Politics: Fire and Rescue and Ambulance collaboration will be an asset to the community in Turriff
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I was delighted to visit Turriff Fire Station to see the new ambulance which will be on standby there from this month.
The additional ambulance was brought into service earlier this year in Banff and that’s where it will begin its coverage.
Meanwhile, the station in Turriff will act as its standby location during a shift.
The decision to locate an ambulance at Turriff was in direct response to concerns voiced by locals about lack of ambulance support in the area and I am delighted to be able to see it in place.
The ambulance will provide a 24/7 service and the model being used allows for a relationship to build between crews as they work and train together.
This means when they attend incidents together they already know each other.
Working collaboratively will provide immense benefits to the fire and rescue and ambulance staff and ultimately, it will be a real asset to the communities they serve.
In addition, a total of six additional staff have been hired to fully cover the new ambulance.
I really enjoyed meeting Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Area Commander Andrew Wright and Laura Stephen of the Scottish Ambulance Service, and I’d like to thank them both for having me to the station to see the service in action.
I was also pleased to see Alcohol and Drugs Action in Aberdeenshire receive funding from the Scottish Government for the Routes Youth Programme.
It offers one-to-one support to people aged 12 to 26 who have been impacted by the addiction of a family member. It is part of the cross-government approach to tackling the drug deaths crisis.
Alcohol and Drugs Action does some incredible work across the north-east and I am delighted it will be one of the recipients of this programme. Young people living with a loved one who is using substances need to feel they are not alone.
They may want to share their experiences, learn more about substance use and explore how they can achieve their own goals.
It is imperative that the Scottish Government not only helps people who are facing problems with drugs, but also their family members and hopefully this funding will help contribute towards that.
Finally, food and drink producers in the north-east are being encouraged to apply for funding from the Scottish Government’s Regional Food Fund. A total of £100,000 has been made available for businesses and groups who are undertaking projects to promote regional products and open new markets.
The fund has so far supported a variety of projects across Scotland and is an excellent opportunity for local businesses, producers, and community groups in Aberdeenshire to showcase the best food and drink products in our region.
Scotland’s food and drink sector is a multi-billion-pound industry – and this fund ensures that local producers get the opportunity to fully take advantage of national supply chains and promote their products across the country.
