Agenda item

Tweeddale assessment Panel to present funding recommendations for the following NSF applications:

·         Tweeddale Red Squirrel Network

·         Dementia Friendly Tweeddale

·         Peeblesshire Youth Trust

·         Tweedsmuir Community Company

·         West Linton Scout Group

·         Peebles Community Trust

·         Music in Peebles

(Copy attached.)

9.1       There had been circulated copies of the Tweeddale Assessment Panel’s recommendations with the agenda.  Ms Esther Daborn of the Assessment Panel provided an overview of the recommendations for funding, and explained that the consideration of each application had been comprehensive and robust.  The importance of applicants providing sufficient detail with their application – especially a breakdown of their financial position – was highlighted by Ms Daborn.

9.2       Peebles Red Squirrel Network

The application from Peebles Red Squirrel Network was for £1,009 to fund the purchase of educational equipment and promotional materials to raise awareness and funding.  The Group had monitored their past activities and appeared to be have made a positive impact.  All of the staff worked on a voluntary basis.  The decision to grant the funding was unanimously approved.

9.3       Dementia Friendly Tweeddale

Dementia Friendly Tweeddale had applied for £4,459.88 to facilitate pilot drop in meetings for people with dementia and their carers, and provide sessions for businesses, clubs, etc. on how small adaptations could improve community access. The funding applied for would be used to improve operational capacity, including the purchase of a projector and speaker, design and printing services, promotional materials, training and insurance. The decision to grant the funding was unanimously approved.

9.4       Peeblesshire Youth Trust

            The request from the Peeblesshire Youth Trust for £1,458 to provide 2 sessions for 27 vulnerable Primary seven pupils at the Youth Club prior to the summer holiday, a day trip, and 2 sessions following the commencement of their studies at high school.  The funding would be used to cover transport and entry costs.  The application was unanimously approved.

9.5       Tweedsmuir Community Company

Tweedsmuir Community Company had applied for £7,261.50 to help fund the development of a Community Garden.  The Group had provided a detailed breakdown financial breakdown.  The recommendation to fund was unanimously approved.

9.6       West Linton Scout Group

            The application from the West Linton Scout Group was for £4,000 to allow the Group to offer a 2 night camping trip to 41 scouts.  The Panel was keen to support a group for young people re-establishing post Covid-19 within a rural community. The decision to grant funding was unanimously approved.

9.7       Peebles Community Trust

            Peebles Community Trust had applied for £7,500 as part of their Library of Things project. The project involved providing community resources to allow people to borrow items rather than buying them.  The funding would help set up an app to manage the process of lending items, and fund a part-time staff member to work alongside volunteers.  The Panel had suggested that the Trust considered an application to the FCC Environmental Fund.  The Panel felt that the application was commendable and that the Trust should be encouraged to continue with their project.  The Trust had been provided £3k of funding by the Area Partnership in March 2022, but had not provided information to allow the Panel to understand how that funding had been used. The Panel recommended to defer the application to allow the Trust to provide a breakdown of how the previously awarded funding had been deployed. The decision to defer was unanimously agreed.

9.8       Music in Peebles

The application from Music in Peebles was for £1,456 to help produce an illustrated talk on the Composer Learmont Drysdale’s life.  There would also be a ticketed performance of the composer’s works.  The talk and recital would be filmed by a local film maker and made available to schools, colleges and music societies.  Ms Daborn commended the group on the detailed breakdown that they had provided. The Panel recommended to fund £1,450, which was unanimously approved.