About the Respect Project

RESPECT stands for Recognising Experience, Sharing Practice and Engaging Communities Together, and is a collaborative venture sponsored by the Lifelong Learning Forums of Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City.  It has been funded by a grant from Learning Connections on behalf of The Scottish Government, and managed by a Steering Group with reps from Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City Community Learning and Development Services, NHS Grampian, Aberdeen University, Banff & Buchan College and the voluntary sector. 

The key aim of the Project has been to highlight good practice in community capacity building work in the North East of Scotland, by supporting community workers and community groups to come forward to “tell their story”, outlining the work they’ve been involved in and why it has been successful, so that others can benefit and learn from their experience.

The Project was launched in April 2007 with an event held in Aberdeen, at which Fraser Patrick from Dundee University gave a stirring  stressing the crucial importance of communities working together to take control of the issues which most affect them.

Our working definition of community capacity building work has been “work with people in their communities which improves knowledge, skills, confidence, networks and resources to tackle issues and grasp opportunities”.

The Project drew to a close with a major community event on the 7th June 2008 celebrating the work featured through the Project and the contribution made by all the participating groups, and launching both this website and a publication containing all the case studies.

We would like to thank the many individuals we have worked with over the last year, who have contributed to the success of the Project.  Principal among these, of course, are the “authors” of the case studies, without whose efforts there would have been no RESPECT Project.  We very much appreciate their courage in coming forward and offering their work as examples of good practice.  Special thanks are also due to Alasdair Johnston, to Roddy at Halcon Print and Design, and to Michelle Duff at ACVO for the website. Thank you!

RESPECT Project Steering Group

June 2008

“Work with people in
their communities which
improves knowledge, skills, confidence, networks and
resources to tackle issues
and grasp opportunities.”