A community-based initiative aimed at regenerating two Aberdeenshire communities has been recognised at a national awards ceremony.

The Reaching Out project, which led to the development of community facilities in Fraserburgh and Peterhead, scooped the Best Team award at Thursday night's COSLA Excellence Awards in Edinburgh. It also picked up a silver award in the Advancing Community and Citizen well being category.

It was a night of success for Aberdeenshire Council as well as they picked up five bronze awards for a series of successful initiatives.

The Reaching Out project, developed under the umbrella of the Aberdeenshire Community Planning Partnership, is best known for the establishment of the 'Hot Spot' in Peterhead and the 'Link-Up' building in Fraserburgh.

Both facilities provide a focal point for groups and volunteers to meet, managed by a steering group with representatives from the community, public and voluntary sectors.

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The venues act as a 'one-stop-shop' for information and advice on a range of issues, including housing matters, money, health and wellbeing, steps to employment and educational opportunities.

Aberdeenshire Council Leader Cllr Anne Robertson welcomed the honour: "This is fantastic news for everybody who has worked to make the Reaching Out project a success.

"The scheme has involved the communities both in terms of developing and managing the facilities and this award is a tribute to their outstanding efforts, and those of the Aberdeenshire Community Planning Partnership."

Buchan Area Manager Chris White said: "The Reaching Out project has been designed with the people in the two communities and not just around the things that we think that they want.

"It's one of the best examples of what Community Planning has achieved in Aberdeenshire and has involved all the main public sector partners in the two towns."

The facilities were provided as part of a Regeneration Outcome Agreement, which led to funding from the Scottish Government's Community Regeneration Fund.

Peterhead and Fraserburgh were highlighted as key areas for regeneration, having been identified as being within the 20% of most deprived areas in Scotland as measured by the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. Fraserburgh Harbour.

Development of the initiative involved securing funding, finding suitable accommodation, and recruiting staff and volunteers to manage and run the facilities and engage with the local community to make use of them.

(GK/JM)