Agenda item

Eildon Assessment Panel to present funding recommendations for the following NSF applications:

·                Stable Life

·                Selkirk High School Parent Partnership

·                Selkirk Regeneration

·                Earlston Bumps, Babies & Toddler Group

·                Perfect Harmony

·                Abbotsford Trust

·                Heritage & Archaeological Research Practice (HARP)

·                Café Recharge

·                Waverley Consort

·                Selkirk Cricket Club

8.1       There had been circulated copies of the Eildon Assessment Panel’s recommendations with the agenda. The Chair welcomed Ms Jenny Mushlin of the Eildon Assessment Panel to provide an overview of each of the recommendations.  Ms Mushlin explained that the total value of all of the applications received had surpassed the available funding, and stressed that the Panel had held thorough discussions and made difficult decisions.  

8.2       Stable Life  

The application from Stable life was for £15k to deliver a structured programme for at least 100 referred young people, which would include Equine Assisted Therapy, riding lessons and psychosocial based interventions.  Stable Life would also offer transitional work placements for young people who would normally struggle in typical work situations.  The funding applied for would be used to pay project workers’ salaries.  The Panel was supportive of the work that the organisation carried out, and was aware that they had faced considerable financial challenges.  The Panel had expressed hope that the group would move to a more sustainable funding model, and had recommended to part-fund the project to a value of £12.5k, and encouraged the group to access other sources of funding in future years.  Ms Mags Powell of Stable Life was present, and explained that the funding gap which had become apparent had been partially addressed by crowd funding and other community funds provided by SBC.  Members unanimously agreed to grant £12.5k. 

8.3       Selkirk High School Parent Partnership

The application from the Selkirk High School Parent Partnership was for £13,903.92 to establish a well-resourced school bike club to remove barriers to entry and provide access to mountain biking for the young people of Selkirk and the surrounding areas.  The club would focus on guided off-road biking, skills coaching, bike maintenance and trail building.  The funding would be used to purchase bikes and trail building tools.  The Panel highlighted that the group was open to all and encouraged considerate use of cycle routes by users. A member of the group was in attendance and in response to a request that the group consider approaching Just Cycle Ltd to use second hand bikes, it was explained that the eight bikes purchased would be used very extensively, that getting a strong number of bikes in operation would allow the group to get properly established, and stressed that there was a desire to be as sustainable as possible.  Members highlighted that the project would get young people outdoors and active and unanimously agreed to fund the application in full. 

8.4       Selkirk Regeneration

Selkirk Regeneration had applied for £1,777 to print a book which detailed the battle to recover the fishing rights for Selkirk which had allegedly been stolen by the predecessors of the Crown Estate in 1912.  The book would be sold and any funds would be credited to Selkirk Regeneration.  The group wanted to print 100 copies.  The Panel were interested in the history told in the book, but were unsure of wider community interest.  The Panel felt that the need and demand for the book had not been evidenced, and had recommended not to fund.  Members unanimously agreed not to fund the application. 

8.5       Earlston Bumps, Babies and Toddlers Group  

The application from Earlston Bumps, Babies and Toddlers Group had applied for £8.1k which would be used to provide support and friendship to all parents and wider family which attended their group.  The Group provided weekly talks and input from local professionals.  There were 12 active members of the group, with a desire to raise that number to 20.  The Panel were supportive of the project, however the financial expenditure did not reflect the desired outcomes.  The Panel was not supportive of the expenditure in the application which related to trips, and had recommended not to fund.  Mr Coltman explained that since their last meeting the group, which was very new, had reassessed their request and planned to apply to the next round of funding.  Members unanimously agreed not to fund the application. 

8.6       Perfect Harmony

Mr Coltman explained that an error had been made in processing the application from Perfect Harmony.  There was widespread support for the application.  Members unanimously agreed to defer the application to allow the mistake to be addressed. 

8.7       Abbotsford Trust

Abbotsford Trust had applied or £14,964.89 to help deliver a project which would inform, empower and support adults with mental health needs referred by SBC’s LAC Mental Health Team using Abbotsford’s natural and built heritage as focus for meaningful wellbeing and employability focused activity as a route into volunteering and/or work within the heritage sector.  Participants would develop life skills and experience through working in areas such as the estate, front of house, digital marketing, and visitor interpretation.  The Panel were supportive of the project and the work at the Trust had done as part of their successful Build Back a Better Borders Recovery Fund grant.  The Panel were aware of their responsibility to manage the Neighbourhood Support Fund, and felt that part-funding the application at a total of £10k was appropriate.  Members highlighted that the Trust were doing excellent work to support people with mental health needs.  The Chair recommended that the Trust consider an application to the Community Wealth Fund and seek other sources of funding. Ms Sandra Mackenzie, the Heritage Engagement Manager with the Trust, explained that this was the second iteration of the project, and that Trust remained in a tricky funding position.  The Chair suggested that the Trust contact the Bridge to seek assistance.  Members unanimously agreed to part fund the project, and grant £10k. 

8.8       Heritage and Archaeological Research Practice (HARP)

The application from HARP was for £7,787.27 to help deliver a project which would focus on sports heritage and provide health walks in Galashiels.  The project provide opportunities for volunteers and members of the local public to engage with their local heritage, and would identify and highlight the history of sport in Galashiels. The Panel highlighted that Cultural heritage played an important role in Galashiels, and had recommended to part fund the project at a total value of £5k.  In response to a question regarding whether a trail would be developed, Mr Ian Hill explained that the project hoped to get people out walking, and to teach people to assess and view buildings with a different focus.  Members unanimously agreed to part fund the project, and grant £5k. 

8.9       Café Recharge

Café Recharge had applied for £15k as they wished to employ someone in their kitchen who would take the lead in preparing and serving the food in the café during the week, and run the kitchen at the weekend.  The individual concerned would manage a small team of staff and volunteers.  The extra capacity would allow Café Recharge to run community supper evenings and family brunches, and to extend their services.   The Panel had expressed that Café Recharge had undertaken good work in the area, and were supportive of the surplus food operation that they had.   Café Recharge had previously applied to the BBBB Recovery Fund and Community Fund in previous years.  The Panel had recommended to fund the application in full on the grounds that the funding would allow the group to become financially sustainable.  Café Recharge was encouraged to access funding from other sources in future years.  The application for funding was unanimously approved.

8.10     Waverly Consort

The application from Waverly Consort was for £4,645 to help the group deliver a classical music event in Melrose on Easter weekend in 2023.  The vision was for an inclusive community event, with no ticket charge.  The Panel had expressed that the event was expected to memorable, was free of charge, and supported local amateur musicians.  The Chair expressed concerns regarding the level of funding which had been applied, and the extent to which the wider community would benefit.  The application for funding was unanimously approved. 

8.11     Selkirk Cricket Club

Selkirk Cricket Club had applied for £11,028 to help purchase a replacement grass cutter.  The Club operated three old grass cutting machines which were no longer fit for purpose.  The new mower would save time and money, and would assist the Club with their 150^th Anniversary Ground Improvement Project.  The Panel had highlighted that the area was well used for cricket and for wider community benefit.  Mr John Smail of the Club was present, and explained that Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) planned to send a team to Selkirk to commemorate the 150^th anniversary, and it was important that the pitch and wicket were in good condition. The application for funding was unanimously approved.

8.12     Ms Mushlin highlighted that the Eildon Assessment Panel was made up of members of the public, and was entirely voluntary.  They were assisted by Mr Harrow and Mr Coltman, but made fully independent decisions.