Projects – Buchan Development Partnership

Our Work in the Community

The work of BDP helps groups keep their community facilities running and tackle some of the pressing economic, social and environmental challenges they face.

BDP works closely with Buchan groups to provide guidance and support. The outcomes are tracked by regular check ins with groups, discussions at the support group meetings and at the BDP forums. We also keep track of the groups supported and the type of support provided.

We have many examples of feedback (some in our annual report) and including feedback from groups that supported us when our current funding was put under threat. These outline the work we do for the groups and why they consider it important.

Some organisations such as Cruden Bay Community Council, simply would not exist and others could not do the work they do without the assistance provided by BDP. Many of the community projects they support go on to support other initiatives and groups and the knock on effect is substantial and mostly “invisible.”

Aberdeenshire Council Community Planning

BDP works closely with the Area Manager and Community Planning team to deliver a joint up service across voluntary and council services to the communities in Buchan. Community planning partners are responsible for producing plans to describe its local priorities and the improvements it plans to make for the area. The Community Partnership is led by the Local Community Planning Group and is supported by 3 Co-ordination Hubs focusing on Communities, Health & Wellbeing and Poverty. BDP attends the Buchan Local Community Planning group meetings as Vice Chair and attends the communities hub as chair, providing support to deliver projects.

As part of the work of the communities hub a StoryMap resource has been developed. StoryMap is a software which helps visualise and communicate information and data in an interactive way with additional features such as layers, asset mapping and feedback/engagement tools built in. The Buchan Communities Hub have set up StoryMaps for each settlement area in Buchan. This helps to identify the services and assets within each settlement area.

To view the StoryMaps click here: (link tbc)

Current Projects

Maud Railway Museum

In September 2025, BDP was approached by the Friends of Maud Railway Museum to provide support in exploring opportunities to

Buchan In Bloom

BDP has administered the Buchan in Bloom and Buchan Beginning to Bloom competition for many years.

Mintlaw and Central Buchan Initiative

Mintlaw and Central Buchan Initiative was established to address the lack of sport, recreational and leisure facilities in the Central

Mintlaw Mens Shed

BDP has worked closely with Mintlaw and District Menshed (SCIO) providing project advice, guidance on applying to become a Scottish

Maud Public Toilets

When the people of Maud realised that their toilets could be lost for ever, the community moved quickly to ensure

Peterhead Boys Club

In 2023 Peterhead Boys Club approached Buchan Development Partnership for support with applying to become a SCIO.

StoriedPlace Project in Partnership with Robert Gordon University

BDP organised a workshop facilitated by Dr Rachael Ironside and Dr Alona Roitershtein from Robert Gordon University using the StoriedPlace toolkit. The session supported early thinking around a potential local heritage and storytelling project.

StoriedPlace offers a practical and creative way to explore how stories about people, places and events are gathered and shared. It encourages groups to reflect on whose stories are told, where they come from, and why they matter in understanding communities and their histories, while also considering engaging ways to share them with others.

To learn more about the toolkit, visit the StoriedPlace website:

The toolkit is also held by BDP, and any group or community wishing support to develop their own StoriedPlace project is encouraged to get in touch by emailing info@bdp.scot in the first instance.

Tel | 01771 622071

Email | info@bdp.scot

Registered Office: Grieves House, Aden Country Park, Mintlaw, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, AB42 5FQ