Agenda item

9.1       An explanation of the SBC’s Community Fund application process was included on the tables.  This was a fund available to community and voluntary groups to help support community activity.  Grants of up to £5k for non-constituted group and £10k for constituted groups were available.  In exceptional cases up to £30k was available for constituted groups.  Applications submitted to SBC were assessed by the Communities and Partnership team and if they met the fund criteria, would go forward to Area Partnership meetings with an Officer recommendation.  Assessments would be included in agenda papers and those who attended the Area Partnership meetings would be asked if they agreed with the recommendation made by the SBC Officer.  Ms Jardine referred to the Interim Assessment forms, circulated at the meeting and summarised below, which gave details of two applications for Eildon Area Partnership to consider:-

9.2       Friends and Family of Newtown Primary School

Funding of £4438.40 was requested by the organisation Friends and Family of Newtown Primary School (FFA NPS) to purchase and install a second ball wall within the grounds of Newtown Primary School to increase sporting activities and improve health and well-being of children and community residents.  The total cost of the project was £5438.40, the balance being provided by FFA NPS.  It was explained that Newtown Primary School had a school roll of 111 pupils and a nursery of 24 children.  There were also 35 young people from Newtown in the S1-S2 age group.  The existing ball wall, which was Lottery funded, was well used by children and young people in the village during both the school day as well as evenings and weekends.  FFA NPS were requesting a second ball wall which would be placed at the opposite end of the playground to create a full pitch playing facility, enabling team games to be played and a greater number of children and young people to use the ball walls.  The recommendation to Eildon Area Partnership was to approve the funding request in full.

            DECISION

            AGREED to grant £4438.40 from the 2019/20 Community Fund to Friends and Family of Newtown Primary School for the purchase and installation of a second ball wall within the grounds of the School.

9.3       TD1 Youth Hub

Funding of £4,500 was requested, by TD1 Youth Hub, to furnish a Digital Learning Suite at the TD1 Youth Hub centre with 3 tables, 6 chairs and a sofa and purchase 3 PCs and a printer/scanner, creating a digital learning resource for 11 – 26 year olds.  A contribution would also be made towards the cost of replacement flooring for the suite.  The total cost of the project was £5,280, the balance being provided by TD1 Youth Hub.  Further information was provided on the form in response to the questions asked as part of the assessment of the application.  Research carried out by TD1 identified that 16% of 128 young people asked had no internet access at home, 55% said they had no one to teach them about computer use or software and 82% had at some point felt unsafe online.  The Digital Learning Suite would be available during all sessions, groups and clubs that TD1 ran.  Young people would be supported in their learning with help to progress to further education, training or work opportunities and the suite could be used to complete learner portfolios such as Youth Achievement Awards and SQA awards. The suite would also be available for use by the whole community including TD1 partners such as Apex Scotland, Aberlour, Borders College, Addaction and Works+.  The recommendation to Eildon Area Partnership was to approve the funding request in full.

            DECISION

            AGREED to grant £4,500 from the 2019/20 Community Fund to TD1 Youth Hub to furnish a Digital Learning Suite.