A BIT ABOUT US
Main Activities Areas we cover GO Achievements History Gallery
Our main activities are:
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Connecting people to information, guidance, and other support options
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Supporting wellbeing and community activities (e.g. craft group, discussion groups, Community Food Larder)
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Volunteering Opportunities: Supporting a range of volunteering opportunities, where people can share and develop skills
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Delivering learning programmes (e.g. digital support, travel training and a life skills group, GO Dynamix)
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Co-ordinating employability programmes (e.g. GO to Work group, Supported Employment/Self-Employment and Access to Work)
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Voices for Change: (Discussions and research) helping people to be involved and have their voices heard
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Peer Support, Listening Ear, Mentoring and Networking
Areas We Cover
Grampian Opportunities can work across Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray.
The office is at 54 West High Street, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, AB51 3QR.
History
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2000 – Grampian Employment Trust was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee.
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2002 – Joined with Working Alternatives Limited (Opportunities Unlimited).
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2003 – The company changed its name to Grampian Employment Opportunities and gained charity status.
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2005 – The company accepted a transfer of engagements from North East Scotland Initiatives.
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2009 – The company secured funding from the Big Lottery (and Awards for All) and was able to expand its services. At this point, additional staff were employed and both New Explorations Mentoring Service and Voices for Change were launched.
Wellbeing and community activities
Craft group first set up in July 2011 / Strength and Balance 2013/14
Learning programmes and lifeskills
Employability programmes
2012 Self Directed Support Activity (Strike Out project)
Go Achievements
In July 2020 our Craft Instructor was presented with an AVA Community Spirit Award in recognition of her efforts in starting an Inverurie Community Craft Project during the pandemic. Phyllis was supported by a small number of volunteers to do this.
In 2020 as part for our Workplace Equality Project, Grampian Opportunities made a Level 1 commitment as part of the Disability Employer Scheme
In April 2019 GO achieved a Healthy Working Lives Bronze Award.
In 2018 our Development Worker was awarded Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action's Inspirational Leader award. We were delighted to nominate Linda and really pleased that her work at GO was recognised.
In 2017 Grampian Opportunities renewed its commitment as a volunteer involving organisation and achieved the Volunteer Friendly award for June 2017 – June 2020
August 2017: The Inverurie Environmental Improvement Group awarded Grampian Opportunities a Commended certificate in the Inverurie Best Garden Competition 2017 recognising our efforts in the Best Non-Commercial Premises Garden Category
June 2017: Grampian Opportunities was recognised again by The Voluntary Action Fund for Outstanding Contribution to Developing Volunteering for People with Disabilities. This award was first made in November 2012 and has now been awarded until June 2020.
July 2013 – July 2016: Grampian Opportunities achieved the Volunteer Friendly award
November 2012: we were one of only three mentoring services to achieve a Scottish Mentoring Network Continuing Excellence Award
July 2012: we were semi finalists in the National Lottery Awards best health project category
June 2012: our mentoring service was the first to be presented with the Scottish Mentoring Network Quality Award John Nicholls, Assessor wrote "The Grampian Opportunities application is impressive. They have fully engaged with the application, provided detailed narrative information, answered the indicator questions directly and supported this with extensive documentary evidence. I’ve highlighted a considerable number of good/best practice features. They have provided such a detailed level of detailed information that I am satisfied about their processes and procedures. I would approve them for the standard and classify them as a benchmark application."
November 2011: GO's New Explorations Mentoring service was recognised as winner of the Scottish Mentoring Network award for the Health and Disability category 2011
Photo gallery
