Agenda item

Community Fund information sheets attached including funding maps and copy of approved report proposing 75^th Anniversary VE Celebration Fund.

Eildon applications

Copies attached of Community Fund assessments for:

(a)        Nurture the Borders;

(b)        Energise Gala;

(c)        Macfie Hall; and

(d)        Maroon’d.

7.1       Community Fund information sheets had been circulated and were available at the meeting. The sheets showed grant applications awarded, those under assessment and those under consideration by the Area Partnership, in addition to funding commitments to Community Councils, Village Halls and Local Festivals.  The total outstanding amount available in February in the Eildon Interim Community Fund was £155,252.  There were four grant applications to be considered at the meeting as referred to below.  Assessment forms and recommendations for these had been circulated and the Chairman allowed time for these to be discussed prior to decisions being made.

7.2       Nurture the Borders

            Community Interest Company, Nurture the Borders, was requesting £9,800 to support continuing delivery of ‘The Village’ in Selkirk.  This was a dedicated space in Dunsdale Road, Selkirk, to support Mums and families during the perinatal period (pregnancy, birth and post natal).  The Village provided a safe space with access to support education and therapies as well as a range of activities.  The application met the criteria of the Community Fund.  It was recommended that if successful Nurture the Borders be requested to evaluate the impact of their project either on conclusion of the project or a year after receipt of their grant funding whichever came first.

            DECISION

            AGREED to grant £9,800 to Nurture the Borders subject to the terms and conditions set out on the Community Fund Assessment Form.

7.3       Energise Galashiels

            Energise Galashiels Trust was applying for a grant of £7,020 to purchase a trishaw from the ‘Cycling Without Age’ (CWA) programme for use in Galashiels.  CWA was a social enterprise based in Copenhagen founded in 2012.  The organisation’s purpose was to offer recreational mobility to seniors in the form of volunteer-piloted trishaw rides.  The purchase cost included the first year’s insurance and training from CWA.  A pre-determined cycle route had been scoped out in Galashiels, on a route which was cycle accessible and would take in various nature points.  Six people had committed to volunteering for the project with a further seven expressing an interest.  The application met the criteria of the Community Fund. 

DECISION

            AGREED to grant £7,020 to Energise Galashiels Trust for the purchase of a trishaw, subject to the terms and conditions set out on the Community Fund Assessment Form.

7.4       Macfie Hall

            Macfie Hall Committee Ltd had requested a contribution of £10,000 towards the Macfie Hall refurbishment project which aimed to improve the lives of residents in Heriot by improving the Hall to provide flexible, fir for purpose community facilities that met modern standards and expectations.  The Community Fund award would be used to improve the external terracing for outdoor events.  The application met the criteria of the Community Fund. 

            DECISION

            AGREED to grant £10,000 to the Macfie Hall Committee Ltd towards the Macfie Hall refurbishment project subject to the terms and conditions set out on the Community Fund Assessment Form.

7.5       Maroon’d

            Gala Rugby was requesting funding of £10,000 towards the cost of equipment and associated resources to run Maroon’d@Gala.  This was a multi-generational free sporting and community event to be held at Netherdale, Galashiels on 18 April, 2020.  Working together with all the primary, junior, semi-junior, girls, and senior rugby clubs, Gala Fairydean FC and the Galavanters running club, this would be a free to access all day sporting and entertainment event.  The total expenditure was expected to be £24,682.

            DECISION

            AGREED to grant £10,000 to Gala Rugby towards the cost of running the Maroon’d@Gala event subject to the terms and conditions set out on the Community Fund Assessment Form.

7.6       75^th Anniversary VE Celebration Fund

The Chairman drew attention to the report which had been circulated about the creation of the VE Celebration Fund.  This fund had been set up to enable non profit-making communities/voluntary groups, schools and churches to apply for funding to undertake special celebratory projects to mark VE day on 8 May 2020.  It was proposed that each Area Partnership would contribute from their Community Fund on a per-head of population basis to enable the fund of £60,000 to be created. Awards up to a maximum of £2,500 would be processed on a fast track basis.  In response to a question it was confirmed that any surplus money would go back into the Community Fund.