Agenda item

Consider five applications for funding:

(a)  Hawick Youth Rugby – Travel costs for Under 15s team and equipment (£5,553)

(b)  Roxburgh & Berwickshire CAB – Developing routes for accessing advice and support (£4,395.60)

(c)   Campaign for Scottish Borders National Park – Bedrule Castle archaeology excavation and report and taster sessions (£12,566)

(d)  Hornshole Greenway Development Group – Eco Education Programme (£15,000)

(e)  Alchemy Film & Arts – Connecting Intergenerational communities through archive film (£15,000)

(Assessments attached.)

Photos of BBBB funded projects: BBBB Fund Awards 2021/22 | Flickr

The Locality Development Co-ordinator, Ms Jardine, presented the summary of applications to the Build Back a Better Borders Recovery Fund:

(a)       Hawick Youth Rugby

An application had been received for £5,553 to support travel costs for the under-15s team to participate in rugby matches within and out-with the Borders and for equipment including match balls, corner flags and a team first aid kit.  The application was assessed as medium, noting that the under-15s team provided a new opportunity for young people in the Hawick area, helping to re-engage young people following the postponement of team activity caused by the pandemic. 

DECISION

AGREED to award Hawick Youth Rugby the sum of £5,553, subject to the following conditions:

(i)      that the Club would actively promote that the annual could be waivered, where deprivation was identified, to ensure that all U15s could participate in the sport; and

(ii)     that Hawick Youth Rugby would continue to follow Scottish Government Covid19 guidance.

(b)     Roxburgh & Berwickshire Citizens Advice Bureau

An application had been received for £4,395.60 to recruit a Citizens Advice Bureau Champion to work across the Teviot & Liddesdale area on a six-month contract to promote volunteering opportunities.  It was noted that the Citizens Advice Bureau requested the Champion to cover their full geographic reach and were requesting that costs were shared with Berwickshire, Cheviot and Teviot & Liddesdale Build Back a Better Borders funds.  The application was assessed as high as it met a number of fund criteria.  The Area Partnership discussed the application noting that a higher bid for funding would have been welcome, noting the impact of the work of Roxburgh & Berwickshire Citizens Advice Bureau and that a further application would be welcomed.

DECISION

AGREED to award Roxburgh & Berwickshire CAB the sum of £4,395.60, subject to the following conditions:

(i)      the applicant must follow Scottish Government Covid19 guidance; and

(ii)     the rate of pay given to the Volunteer Co-ordinator must meet the National Living Wage.

(c)     Campaign for a Scottish Borders National Park (on behalf of Twelve Towers of Rule Team)

          An application had been received for £12,566 to commission Archaeology Scotland to undertake an exploratory excavation of the Bedrule Castle site, paying for staff time and volunteer expenses.  It was noted that the application was assessed as medium, recognising the ambitions of the project to help regenerate the area by attracting new interest and tourists and also providing learning opportunities for those disadvantaged by the COVID-19 pandemic.  It was noted that the applicant still needed to undertake community engagement activity to ensure workshop spaces and open day spaces were filled and volunteers were recruited.

DECISION
AGREED to award the Capaign for a Scottish Borders National Park (on behalf of Twelve Towers of Rule Team) the sum of £12,566, subject to the following conditions:

(i)      the applicant must follow Scottish Government Covid19 guidance;

(ii)     the Group must continue to liaise with SBC’s Archaeology Officer for the duration of this project and satisfy any Officer requirements, particularly before (towards a project design for the fieldwork), during and after (for the reporting) of any fieldwork;

(iii)    the applicant must discuss with SBC ideas for the new information boards and digital/audio-visual interpretation; and

(iv)    all staff costs much meet the National Living Wage.

(d)     Hornshole Gateway Development Group

An application had been received for £15,000 to fund four Wildlife Watch day workshops for young people and for people living in the Burnfoot area and beyond.  It was noted the application was assessed as medium noting that the applicant may need to show flexibility in how the project engaged participants.

DECISION

AGREED to award the Hornshole Gateway Development Group the sum of £15,000, subject to the following conditions:

(i)      the applicant must follow Scottish Government Covid19 guidance;

(ii)     equipment would be available for use by other Groups; and

(iii)    all staff costs must meet the National Living Wage.

(e)     Alchemy Film & Arts

An application had been received for £15,000 to fund a project engaging people in creative activities leading to a film resulting from sessions with over 60 young people to be shown at a public event, digitising local archive film footage, and funding equipment and facilities.  It was noted that the application was assessed as medium with Alchemy Film & Arts demonstrating an ability to deliver activities on a range of platforms.

DECISION
AGREED to award Alchemy Film & Arts the sum of £15,000, subject to the following conditions:

(i)      the applicant must follow Scottish Government Covid19 guidance;

(ii)     equipment would be available for use by other Groups; and

(iii)    all staff costs must meet the National Living Wage.