Agenda item

Additional budget has been made available, the two projects unsuccessful at the previous meeting have been resubmitted for approval.

a.       CF2021-CHE-2 Cheviot Youth

b.       CF2021-CHE-4 Generations Working Together

CHEVIOT COMMUNITY fUND 2020/21

Assessments of two applications to the Cheviot Community Fund had been circulated, plus a summary of grant funding within Cheviot 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 two pending applications, Ms Clare Malster outlined the process of assessment of applications to the Community Fund and the criteria used for that assessment. She 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.  She went on to confirm that each of the following applications met the Community Fund criteria.  Additional funding had been secured in the sum of £39,154 for the Cheviot Community Fund and Lothian Hall Committee, who had previously received funding in the sum of £12,150 had repaid £2,000 due to funding received from the Federation of Village Halls which gave a total for allocation of £39,615.43. 

81        Cheviot Youth    

Cheviot Youth were requesting financial support in the sum of £25,151 for the enhanced delivery of Stepping Stones mental health and well-being service in Cheviot, which aimed to improve the mental health and well-being of children and young people.  Youth Borders co-ordinates a team of seven Project Workers to deliver Stepping Stones across the Borders.  Cheviot Youth planned to increase the capacity of the Stepping Stones service in Cheviot to meet local need and had requested funding to pay 50% of the salary cost of the Lead Practitioner (£18,673) and 33% of the salary cost of a Practitioner who would be recruited early 2021. The Lead Practitioner’s working hours would increase from 28 hours to 35 hours and the Practitioner would be employed for 16 hours per week (£5, 086,).  The Lead Practitioner would be responsible for the day to day running of the Stepping Stones service and help plan service development.  The Practitioner would hold their own case load and contribute to developmental work and provide supervision to a small number of Volunteer Practitioners.  In addition, Cheviot Youth requested £1,392 for the cost of providing monthly in-house counselling sessions for Practitioners led by a qualified practitioner.   Ms Malster explained that since publication of the Agenda the application had been reduced to £19’993 as funding had been secured from elsewhere.

8.2       Generations Working Together

Generations Working Together (GWT) were looking to appoint a Development Officer who would plan and deliver a gardening project based at the Jedburgh Community Campus. The proposed project would be added to an existing post giving the part time officer additional hours.  The group were also looking for £5,000 to erect and install a Polytunnel in the school grounds which would be warmer and dryer allowing the group to continue to work on this project throughout the year and costs that would support the running of this project, including volunteer expenses and outdoor clothing for participants. Covid-19 had had a negative impact on people's access to learning and had aided in people feeling isolated and disconnected. The need for an intergenerational outdoor space was also backed by the Scottish Government who encouraged people to meet outdoors where physical distancing measures can be safely applied.  Young people participating in the RSPB wild challenge identified the need for an Intergenerational Garden to allow them to continue their learning and to create opportunities to learn and share skills and experiences with older people.  A sub group of the community council previously had use of a greenhouse at the old Grammar school in Jedburgh and now no longer had access to this area and required a new base so that they are able to carry on their work.  Ms Malster explained that funding of the polytunnel (£5,000) had been secured from another sources reducing the application to £18,093.  

DECISION

(a)          AGREED that Grants be awarded as follows:-

(i)           Cheviot Youth in the sum of £19,993; and

(ii)          Generations Working Together in the sum of £18,093

(b)          NOTED the balance of the Community Grant Fund in the sum of

£1,529.43.