Garioch & North Marr Community Safety Group

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G&NM at Groupfest 2024	The Garioch & North Marr Community Safety Group had a stand at Groupfest 2024 in Inverurie Town Hall Click on the logo to read more.

Safety Banner for Westhill Primary School	The Garioch & North Marr Community Safety Group has funded a safety banner for Westhill Primary School. Click on the logo to read more.

Clip-On Reflectors for School Children	The Garioch & North Marr Community Safety Group has distributed Clip-On Reflectors to five Primary Schools. Click on the logo to read more.

Popup Bobbies	The Garioch & North Marr Community Safety Group has provided funding for Popup Bobs in the Garioch area. Click on the logo to read more.

Rrrrallye Youth Drive in North Marr	The Garioch & North Marr Community Safety Group with help from the Marr Area Committee and the Monymusk Thrift Shop has funded a Road Safety Event for 12 youngsters aged between 14 and 17 from the North Marr area. Click on the logo to read more.

Kemnay Learning Festival	The Garioch & North Marr Community Safety Group had a display at the Kemnay Learning festival at Kemnay Academy where they promoted healthy drinking, Message-in-Bottle, Emergency Windscreen disc and Pass Plus. Click on the logo to read more.

School Gate Parking Banners	A campaign has been launched to help improve the safety of pupils by urging "selfish" parents to stop parking dangerously outside schools. The Garioch & North Marr Community Safety Group has provided five banners which will be displayed at school gates in Garioch. Click on the logo to read more.

Smoke Alarm Testers	The Garioch & North Marr Community Safety Group has purchased 500 GOODPOINT Smoke Alarm Testers which will be given to the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service and the Community Health in Partnership (CHiP) team in the Garioch and North Marr areas for distribtion to folk who are older or less able to prevent falls from step ladders or chairs. Click on the logo to read more.

Contactless Card Protection	The Garioch & North Marr Community Safety Group has purchased a supply of Card Minders and distributed them to Libraries in the Garioch and North Marr areas (Westhill, Inverurie, Kintore, Kemnay, Insch, Huntly and Alford). The initial supply of 100 protectors has been snapped up already. The Garioch & North Marr Community Safety Group is purchasing another supply and these will appear in Libraries in the coming weeks. Click on the logo to read more.

Heart Start Training	The Garioch & North Marr CSG has provided funding for a defibrillator trainer for Monymusk Village Hall. The trainer will become part of a communal pool of training equipment for the Donside Defibrillator Group and will be used to train community members across Donside where Public Access Defibrillators have been installed.

Litter clearup	The Garioch & North Marr CSG has provided funding for a litter clearup in and around Monymusk. Click on the logo to read more.

Ambition to Drive	Sixth year pupils at Kemnay Academy have been given road safety training as they prepare to become young drivers. Click on the logo to read more.

Internet Safety project	An internet safety project to inform children and parents in the Alford area about the dangers of social media has been funded by the Garioch and North Marr Community Safety Group. An evening session is open to the public. Click on the logo to read more.

RoSPA Home Safety Booklets	The booklets contain information about the many hazards present at home. They have been provided to First Year pupils at all secondary schools in the Garioch & North Marr area. It is planned to make this an annual event so that there is a continuous flow of safety information to homes in the Garioch and North Marr Community Safety Group area. The booklets each carry a sticker indicating that they were presented by the Garioch & North Marr CSG. 1,345 booklets in total were delivered to S1 and S2 pupils at Alford Academy, the Gordon Schools Huntly, Westhill Academy, Kemnay Academy and Inverurie Academy during November & December 2013. Click on the logo to see some photographs.

Operation Collinsville	The The Garioch and North Marr Community Safety Group and Police Scotland are continuing to tackle anti-social and irresponsible driving in the North Marr area through the continuation of Operation Collinsville. Click on the logo for more information.

Driving Ambition @ Kemnay Academy	The Garioch and North Marr Community Safety Group has supported the Driving Ambition road safety coure for pupils at Kemnay Academy Click on the logo for more information.

Country Roads Rush Hour	The Garioch and North Marr Community Safety Group has joined forces with Grampian Police and Grampian Fire and Rescue Service to encourage drivers to stay safe on Aberdeenshire's rural roads. Click on the logo for more information.

Winter safety for school children	The Garioch and North Marr Community Safety Group has provided hi-visibility armbands and warning flashing lights to a number of Primary schools in its area. Click on the logo for more information.

Westdyke Girls Football Club	The Garioch and North Marr Community Safety Group is supporting a girls' football club in Westhill by providing a grant of £500 towards the cost of sports equipment. Click on the logo for more information.

Young driver skills	The Garioch and North Marr Community Safety Group is supporting the Momentum project in Alford. Momentum is an informal education programme that uses young peoples' interest in the car as a starting point for learning. Momentum equips young people from aged 14 with the basic knowledge and practical skills they need to be safe drivers. Click on the logo for more information.

Help for the elderly & motorists	The Garioch and North Marr Community Safety Group is supporting Grampian Police in an initiative aimed at assisting motorists and vulnerable or elderly residents in the South Aberdeenshire Command Area. Click on the logo for more information.

Bike security marking	The Garioch and North Marr Community Safety Group is supporting Grampian Police in providing free bike-security marking. Click on the logo for a report.

Water Safety Lessons	The Garioch and North Marr Community Safety Group, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Aberdeenshire Council have provided water-safety lessons for P7 children in Westhill schools. They are planning similar water-safety courses for P7 children in Alford schools. Click on the logo for a report.

Stroke Awareness	The Garioch and North Marr Community Safety Group sponsored a Rotary initiative to to promote 'good health' within the community by organising a blood pressure testing day on March 1. Click on the logo for a report.

Driving Ambition	The Garioch and North Marr Community Safety Group donated £500 to the 'Driving Ambition - Young Driver Training Day' in Inverurie . Grampian Poilce Force undertook this young driver initiative on Sunday 11 August between 11am and 4pm at Lawrence of Kemnay's new premises at Elphinstone Road, Port Elphinstone, Inverurie. Continuing levels of road casualties within the 17 - 25 year old driver age groups continues to cause the Force some concern. This year alone, 4 young drivers have died, 86 (7 serious and 79 slight) have been injured on roads in the Force area. During June 2002, in the South Aberdeenshire Command Area alone, young drivers were involved in 37% of all the reported injury collisions. Looking at the data for 2002 within the same Command Area, drivers aged between 17 - 20 years are by far the most vulnerable group likely to be involved in a collision. As well as a theory session, participants had the opportunity to undertake skid correction training, test their reaction skills and have their driving assessed by an advanced Police driver. Other motoring groups were represented, including 'Accidont' (providers of a skid demonstration car), the Gordon Institute of Advanced Motorists, and local Driving Instructors. Twenty young drivers attended the course and enjoyed the day in an informal atmosphere. The Garioch and North Marr CSG hopes to fund future training days.

Bin It and Win It Campaign	The Garioch and North Marr Community Safety Group donated £250 to the campaign in Inverurie. The campaign is designed to make school pupils more aware of the need to bin litter, especially food wrappers from "carry-outs" which have been a problem in the centre of Inverurie. Vouchers valued at £5 and redeemable at a number of local shops, are held by members of the public and are given to children who demonstrate good behaviour in, for example, using litter bins. To date, 34 vouchers have been issued and a good response has been received from the public and from staff at Inverurie Academy. It is intended to keep the campaign going for another two or three years to obtain the maximum benefit.

Emergency Personal Information Pots	The Emergency Personal Information Pots (also called Message in a Bottle) contain a form which holds health status and medicinal requirements for individuals who live alone or who may be otherwise vulnerable. The pot is located in the householder's fridge. The fridge and the house door or window carry a sticker to declare that an Emergency Personal Information Pot is available. Emergency services can quickly find vital information about the health and medicinal requirements of a person who may, for example, be unconscious upon their arrival. A donation of £500 was approved to support the Rotary Clubs who have taken the initiative in getting this scheme going locally. The money will go to help the Rotary Clubs of Inverurie, Huntly and Alford who will be developing the scheme in the Garioch and North Marr Community Safety Group area. The Rotary Clubs will start their publicity of the Emergency Personal Information Pots scheme in mid-May. The scheme should be up and running by August. Click on the bottle for more information and an update on progress with the scheme.

RoSPA Home Safety Booklets	The booklets contain information about the many hazards present at home. They have been provided to First Year pupils at all secondary schools in the Garioch & North Marr area. It is planned to make this an annual event so that there is a continuous flow of safety information to homes in the Garioch and North Marr Community Safety Group area. The booklets each carry a sticker indicating that they were presented by the Garioch & North Marr CSG. 800 booklets in total were delivered to Alford Academy, the Gordon Schools Huntly, Westhill Academy, Kemnay Academy and Inverurie Academy during April & May 2004. Click on the logo to see some photographs.

Home Safety Project	A copy of the RoSPA home safety checklist has been acquired. The checklist is designed to be used by professionals who visit old and vulnerable people at home. The checklist is a reminder of potential home hazards, for example, electric cables running under carpets and flower vases (with water) on top of TV sets. Any hazards identified can be notified to appropriate agencies who can take steps to remedy the situation. The Garioch and North Marr Community Safety Group is considering purchasing copies of the RoSPA checklist but will be checking out legal responsibilities and training requirements in the first place.

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Police get on their bikes

The Garioch & North Marr Community Safety Group has helped to fund specialised bikes for local Police patrols.

Click on the logo for more information

Urban Roadeo

"When did you last read your Highway Code?" was one of the questions asked during the Baldy Bane Theatre Company's perfomance of "Urban Roadeo" to a packed Monymusk Village Hall. The event was hosted by the Garioch & North Marr Community Safety Group and the Monymusk Senior Citizens' Committee. The audience was entertained by the play which is aimed at road users over the age of 55. It showed a humorous exchange between Jack Dawson and his Mother-in-Law, Davina. Jack is fiercely proud of his driving ability as an experienced road user. Davina, as a happy pedestrian, is determined to make him aware of the changes that accompany the ageing process - a fact he doesn't want to face!

Road Safety Scotland, sponsors of the play, say:

"In an amusing and informative manner, the play demonstrates how we should adapt our pedestrian and driving habits as we grow older. Making simple adjustments to existing habits can make the way we use the road safer and more enjoyable for a long time to come."

Those attending also received a free copy of the infomation booklet for older road users.

Click on the thumbnail image to see a bigger version.


Advanced driving for young drivers	The Garioch & North Marr Community Safety Group sponsored a young driver from Inverurie to take the Institute of Advanced Motorists course and the test in order to assess the benefits for young drivers. Click on the logo for more information.
Inverurie Community Beat Officer	The Garioch & North Marr Community Safety Group has sponsored protective cycle clothing allowing the Inverurie Community Beat Officer to carry out her patrols on bicycle. Click on the logo for more information.

At the Motorvation event	The Garioch & North Marr Community Safety Group had a stand at the Motorvation event at the Grampian Transport Museum, promoting Pass Plus, safety wristbands for toddlers at big outdoor events and Message-in-a-Bottle. Click on the logo for more information.

Westhill Anti-Social Behaviour Posters	The Garioch & North Marr Community Safety Group made cash awards to school funds for anti-social behaviour posters produced in competitions for children at the four primary schools in Westhill. Click on the logo for more information.

Hi-visibilty vests for Playgroup	The Garioch & North Marr Community Safety Group has provided hi-visibility vests for a Playgroup which has no close access to outside play areas. Click on the logo for more information.

Kemnay Anti-Social Behaviour Posters	The Garioch & North Marr Community Safety Group made cash awards to school funds for anti-social behaviour posters produced in competitions for children at the three schools in Kemnay. Click on the logo for more information.

Home security card	The Garioch & North Marr Community Safety Group has supported a credit-card sized reminder card for householders giving simple hints on how to make their home secure while they are on holiday. Click on the logo for more information.

Anti-social behaviour poster	The Garioch and North Marr Community Safety Group has funded anti-social behaviour posters in collaboration with Grampian Police in Westhill. Click on the logo for more information.

Car crime prevention	The Garioch and North Marr Community Safety Group has funded card hangers which drivers, when parking their cars, can hang from the interior rear-view mirror declaring that the car is secure with no valuables inside and with doors locked and windows shut. Grampian Police say that the hanger can reduce the chance of becoming a victim of crime. Click on the logo for more information.

Retail crime	The Garioch and North Marr Community Safety Group has funded two retail-crime seminars designed to illustrate to retailers that, by adopting a series of simple, commonsense measures, they can reduce their chances of becoming victims of crime and send a clear message to those intent on committing crime that they are not welcome there. Click on the logo for more information.

Westhill Youth Shelter	Information on the successful establishment of a Youth Shelter in Westhill will be available here. The shelter provides a focus where young people can meet and avoid causing the problems which can arise when they would congregate on street corners or in other inappropriate locations.

Inverurie Skatepark	The Garioch and North Marr Community Safety Group was involved in the development of the Inverurie Skatepark which is now up and running with 138 members. It is hoped that lighting will be installed and be operational by the autumn. It is planned to have the facility open until 9:45pm. It is hoped that, in the future, the site will also accomodate BMX bikers.

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