REAP - news and events

Details of various news items concerning REAP and events which REAP is involved in organising are included here. For more details of any of these items please contact us.

REAP is hosting a two-day Introduction to Permaculture course for individuals who wish to know more about Permaculture. This 'taster' will provide an opportunity to actively learn about the ethics and principles and see examples of designs being implemented in this country and abroad. The course also provides the opportunity to discuss issues with other people and gain an overview of the growing Permaculture network. Booking fee will include a complementary copy of Graham Burnett's book "Permaculture - A Beginners Guide". Details are available to download including further information and a timetable for the weekend.

Costs: Fees for the 2 day course are £25 per person with an additional £15 for those wishing overnight accommodation at the bunkhouse.

If you would like to book a place then please complete the booking form and return it with your payment. If you require any further information then please contact us.

Co-op Grant for Stakeholder Event

REAP will be holding a series of stakeholder events to plan out our future direction thanks to a grant from the Scottish Co-op.

Uploaded March 2010

REAP helped out at Oxfam's climate change hearing in Elgin. This local meeting of a worldwide campaign to gather in evidence of climate change got a lot of coverage in local and national newspapers and radio.

REAP Funding Success in Community Biomass Project

REAP has helped Newmill Hall in winning £100,000 in Scottish Gas funding. This will convert the hall heating into using a biomass boiler and pumping the excess heat to the nearby primary school. This is expected to be operational during 2010. Further Details

Uploaded November 09

REAP hosted a one-day seminar looking at issues around retrofitting insulation to older properties and exploring the new funding arrangements for rerewables for homes. Line up of speakers included Historic Scotland and Energy Saving Trust. The day was designed for architects, planners, housing associations, builders, energy efficiency officers etc

REAP is Seeking New Board Members

Do you want to join the board of REAP? No remuneration but you will get that warm glow of helping take forward a local charity in promoting sustainable development. Further Details

Uploaded July 09

As part of the Keith Traditional Music Festival, REAP are having an information stall on energy efficiency and will be drawing the crowds with a bicycle powered sound system suitable for CDs and live music. Come along next to the TMSA office at the back of the Royal Hotel, Mid Street, Keith from 11am to 2 pm. Musicians very welcome.

NHS Contract Extended

REAP is continuing to assist the NHS in delivering the community part of the Dufftown Well North Project for another year. This is expected to run until March 2010

Uploaded May 09

The Green Diary started as a training project in Aberdeen and developed into a monthly diary of environmental events. After many homes it was with sadness and hope that the presses stopped due to a lack of funding and increasing difficulties in getting advertising. A re-birth as an on-line diary is being planned.

REAP's Cosy Keith Project Launched

Last year REAP made a successful bid to the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund to carry out a project which aims to make Keith a cosier place to live and work in. The project aims to cut carbon emissions in Keith and the surrounding area and will run until March 2011. REAP is working with the Energy Saving Centre and local organisations to take the project forward. Further Details

Uploaded February 09

REAP is to organise the 2009 Moray Social Enterprise Awards Dinner on behalf of the Moray Social Enterprise Network. The date for the award dinner is set for 27 March 2009. Further Details

REAP Wins Social Accounting Award

REAP has jointly won the Small and Medium Enterprise Commendation in the ACCA UK Awards for Sustainability Reporting 2008. The Judges Report for 2008 gives details of all the award winners and recommendations for their reports.

Uploaded December 08

Kim Siu, the Moray Rural Housing Enabler, is conducting a housing needs study to identify the need and demand for affordable housing in Drummuir. Anybody who is interested in living in an affordable, energy efficient home in Drummuir should contact Kim. Further Details

Job Opportunity with REAP

REAP are currently recruiting for the post of Energy Efficiency Outreach Officer (part time). Closing date for applications is Friday 12 December 2008. Recruitment for this post is now closed. Further Details of the energy efficiency project

Uploaded November 08

REAP has won a Your Moray - Your Environment Award for our work making the Green Diary carbon neutral. The award was one of eight handed out on the night to community groups, schools and businesses. The awards scheme, now in its second year, is organised through the Moray Community Planning Greener Group, one of the five Community Planning Strategic Theme Groups. Further details

REAP Successful in Climate Change Grant

REAP are pleased to announce that they have been successful in applying for a grant from the Scottish Government's Climate Challenge Fund. The grant is for work in and around the Keith area to reduce our carbon footprint. One exciting development is the opportunity to establish a project utilising a thermal camera to identify heat loss in buildings as a tool to tackle fuel poverty. Further Details

Uploaded November 08

After almost 11 years at the helm of REAP, Kevin McDermott has moved on to work for Aberdeenshire Council. His new strategic role will be a great benefit to communities and charities in Aberdeenshire. We wish him all the best for the future and look forward to the opportunities this change will bring.

REAP Shortlisted for Prestigious Social Accounting Award

REAP has made the shortlist for the prestigious ACCA UK Awards for Sustainability Reporting alongside such household names as The Co-operative Group and Tradecraft. Further Details

Uploaded September 08

REAP hosted a visit from members of Canadian social enterprise Youth Opportunities Unlimited as part of the Social Enterprise World Forum. YOU are a youth based social enterprise and were interested in the running of Craighursts and the Boyndie Trust as well as the possibilities of future youth exchange opportunities.

Social Enterprise World Forum

As part of REAP's work facilitating the Moray Social Enterprise Network we are looking forward to hosting delegates from the Social Enterprise World Forum taking place in Edinburgh in September this year. Community Enterprise in Scotland (CEIS) are bringing together delegates from all over the world to the forum and Moray is one of the areas that delegates will be visiting to look at examples of best practice. Further Details

Uploaded July 08

REAP's work with Grampian NHS in the Moray Food and Health Project (MFHP) has had some spin-offs regionally and nationally recently. Community Foods North East have been working in Moray to increase the scope of their business promoting community food outlets and healthy eating at a low cost. Community Food outlets have been set up in various areas of Moray. This was helped by REAP's report for MFHP called 'Taking Community Food Projects Forward in Moray'.

Meanwhile at a national level, Aberdeen and the North East are being included in the Scottish Grocer's Federation 'Healthy Living' programme pilot providing training and promotional materials for local stores and community food outlets in the area. This builds on the MFHP's 'Healthy Shelf' initiative in rural shops in Speyside, and our input into networking meetings with Community Food and Health Scotland. Further details

Keith Traditional Music Festival

As part of our work supporting the Keith and Strathisla Regeneration Partnership, REAP has been assisting the Keith Traditional Music Festival. This has included work to help measure the economic impact of the festival and try to extend the festival on Saturday afternoon as a family event.

Uploaded June 08

REAP are pleased to be able to announce that we have been awarded a contract from HIE to audit the emerging and existing social enterprises in the Inner Moray Firth area. This work will take place over the summer months.

Moray Social Enterprise Awards

REAP has organised the first Moray Social Enterprise Awards. These took place at Innes House on Friday 21st March and recognised the important contribution which social enterprises make to our economy, environment and community. Further Details

Uploaded Mar 08

Kevin McDermott, REAP manager, has been shortlisted for honours at Forward Scotland's first ever Champions for Sustainable Communities awards. He is a finalist in the Public/Third Sector category and is one of seven nominees. Further details

Although Kevin did not win the award, in the words of Forward Scotland the nomination is a recognition of the fact that "his commitment, drive and passion has helped put REAP at the forefront of the efforts to balance the need for change with the need to ensure aspirations are achieved within environmental limits."

CSV’s Action Earth campaign will run from 1^st March to 31^st July 2008 and offers grants of £50 to help volunteers with materials, plants, tools, equipment, travel and refreshments. Any kind of group can apply - including community organisations, youth groups, environment projects, residents associations, schools or friends. In addition this year, there are 50 SNH Biodiversity Awards of up to £250, which are available to groups in Scotland who are specifically providing or improving habitats for wildlife.

Uploaded Feb 08