THREE decades of Stonehaven's Forest View Centre was celebrated by staff, service users and community figures last week.
The centre, which caters for people with learning disabilities, was opened in July 1980 under the Grampian Regional Council. Among the services and activities it provides are creative arts, sensory and well-being therapies, literacy and social traini
ng.
A week-long series of events was held to mark the anniversary, including a ceilidh, fancy dress day and drama performance, while a special flowerbed and wall hanging were also unveiled.
At last Friday's birthday celebrations Aberdeenshire Provost Bill Howatson spoke of the challenges facing the centre in the coming years.
He said: "With reduced government funding and increasing demands on local authority services, doing things differently is going to be the key phrase in years to come.
"These challenges can be a real opportunity to rethink, review, rationalise and look for innovative ways of sustaining services. Developing new ways of working with individuals, groups, families and the community will be key to this."
Provost Howatson added: "These are real and tough challenges which lie ahead, but the track record of Forest View as a service which has adapted to changing demands can do so once again."
He also said Aberdeenshire Council needs to do all it can to safeguard the provision of high-quality social care and added: "I have tremendous admiration for the work of the managers and staff of the Forest View Centre and its success can be seen in the enthusiasm and enjoyment of people who use its services."
Centre manager Claire Will echoed Provost Howatson's comments and said: "These are challenging times for managers, staff and service users but our track record is one of successfully rising to these challenges over the years."
She added: "We will need to be more innovative in our approaches, with greater emphasis on individuality of service, while recognising the benefits and need for social and group activities.
"As manager it is a pleasure to be able to celebrate 30 years of continued, quality service to people with learning disabilities, their families and carers, and to the wider community."
The centre is looking for volunteers to establish a new Friends of Forest View group to assist in activities, fundraising and support. Anyone interested in finding out more should contact the centre on 01569 764545.
CELEBRATING 30 years of Forest View. Back, from left - Father of the Bard Project Officer Dave Ramsay, Kincardineshire Lord Lieutenant Carol Kinghorn, Aberdeenshire Provost Bill Howatson. Front Row - service user Harold Turnbull and centre manager Claire
