Successful Projects
GFPCC
Year Completed:
2022
Funds Received - £3,500.00
Final report on grant to Gavinton village hall.
The generator is now stored in the village hall. Insurance cover provided.
Fuel stored away from premises.
I have had meetings with representatives from three other communities to describe the installation and operation of the generator.
As a result they have all installed generators for their village halls.
One other visit pending from Duns volunteer hall reps.
Three times a year I carry out refresher training sessions for the local volunteers.
I have visited Fogo Kirk and discussed with Dane their installation.
In the event of a power cut I have road stewards across the community council area who will ensure all residents are aware village hall is open with power from generator.
I have visited the Marchmont estate and am satisfied residents on the estate have log burners and can use the main house for warmth etc if required.
Neil Gilmour
Resilient Community Co-ordinator
GFP Community Council.
Eat Sleep Ride
Year Completed:
2021
Funds Received - £1,000.00
June 2021
Thankyou so much for supporting Eat Sleep Ride through the past year - whether that be as a funder, a partner or generally supportive human being/organisation.
We wouldn't be where we are today without people's ongoing belief in what we offer and what we can achieve. We would like to share with you our newsletter, and our impact report, which shows our achievements in the past year across our people, our horses and our community.
Please take a look, and share this with your organisation.
We look forwards to another year of wonderful opportunities for ourselves and the community we serve.
Many thanks
Danielle and Eat Sleep Ride
Duns Senior Citizens
Year Completed:
2021
Duns Senior Citizens
Funds Received - £616.00
On Friday December 10th, Club members were treated to a delicious traditional Christmas Lunch at Duns Golf Club. May Kinghorn, Chairperson, expressed to everyone that this event was made possible by the generosity of being granted funding by Blackhill Windfarm Community Fund. Following submission of an application to them, the Club was successful in receiving total funding from them to cover the cost of this festive celebration. On behalf of the Club, many sincere thanks to Blackhill Windfarm Community Fund for this financial support, it is very much appreciated. It has been a long time since our members were able to socialise safely and have fun together, it was very enjoyable, thank you again. Transport was provided courtesy of Robertson's of Duns, thanks to them and also thanks to Duns Golf Club for providing a flavourful feast of food. A good time was had by all. Merry Christmas!
Photo Gallery:
Whiteadder Whitewater Trust
Year Completed:
2021
Funds Received - £3,860.00
The Whiteadder Whitewater Trust applied to the Blackhill Windfarm Community Fund for funding for oars, VHF radios, first aid supplies, booking system, service of 2 rescue boats, car park signage and pontoon maintenance. They were awarded £3,860.00. One third of the funds receivd have been spent on radios, service of safety boats, booking system, which was turned on in the last few weeks (August 2021), first aid kits, oars and pontoon maintenance. Signage and car park still to be upgraded.
WWT were awarded the contract in November 202, over Foxlake, but Scottish Water where not in the position to offer the lease and looked to review certain aspects of the contract. 3 weeks prior to sailing season opening SW made a number of new conditions. One was to change to electric outboards due to the concerns over water pollution. WWT currently use petrol outboards as do many other similar organisations. An agreement was finally made to continue using petrol outboards for 10 years with a view to going electric when feasible. Another condition was to increase the Public Liability insurance to a level that is unknown in the industry and which would put the expenses out with the reach of the Trust. We currently have £10m Public Liability Insurance. We had hoped to be able to operate from 1st August 2021 but SBC are still discussing the lease and liability. Season normally finishes end of September.
Paddle boards, open water swimming and kayaks are all proving popular.
Thanks to BWCF for your support.
Verbal report received at AGM August 2021.
Photo Gallery:
Interest Links
Year Completed:
2021
Funds Received - £2,000.00
Interest Links provide peer-age volunteer befriending for children, young people and adults with learning disabilities across the Borders, who are socially isolated and have few opportunities for friendship and fun. They received £2,000.00 from Blakchill Windfarm Community Fund for their Berwickshire Branch. This benefited 15 members with learning disabilities and their family carers living in Duns and Longformacus, nine were in befriending groups and 4 linked 1:1. It also provided volunteering opportunities for pupils at Berwickshire High Shool and five adult volunteers from Duns.
Activities: From March to May we continuted our distance service. 1:1 links were in contact as Phone Buddies, or by video WhatsApp, text, emails or writing cards and letters. Members and volunteers also received a regular newsletter.
The adult members zoom "Get Together" group had materials delivered to members and volunteers homes and made gift boxes, woven placemats and Easter baskets. There was general chat and fun and it was great to see parents and carers involved and enjoying the fun too.
Weekly zoom sessions for the younger groups included an arts project about What makes us Happy, run by a young volunteer and an art project with an external tutor about the different elements of the pandemic and peopls feelings about it. Also mosaic workshops, cookery sessions and a Beetle Drive.
From the start of May 1:1 links started meeting face to face, much to the delight of both volunteers and members, some of whom had been very much missing their friends.
Face to face meetings for the younger groups restarted in June, initially outdoors going for walks, berry picking, on boat trips from Eyemouth and playing games. They moved indoors in the autumn, with Halloween fun, cake baking and Wii games, followed by Christmas festivities, Bunrs Nights, pottery, music and drama sessions.
The adult group met face to face for the first time in August and resumed its usual activities of games, music, arts and crafts and later Halloween celebrations. A multi-session Music project, originally planned for 2020 and postponed again due to Storm Arwen and the Omicron variant, finally got under way in February and the Zoom Blether group is still continuing.
The in-school groups resumed towards the end of the year and the Berwickshire High School group is now meeting straight after school at Southfields so it can have longer meetings and more intersesting activities.
A new adult group is also planned to start in Duns in March 2022.
Feedback included:
100% of memebrs with learning disavilities and carers reported benefiting from the project, see image for full details.
Members:
"The zoom calls have kept me happy during lockdown. I've enjoyed trying all the craft activities and chatting to my friends, Thank you."
"I really enjoy seeing B. Its nice to have a friend who isn't a carer."
"Loved seeing people on my tablet and speaking to them."
"Getting out on the boat was fantastic, best trip ever."
"It was great to be able to do normal things again after such a long time being told we couldn't go anywhere or do anything."
Carers:
"Its been tough for my son this past year but he looked forward to hearing from his friend he met through Interest Link and it put a smile on his face."
"My son and I have enjoyed being part of the group and feeling valued and cared for. The online activities have enhanced the benefits of Ineterst Link for us and we appreciate the bond that the group has. Thank you."
"My wife and I are pleased that our son has contact with people other than ouselves. Its great he is now getting out to see his friends again. In the past they have had wonderful trips out doing all kinds of interesting things together."
Photo Gallery:
