Portsoy Area Action Team named as award winner at Inspiring Aberdeenshire 2021
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
PORTSOY Area Action Team has been named as an award winner at Inspiring Aberdeenshire 2021.
The team was awarded the Covid-19 Response Award – given to groups who have shown "incredible resilience and amazing efforts in response to Covid-19".
There were three winners of the award, with The Larden Portlethen and Strengthening Our Buchan Response sharing it with Portsoy Area Action Team (PAAT).
Special guest Professor Jason Leitch was on hand to present the award to the trio.
Sharon Short, who formed Portsoy Area Action Team at the start of the pandemic, said: "I'm delighted for the guys as we have put so much into the project.
"Everybody was just so happy. When we were nominated it was nice to be put forward but we didn't think we'd get anything.
"The award is for all of our communities, not just the volunteers, because they pulled together so well. It was a group effort from everybody.
"We are delighted for the other projects, too. We didn't want to get more recognition than they did so it was nice to share the award.
"I thought it was lovely that Jason Leitch, a national figure, presented the award and told us that we had done really well.
"It's great for the area to get our name out nationally as being a good community."
Working alongside local shops, including the pharmacy, ice cream shop and the co-op, Portsoy Area Action Team leafleted every home in the town, as well as Sandend, Fordyce and Cornhill, at the start of the pandemic to inform residents of a telephone ordering and home delivery service.
Deliveries were entirely organised by the group's dedicated volunteers and ran twice a day throughout the first lockdown, along with a larder at the town's library.
The group also set up a Facebook page to respond to those seeking help and update people with advice and guidance from official sources.
"We put leaflets through every letterbox we could find," Sharon added.
"None of us knew what was going to happen but we knew something was coming, with the problems with supermarket stock in the early days, and Portsoy has an elderly population.
"I launched the PAAT group just before lockdown and the response was phenomenal.
"The co-op, the pharmacy and Alex and his staff at the ice cream shop were great – and we have to thank the fire station, too."
The award was presented to Portsoy Area Action Team at an online ceremony on Thursday, August 26, which was hosted by MC Fiona Stalker and the Provost of Aberdeenshire, councillor Bill Howatson.
Inspiring Aberdeenshire awards have been running for a number of years, but this was the first year the Covid-19 Response Award was handed out.
Speaking at the event, Cllr Howatson said: “To mark the coronavirus efforts this year was especially important, given all we have been through, and I was delighted that Professor Leitch joined us to hand out that award.
"It was, yet again, an inspiring night which will hopefully inspire others.”
Portsoy Area Action Trust remain in contact and continue to do odd bits and pieces for people going into isolation.
The Facebook page continues to act as a place for people to receive crucial information and can be found at www.facebook.com/groups/288119605488460.
