About Live Life Aberdeenshire
Live Life Aberdeenshire (LLA) is an innovative approach to delivering sports and cultural activities on behalf of Aberdeenshire Council. The organisation provides a wide range of services to communities across the region, promoting positive mental health and physical wellbeing. Whether you live, work, or visit Aberdeenshire, LLA offers access to fun and educational activities, from mountain to sea.
About the funding
In 2023 NEAT was awarded a Positive Action Grant (PAG) by Live Life Aberdeenshire. The funding supports actions that improve community health and wellbeing in selected rural settlements with limited public transport and restricted local access to culture and sports. Using the PAG funds, NEAT is working with these communities to increase cultural activity, help local residents ensure long-term delivery, and raise awareness of LLA’s services across Aberdeenshire.
From April 2023 to April 2026, the Positive Action Grant has brought culture and creativity to eight rural Aberdeenshire communities: Barthol Chapel, Cuminestown, Fettercairn, Fyvie, New Deer, Rothienorman, Strathdon and Tarves.
- 110 events delivered across the five communities
- 1,740 workshop participants and 2,081 performance attendees
- 2,376 volunteer hours contributed
- 70 creative practitioners contracted
- 18 community-led projects supported through the Community Culture and Heritage Fund
The impact has been clear: increased access to culture and heritage, more inclusive activities for all ages, greater community capacity for long-term delivery, and a growing sense of pride, wellbeing, and connection among participants and volunteers.
Local groups have grown in confidence, secured new funding, and built lasting connections, making a real difference for all ages.
The Parent Council (PC) in Fettercairn has always been dedicated to being the voice of parents and enhancing the children’s learning and overall experience in the village. The PC plays a crucial role in enriching the community by organising events and activities outside of school hours. One of their most exciting initiatives, now completed, was the creation of a large mural on a public-facing wall of Fettercairn Primary School building, funded by the Community Culture and Heritage grant.
The Vision
This mural project, long-discussed but previously hindered by funding challenges, finally came to life. The PC secured the talents of freelance muralist Paco Graff, who designed and produced the mural. This vibrant artwork has added a colourful and uplifting feature to the school, enhancing the daily environment for students, families, and teachers.
The Process
To ensure the mural reflected the spirit of the community, Paco Graff created three draft designs. These designs incorporated ideas and drawings from the pupils, giving them a sense of ownership of the project. The final design was chosen by the children through a vote, ensuring their voices were heard.
Once the design was selected, Paco painted the mural on large wooden boards, which local joiner Colin Smith from CWS Solutions installed on the school wall.
Volunteer Project Management
Local artist and PC member Nicole Smith managed the project. With two children at the school and a background in creative projects, Nicole was well-equipped to oversee the mural’s development. She coordinated with the school and Paco Graff, ensuring the project ran smoothly and documented the artist’s progress.
Nicole was supported by Parent Council Secretary Simon Gall, who brought extensive experience in arts and cultural projects.
Community Impact
This mural project was more than just an art installation; it was a testament to the power of community collaboration and the importance of involving children in creative processes. By bringing together local talents and resources, the Fettercairn Parent Council created a lasting legacy that will inspire and uplift the community for years to come.
The vibrant mural now stands as a symbol of the community’s spirit and creativity, enjoyed daily by pupils, parents, teachers and passers-by. The successful completion of this project highlights its positive impact and the importance of supporting artistic endeavours in rural communities.
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We’ve grown our membership from 21 to 38, and we have seen significantly more engagement on social media. At our CAG annual exhibition, we generated a record number of attendees, sales, and revenue. This profit will be reinvested into subsidising workshops for CAG members and partially subsidising workshops for the general public to attend as guests.
Gail Donald, Cuminestown Art Group
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Working on the Strathdon graffiti project has been an exciting way to engage with our local community. It has enabled a wide range of intergenerational conversations about culture, heritage, creativity, and conservation. We would like to thank Live Life Aberdeenshire for funding our community project, and thank you, NEAT, for all your support.
Anni Stonebridge, Strathdon
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This project has invigorated our group to engage in more fundraising and organise future activities with the artists. We have gained confidence in finding and applying for grants through the skills learned in the online bothy sessions. This has expanded our group’s reach and secured its future operations by building the confidence and skills of volunteers, as well as facilitating connections with local artists, event spaces, and families with young children in the area.
Fiona Rendall, Strathdon Mother & Toddlers Group
Want to Know More?
If you’d like to know more, Cameron is always happy to chat and answer your questions, send him an email and he’ll be in touch.
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