Who We Are and What We Do
About Us
Putting the Heart Back into Maud
When the Maud cattle mart closed its doors, it left behind more than just empty buildings - it left a void in the community. The Maud Village Trust was formed from the Community Association with one clear purpose: to transform that redundant site into something that would serve our village for generations to come.
With a grant from the Scottish Land Fund, we purchased the site from Aberdeen Northern Marts and set about turning what had become a derelict eyesore into a thriving community hub that Maud could be proud of.
Our Structure and Mission
The Maud Village Trust is incorporated as a company limited by guarantee and recognised as a Scottish charity. We're governed by five directors and supported by a dedicated management team - all committed to developing the Old Mart site for the benefit of the Maud and District Community.
Our mission has always been simple: to ensure the Old Mart once again serves as the beating heart of our village.
Meet the Team
-
![Close-up of an older man with a bald head and white beard, wearing a dark vest over a light shirt, sitting indoors near a window.]()
Bill Hutcheon
Director
-
![An older man with glasses and a beard, sitting in a gray chair, wearing a blue button-up shirt.]()
Patrick Buckman
Director / Company secretary
-
![An elderly woman with reddish hair and glasses, wearing a dark sweater and a colorful necklace, standing indoors near a plant.]()
Sandra Buckman
Director
-
![Maud Village Trust logo with stylized decorative design on a teal background.]()
Spencer Critten
Director
-
![A middle-aged man with a bald head, wearing a dark blazer and light blue shirt, sitting indoors with a window and green grass visible in the background.]()
Ian Pirie
Director
-
![An elderly man with glasses and a white beard sitting in a sunroom with large windows overlooking a green lawn and stone wall.]()
Tom Johnstone.
Director
-
![]()
Neil Hendry
Director
A Rewarding Journey
Building a Community Asset
Transformation doesn't happen overnight. To generate initial funds, we dismantled and sold the cattle pens and buildings. We sold part of the site to Cornerstone, who built specialist accommodation for people with additional needs. Our first major project was creating a leisure garden, which immediately improved the site's appearance and gave the community a glimpse of what was possible.
Today, the Old Mart Community Resource Centre is exactly what we envisioned: a multi-agency support hub that brings together health professionals from NHS and Aberdeenshire Council, social work and housing teams, voluntary organisations, and community groups - all working together to support vulnerable people and improve wellbeing across Central Buchan.
The building includes a gym providing fitness facilities for everyone, a café serving the community, business units supporting local enterprise, and spaces where people can access the help they need, when they need it.
The development of the Old Mart site has been time-consuming and, at times, challenging. Progress was slower than we'd hoped, but the results speak for themselves. We haven't just improved the appearance of a derelict site - we've achieved what we set out to do: we've put the heart back into Maud.
Today, the Old Mart site stands as proof of what community spirit and determination can achieve. We've transformed a symbol of decline into a beacon of regeneration and hope - not just for this generation, but for those to come.
Our Ethos
Community-Led, Partnership-Driven, Needs-Focused
The Maud Village Trust was established to develop the Old Mart site for the betterment of Maud and the surrounding areas. But our work has always been about more than bricks and mortar - it's about building a healthier, more connected community.
Working in Partnership
Over the years, we've built strong working relationships with the Health and Social Care Partnership, shaping service provision that directly benefits our communities. We don't work in isolation - we work alongside health professionals, local authorities, voluntary organisations, and most importantly, the people we serve.
Understanding What People Need
We see our role as a bridge. We help identify the health and wellbeing needs within our community, then work with health partners to shape those needs into real, accessible services. But we don't stop there - we help promote these services, support their delivery, and raise awareness to ensure they're sustainable for the long term.
Making a Lasting Difference
Every service we develop, every partnership we build, and every person we support reinforces our core belief: communities thrive when people work together with purpose. The Old Mart site isn't just a collection of buildings - it's a living example of what's possible when a community refuses to accept decline and instead chooses to build something better.
That's the Maud Village Trust ethos. That's what drives us forward.
