PRESS RELEASE

Focusing on Aberdeen	26th September 2001
Healthy snacks for schoolchildren, debt counselling, money advice and job-hunting skills – just some of the projects underway to help people in deprived neighbourhoods in Aberdeen. The work of the Great Northern Partnership, Aberdeen’s Social Inclusion Partnership, is being highlighted in the latest edition of Action, the Scottish Homes publication on social justice. The Partnership is currently involved in around 30 community projects which aim to enhance the life of local residents. Chairperson of the Great Northern Partnership, Aileen Goymer, says: “The general perception is that there is no deprivation in Aberdeen, but the fact that there’s a Social Inclusion Partnership negates that. “In fact, one in five Aberdonians live in neighbourhoods that are within the most deprived 20% in Scotland even though the city has the highest average earnings in Scotland.” Social Inclusion Partnerships (SIPs) are set to come under the wing of Communities Scotland, the new executive agency which replaces Scottish Homes from November 1. As the last edition of the paper as a Scottish Homes publication, Action also looks ahead to the new agency’s role. It also features an in-depth interview with Dharmendra Kanani, Head of the Commission for Race Equality Scotland, who talks about the Scottish Parliament, asylum seekers and Communities Scotland. Other articles look at a unique scheme to allow voluntary organisations easy access to cutting edge web technology; a housing maintenance training scheme for young people in West Dunbartonshire, and the work of the Highland Housing and Community Care Trust. Bob Millar, Chief Executive of Scottish Homes, said: “Communities Scotland is charged with operating on a much broader scale than Scottish Homes, and bringing a fresh approach to community regeneration. “In order to achieve greater joined-up working, we will be knocking on doors to develop new relationships with unfamiliar partners. And we will seek to reinvigorate the partnerships which are already in place.”
Anne Graham Tel: 0131 479 5167