Spring Gathering. Along with other local charity stands, it was a time to show off what we all do best. The weather was kind and we had a visit from many of the locals along with playing a well received game of Ping Pong Jars. Well it kept Donna and I very amused through the day……

June - will see our visit to the Grantown Grammar School for Volunteers Week – see attached invite.
July - I hope everyone is away enjoying the summer sun
August/Sept -will be busy with stands at the Newtonmore Games on Saturday 5 th , Abernethy Games on Saturday 12th and finishing off with the Carrbridge Carve on the 2 nd Sept. If you are in the area come and have a chat, a coffee or even a throw of the ping pong balls. We will look forward to seeing you there…….

AND IN OTHER NEWS ………...

Saying Hello to a new kid on the block ……

A new member of staff joined us this March, Graeme Dougal. Graeme will be working with us on a Monday, answering the phone, contacting the volunteer drivers for runs along with all things office based.

25 years on the 1st May ……

Gosh where does the time go……… on the 1st May, Maggie, seen here with her balloons, had been with the company 25 years. She has seen many changes over the years, but under her leadership it has continued to thrive and has been a much needed service for many of the locals. Here’s to the next 25 ………….

The Car Scheme and Accessible Minibus

As the Car Scheme is gathering momentum now with leisure activity journeys being requested as much as medical journeys, we are always looking for new volunteers to join our team. If you know of anyone that may be interested, give us a call.

Green Health.... aka... The Allotment

The Dulnain Bridge allotment it now up and running again with a few more volunteers joining for our weekly sessions. Lots to plant as the better weather is here: potatoes, broad beans, peas, courgettes and marrows, hopefully producing a good crop. We meet on a Wednesday; 10am – 1.30pm. Always looking for new ideas and ways to grow things. Whilst the main grass area is cut by the owners, what we would like is a kind person that could come and strim around the raised beds so we can get better access to them. If you can help by bringing along a strimmer every now and again, that would be fabulous.

Days Out and Music Afternoons

The sun is out, the bus has been polished, the routes are ready……. And we are off. Trips further afield have begun with one of the first to Brodie Castle. Over the summer months lots are planned.

A trip out with Wild Things to Brodie Castle went in the beginning of May. Music afternoons are on the last Friday of each month taking it in turns for each end of the valet. Coffee and Chat is held once a week at St. Andrews Church. The Getting Together Project taking people to the Therapy Gardens on a Monday afternoon in Aviemore and a Tuesday afternoon in Kingussie. There are taster sessions for curling are being offered with a return to ice skating in the winter.

Befriending

Julie and Donna are always looking for new ideas for both the Befrienders and clients to take part in. There has been line dancing, ice skating, days out and picnics, but the latest event was indoor curling. Held at the Boat of Garten Community Hall.