Mission Statement:

Aims

To act as an umbrella group drawing together voluntary sector partners in the Kincardine & Mearns area.

• Promoting access to facilities, carrying out consultations and supporting community engagement exercises.
• Promoting sustainable community development and working in partnership with all other relevant bodies and community planning partners.
• Promotion, development and support of any activity which benefits people within the area.

Executive Summary 

Kincardine and Mearns Area Partnership is now in its 6^th year and is still a relatively young partnership.  It is managed by volunteers elected from the representatives of the voluntary organization who are its members.

Membership currently stands at 59 (list attached). Over the past years the management committee has endeavoured to administer the funding received from Aberdeenshire Council in a prudent and appropriate manner.

Office bearers on the management committee will change this year as per constitutional requirements. In view of this we propose to take action to recruit and train new committee members as soon as possible and also visit partnerships and projects in other areas for advice and inspiration.

We are now registered as an Environment Body with Entrust which gives the additional benefit of allowing our members, who are in the correct geographical area, access to Landfill Tax funding.

In 2005 our first development worker was employed on a short term contract. The report which resulted from the post has influenced the partnerships actions since then.  The main activities undertaken have been in an effort to further consult with the wider community in order to formulate a strategy to address perceived needs.  This has been done through the support given to Planning for Real events in a number of villages and the Dynamic Drop In™ events in Stonehaven in 2008 and in Portlethen in 2009.

Through the information gathered from these events it was felt the time was right to employ a development worker for the partnership to support communities as they worked towards achieving the goals highlighted in the consultation exercises.  It was agreed to make the post part-time (20 hours a week) on an annual contract.

Involvement in the grant scheme has had to be suspended due to lack of resources, however we are still able to offer support, advise and help with the development of project aims, management and making the most of the skills and experience within communities to progress projects.

At the end of August 2010 KMAP signed a Service Level Agreement with Aberdeenshire Council. Although this agreement expires on 31^st March 2011 it is envisaged that a new agreement will be agreed for 2011/12.  The agreement particularly commits KMAP to:

• Promoting Community Economic Development.
• Providing advice to groups seeking to develop community assets.
• Developing and supporting Planning For Real events.
• Providing business and administrative advice.
• Acting as an intermediary to ensure the two-way flow of information on the Local Community Planning Group.

In line with KMAPs commitment to its Service Level Agreement with Aberdeenshire Council it is felt necessary to undertake a degree of research to establish the level of Social Enterprises in the area and where KMAP can best support and develop new ones in the future. In order to do this it is proposed to employ a research worker for a one year contract.

During 2010 Kincardine & Mearns Area Partnership further developed its Action and Budgeting plan to take into account previous plans, current activities and the new Service Level Agreement.