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The Trust is a unique organisation, the only one in Scotland, and has been serving Aberdeen for over 10 years.
Trust at a glance
The Aberdeen (NE) Safer Cities Project 1992 - 1997
The Safer Cities concept began in England in 1988. There were five such Projects created in Scotland - two were in Glasgow,
and the others were in Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen. All of these Projects have now closed. The Scottish Projects were established
and funded by the Scottish Office Crime Prevention Unit.
It was the vision of the Scottish Office that each Project would prove itself of value to the community it served and,
after the cessation of Scottish Office funding, become integrated and funded by the relevant local authority. This did not
transpire, the main reasons being that the local authorities were subject to re-organisation in 1996 and there was a subsequent
reduction in local authority finances.
The Aberdeen (NE) Safer Cities Project was begun in October 1992 and officially launched in January 1993. The Project
served the north east part of the city of Aberdeen, was community based, and had as its aims:
* The reduction of crime
* The lessening of the fear of crime
* The creation of a safer environment where economic enterprise and the community could flourish
The experience gained from the Aberdeen (NE) Safer Cities Project can be applied to the Trust. The Project evaluated all
grants which were approved and it's work provides a reference base to draw upon when assessing grants and community ideas
for the Trust.
The Aberdeen Safer Community Trust Limited is the natural successor to the Safer Cities Project. In creating the Trust,
the whole of the city of Aberdeen will benefit. The remit will be extended to cover a range of community safety issues and
in the longer term, initiatives and projects can be instigated.
The Aberdeen Safer Community Trust Limited will build on the foundations laid by the Safer Cities Project. The partnership
approach to community safety issues not only works, it is essential in tackling community needs successfully.
What we do
To make Aberdeen a safer place in which economic enterprise and the community can flourish, by supporting efforts to reduce
crime, lessen the fear of crime and protect people’s right to live in confidence without fear for their own or other
people’s safety.
We are dedicated to helping community groups in Aberdeen turn their community safety ideas into action. Groups and organisations
(not individuals) in Aberdeen can apply to the Trust for assistance to implement any kind of community safety idea; the limit
is their imagination. We obtain our funding from the private, public and voluntary sector, individual donations, fundraising
events and help in kind.
Grants:
Our main role involves distributing grants to a maximum of £5,000 to groups who apply to us for funding. This is done with
the help of our Grant Sub Committee & Executive Committee who meet on a regular basis. Since the Trust began in 1997,
grants have been given to a wide variety of projects.
Additional activities :
Although the Trust’s core function is to give financial support to communities in Aberdeen, there are other roles which
the Trust undertakes.These include:
• Advisor – we have given advice and assistance
to other organisations and the media.
• Active Networker – we are represented on 6 other committees and the Co-ordinator is a National Council Representative and Vice
Chair of Victim Support Aberdeen and Vice Chair of Aberdeen Home Safety Committee
• Intermediary – we have on occasions, for a variety of reasons, been unable to provide funds for particular needs. In these cases the Trust has acted as intermediary and secured funds for the group or organisation.
• Agent – we have gained sufficient credibility that the local authority has been able to entrust it with specific
funds for disbursement.
• Catalyst – we have been able to identify community action needs and create community organisations that allow the residents
to promote their own action plans.
• Designer – we have been tasked with the design of various signs, logos and presentations on behalf of other organisations
and groups.
• Idea Generator – we are dedicated to producing and exploring innovative community safety ideas.
• Lobbyist – we have, on occasions, been able to lobby local government departments on behalf of groups and organisations.
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