Agenda item

Four applications for approval:-

(a)  Walks in Stow

(b) Café Re-charge

(c) Youth Borders

(d) Works+

(4 assessments attached plus Eildon Funding information)

Assessments of four applications to the Eildon Community Fund had been circulated, plus a summary of grant funding within Eildon in 2020/21 and the source of that funding. The summary showed grant applications awarded, those under assessment and those to be considered by the Area Partnership.  Also included were funding commitments to Community Councils, Village Halls and Local Festivals.   Before consideration of the four pending applications, Mr Kenny Harrow outlined the process of assessment of applications to the Community Fund and the criteria used for that assessment. He advised that all applications to the Community Fund would be put forward to the Area Partnership for consideration, with officer assessment advising if the criteria had been met.  He went on to give a summary of each of the following applications under consideration and confirmed that each met the Community Fund criteria.

3.1       Walks around Stow

This was an application from a sub-group of Stow Community Council seeking funding of £5,000 to purchase 11 self-closing gates on identified walking pathways around Stow.  The proposal was an extension of the Walks around Stow initiative which aimed to identify and promote 10 pathways around Stow.  The gates and installation cost £5,000 each. Mr Stuart Jeffrey spoke in support of the application and explained that Walks around Stow were actively working with local farmers and landowners to plan the 10 routes which would cross over 5 farms in total.  Two routes had been mapped so far and leaflets published. Another three walks would be published by early 2021.  The project was enthusiastically supported by those in attendance.  Representative of Stow Community Council referred to the importance of the Walks with Stow initiative within the wider tourism project linked to the railway station at Stow, to revitalise the area by encouraging visitors to get off the train and enjoy Stow and the surrounding area. The request for funding of £5,000 was unanimously approved.

3.2       Café Re-Charge

With reference to paragraph 6.2 of the Eildon Area Partnership minute of 27 February 2020, an application for a grant of £14,404 had been received from the Community Interest Company (CIC) Café Re-Charge.  The company aimed to reduce the gap between food poverty and food waste by using unsold food from supermarkets to serve in a Pay What You Can Café in Galashiels.  Ms Amy Wight spoke in support of the application and explained that the café project had been due to start operating in March 2020 based at the Focus Centre in Galashiels.  Due to the constraints of lockdown it was unable to open to the public, but the facilities were used to produce over 1,000 home cooked meals and food parcels for those in need over that period.  During this time strong links were developed with other community groups.  Due to the uncertainty around the reopening of the Focus Centre the group had negotiated a competitive lease on alternative, currently empty, premises in central Galashiels. Volunteering opportunities would be available in all aspects of the project for people across the community no matter what their age or background. The grant application was to cover the costs of a Project Manager for 12 months and seven months rent on the property.  The application detailed other funding sources which included over £12,000 raised through Crowdfunding. In the discussion that followed the project was welcomed by all present and the request for funding of £14,404 was unanimously approved.

3.3       Youth Borders

An application for a grant of £9,198 had been received from the organisation Youth Borders to support the continuation of employment of a Membership Development Officer.  The current post had funding in place until 31^st March 2021.  A grant from the Community Fund would continue the post throughout 2021 and to the end of January 2022.  Ms Susan Hunter, in attendance to support the application, explained that Youth Borders currently had 42 members, 28 of which were in the Eildon area and included Rowlands, Beyond Earlston and TD1 Youth Hub. These members would be the primary beneficiaries of the funding.  Youth Borders had found that the complexity of members’ needs was increasing due to new barriers or constraints as a result of the ever changing Covid-19 picture. As these were new experiences even the most established volunteers or leaders were requiring assistance.  In a discussion of the application the value and importance of the work of the organisation was recognised.  There was unanimous approval of the request for funding of £9,198.

3.4       Works +

The organisation Works + had applied for a grant of £5,000 as a contribution towards 2021 staff salaries. Works+ was a local ‘person-centred’ employability organisation,

employing three full time members of staff, based in the Scottish Borders. Works+ was

involved in the Kickstart preparations, which would allow young people to obtain 6 months of paid work experience and then supporting them for the following 6 months. Works + helped young people by confidence building; barrier removal; and by improving employability skills. Currently Works+ staff were unable to work from the Focus Centre but were working out of the Galashiels Job Centre where the connections between Job Centre staff and Works+ were growing.  Mr Mark Timmins was in attendance to support the application and provide further information. He highlighted that over 170 young people had been helped to achieve a positive destination during the first 2 ½ years of operation.  However he also referred to the unprecedented rise in youth unemployment currently being experienced, which was expected to peak around 100,000 in Scotland.  It was vital for Works+ to continue to support young people, not just into employment, further education or training but to provide support for their mental health and wellbeing.  Those present commented on the life-changing work of the organisation and gave their full support for the application.  In terms of reporting requirements following grant of funding, it was suggested that, due to the current economic situation there may be an appropriate alternative reporting measure to use rather than ‘the number of young people achieving positive destinations’. Mr Harrow confirmed that this was being looked at by the Community Learning & Development Team.  The application for funding of £5,000 was unanimously approved.