Successful Projects
Berwickshire Youth Piping and Drumming Foundation
Year Completed:
2019
Berwickshire Youth Piping and Drumming Foundation
Funds Received - £2,200
Berwickshire Youth Piping and Drumming Foundation was set up with the mission to establish bagpipe and drumming tuition in five of the Berwickshire primary schools - Chirnside, Duns, Coldstream, Greenlaw and Swinton. Our ambition, as set out in our application, was to attract between 40-60 pupils. We have far exceeded this target with, pre Covid, around 90 pupils receiving lessons. As well as introducing pupils to the discipline of learning a musical instrument, the tuition has been successful in establishing music as a cool thing to do and built pupils sense of achievement and self worth. We believe that we are well on our way to achieving our initial objectives, which are:
- To advance the musical eduaciton of the young people of Berwickshire.
- To promote our national heritage and culture.
- To increase public exposure to music and the performing art.
- To build links between young people and the wider community.
The estabilishment of a school pipe band is one year closer.
The first step in estabilishing the tuition programme was to recuit a tutor and we were very fortunate to engage Andrew Warren (who also tutors at James Gillespies in Edinburgh) to deliver lessons. His enthusiasm and hard work has played a large part in the success of the programme. Lessons commenced in October, by February we were looking to intriduce another tutor to ensure that pupils could be taught in smaller groups and this would still be the plan once live lessons recommence.
The shutdown of schools in March did not mean an end to the teaching programme. Lessons and tutorials were posted on line for children to complete and we hope this will have been sufficient to sustain interest and maintain numbers once we are able to start teaching in schools again. Precisely when lessons can resume remains uncertain, however, as although schools have reopened, instrumental tuition has not restarted. If this situation was to continue, we may have to pause the programme until the new year.
The much better than anticipated numbers meant that we had to purchase more practice chanters than anticipated. We also took the decision to delay the introduciton of drummng tuition, primarly to lessen the demands on the schools timetable. We were successful in gaining significant funding from Fallago Rig Community Fund and the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust and this, combined with the generous support from BWCF (for which we are very grateful) has meant that we were able to support the more intensive teaching programme and be in a solid financial position for the coming year.
Photos to follow.
Andrew Watson
Abundant Borders
Year Completed:
2019
Abundant Borders
Funds Received - £510.00
The grant we received was to support a basic cookery course which we held at the Duns Rugby club in August/September 2019. It was a six-week course and five of the participants received an Elementary Cooking Skills certificate from REHIS. Two of the participants also went onto to volunteer at the Coldstream social lunch which was held every Wednesday from mid-October until lockdown in March.
Re-Tweed
Year Completed:
2018
Funds Received - £3,500.00
Re-Tweed received £3,500 in June 2018 towards the cost for a Volunteer Support Worker. Funding was matched with impact funding. Since receiving the funding 18 volunteers were involved, most of whom are graduates from Re-Tweeds Level 1 training course. 3 out 18 where not former students. Volunteers come from a wide range of women from different backgrounds, some with complex health issues or others wanting to return to work.
In 3 years Re-Tweed have gone from having 1 member of staff to having 8 members of staff, all local, 4 of whom were former students. All volunteers get personal development training and are told that ReTweed is not a final destination and are encouraged to continuously move forward. Training included first aid, health & safety, customer service, business gateway training. We also held a volunteer development session to sit down and discuss what has worked and what has not worked and how do we improve it. Most important was the sense of achievement the individual women felt and the impact that this also has on each family and the wider community. 2 volunteers have gone on to set up their own businesses and 5 more are in the process of setting up their own businesses. ReTweed are providing wrap around support.
Trading income from the items that are made continues to increase. £2k in 1st year which raised to £6k in 3rd year. Profits from trading being channelled into supporting the new businesses being set up. We have a shop is based in Eyemouth and products also being sold around the area and as cultural exchange gifts. We also hope to raise the trading income above the funding income. Constantly evaluating our environmental, social, business objectives.
Business model has been sold to Dumfries & Galloway Council and Langholm Initiative. Highlands and Islands also looking for ReTweed to deliver the model to them. We are also in talks with Scottish Prison Service and Remade Network and online sales are being developed. The funding received from BWCF and other local windfarm funds inspires other larger funders to also support.
Thank you for believing in us.
Verbal report received a our AGM in August 2019
The Learning Space
Year Completed:
2018
Funds Received - £2,718.00
In September 2018 The Learning Space received £2,718.00 to renovate the scotch ovens at their premises in Gavinton. The Learning Space work with local young people with learning barriers. Funding was put towards reinstating the old ovens that had not been used for a near 50 years. Local trades men quoted to do the work, with Craftec selected to make new doors for the ovens. Local builder, Border Build & Renovation, had family connections and helped to reinstate the chimney and repair slates etc.
Now being fired up, by the young people, to dry out, this takes time and needs to be done slowly. Looking to use gas burners to make it quicker to heat up. As far as possible all ingredients for the bread etc are sourced locally. New baking project in the pipeline with ideas to make it a more commercial social enterprise project.
Verbal report received at our AGM in August 2019
Outside The Box
Year Completed:
2018
Funds received - £2,965.00
In December 2018 Outside The Box received funding to run 3 Nourish and Natter Sessions. These sessions where designed to target people on the fringes and to try to improve their wellbeing. Sessions where arranged for older people to meet and taster sessions where provided in different areas that they had shown an interest in i.e. cycling, seated movement.
The funding received allowed us to pay trainers and the hope is that those who attended will look to continue with these activities. The connection with the different trainers has facilited other sessions throughout the area.
Verbal report received at out AGM in August 2019