Agenda item

(a)    Community Fund Evaluation – Edgerston Village Hall

(b)    (i)  Community Fund – update on Panel membership and quorum

        (ii)  Community Fund consider funding recommendations from the Cheviot Assessment  

              Panel (report attached)

(c)      Build Back a Better Borders Recovery Fund application

      (i) Cheviot Togs (assessment attached)

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

SECTION 3: COMMUNITY FUND

              With reference to paragraph 9 of the Minute of the meeting held on 22 September 2021, it was reported that recruitment for the Cheviot Community Assessment Panel was now complete.  Mr Dean Weatherston had not sought re-election for Kelso Community Council and had applied to become a Community Representative.  Sarah Mackie had also applied and been appointed to the Panel as a community representative. The Quorum had been increased again to 5 following appointment to the remaining vacancies.  It was clarified that the Community Councillors could be represented by their deputes if they have a conflict of interest.

              DECISION

              NOTED.

6.0         CHEVIOT COMMUNITY fUNDING 2020

6.1         There was still funds available for community based projects.  The cut-off date for applications of £500 and under was the end of February and applications in the £500- £2,500 required to be submitted by 14 February 2022.

          DECISION

NOTED.

6.0         APPLICATIONS

6.1         There had been circulated copies of a report which detailed the recommendations of the Cheviot Community Fund Assessment Panel.  The report provided a brief description of each application received and a recommendation on the sum to be awarded to each project.

6.2         Jedburgh Community Trust - An application had been received for assessment work to preserve the historic Capon Tree.  The Panel were supportive of the project and the key points influencing the Panel’s decision were preservation of a local landmark and heritage, community driven and would have a positive impact on tourism. The Panel recommended awarding £1,798.

6.3         Crailing, Eckford and Nisbet Community Council - An application had been received for the repainting of the community owned telephone boxes.  The Panel were supportive of the project and the key points influencing the Panel’s decision were that the telephone boxes housed the defibrillator, would allow provision of information, advice and support for the local community and general public and would support the local community.    The Panel recommended awarding £1,026.

6.4         Tweed Valley Railway Campaign - An application had been received for

 community engagement costs. The Panel had a healthy discussion on this application, with the majority supportive of the project. The key points influencing the Panel’s decision were that it would help establish the level of interest across the community and was community driven.  The Panel recommend awarding £2,500.

6.5         Morebatlle Institute - An application had been received for roof repair costs.  The Panel were supportive of the project and the key points influencing the Panel’s decision were the preservation and maintenance of a valued local resource and community benefits.  The Panel recommended awarding £2,500.

DECISION

AGREED that the following grants be awarded:-

(a)       Jedburgh Community Trust  in the sum of  £1,798.20

(b)       Crailing, Eckford and Nisbet Community Council in the sum of £1,026

(c)       Tweed Valley Railway Campaign in the sum of £2,500

(d)       Morebattle Institute in the sum of £2,500

7.0         SBC BUILD BACK A BETTER BORDERS RECOVERY FUND

With reference to paragraph 11 of the Minute of 30 June 2021, there had been circulated copies of an application in respect of:-

7.1         CHEVIOT TOGS

The Group planned to create a clothing bank for children and young people in the style of a boutique shop located in Teviot Crescent, Hawick.  The project would operate across both Cheviot and Teviot and Liddesdale and the application for funding had been split pro rata across the two community funds.  The aim of the project was to reduce the amount of good

Quality clothing going to land fill while helping those in need of support with clothing for children and young people and reducing the stigma of second hand clothing.  The group would provide free, clean and suitable clothing to children who found themselves in need of clothing due to domestic violence, flood or fire, homelessness or financial difficulties facing the family.  Clothing was sourced by donations, and partner organisations. Jedburgh Grammar had asked Cheviot Togs to manage all excess school uniforms and there were plans to engage with Kelso and Hawick high schools, as well as working with local supermarkets and shops to use excess stock.   Clothing would be provide via delivery and in person at the Hawick base if people are able to travel, as well as pop up shops, and events within Cheviot pending setting a base up in Jedburgh and Kelso. 

7.2     Cheviot Togs had worked with and consulted to establish need with a wide range of organisations including NHS Borders, Jedburgh Grammar Campus, School Nurse Hawick High School, Morrisons, Live Borders, Salvation Army, Borders Women’s Aid, local community councils and Tweed Togs in Peebles who mentor the project and whom Cheviot Togs based the business model on.  There was a referral process based on the operation of best practice used by Tweed Togs, through health, youth workers and education professionals and the organisation were keen to look at a mechanism for self-referral considering the dignity and confidentiality of the people using the service.  The organisation believed that access to clothing was a human right and all children should have access to clean, appropriate clothes to help them participate fully in life and wanted to provide autonomy, choice and dignity wherever possible.   Cheviot Togs, although based in Hawick, would be taking over the service in Jedburgh and Kelso areas, currently operated by Tweed Togs, from January, covering a greater area of the Cheviot locality.

DECISION

AGREED to award the sum of £2,227.50, subject to the following conditions:

(i)           The applicant must follow Scottish Government Covid-19 guidance when delivering the service;

(ii)          Moveable equipment should be passed to another community group/organisation should this project cease to operate.

8.0     Edgerston Village Hall

8.1     Christine Wylie, Village Hall Secretary was present to update the Area Partnership on Edgerston Echoes.  The book, two decades in the making, charted the stories and memories of rural residents living south of Jedburgh from the 1900s to the present day.   The 210 page book was a collection of memories, historical and more recent stories together with more than 150 photographs of Edgerston folk, events and places over the years, as well as entries from old record books and diaries.  Originally intended as a Millennium project, work began gathering contributions for the book in 1997.  The original deadline was missed, however, the coronavirus lockdown proved the catalyst needed to push the publication over the finish line.  Christine and past secretary Marion Anderson spent last summer updating the pages before it was edited and published by Jedburgh firm footprint.