Empowering and supporting rural communities

Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell has announced 14 social enterprises in the Borders are to be awarded a share of a new £50,000 fund.

The money will provide the successful organisations with more stability and an opportunity to tackle local issues, by offering services such as community cafes, youth coaching, cookery classes and art clubs.

Ms Campbell said:

“Social enterprises empower communities, tackle tough social problems and create jobs. They benefit and support people that traditional sectors struggle to reach, often the most disadvantaged.

“That’s why we’re investing £50,000 to support social enterprises in the Borders to grow and thrive.

“This new investment and support will allow Borders communities to have more control over their own affairs and take forward more of the activities they have identified as being vital to their local area including engaging in local rural initiatives.

“These projects will help people who may experience difficulties, often due to their remote rural location, to access more jobs and training, improve disabled access, promote healthy eating, environmental sustainability and good mental health.”

Enterprise Facilitator at Scottish Borders Social Enterprise Chamber Pamela Redpath said:

“The £50,000 from the Scottish Government has allowed us to make 14 grants to new social enterprises and activities with the potential to make a huge difference.

“The projects are very diverse and take some innovative approaches to tackling a range of social, rurality, educational and environmental issues. All are aimed at dismantling some of the barriers that exist for people here in the Borders.

“And as social enterprise ideas, they all have income generating potential, which will make them sustainable beyond early stage grant funding.”

Training company A Positive Start have been awarded £3,800 to fund a project that addresses child sex abuse, parental grooming and coercive behaviours. Founder and CEO Deborah Crozier said:

“We are extremely grateful for the funding from the Scottish Government because it will allow us to get this project out there where it can benefit to children and families. Receiving the award means so much more than the money – it’s the recognition, the support and the belief that what we are doing is of value. That means everything to us.”

Background

• The £50,000 Seedcorn Fund from the Scottish Government (LINK) was awarded to Scottish Borders Social Enterprise Chamber to support new and emerging social enterprises and social enterprise ideas focusing on issues specific to the Borders.

• The fund opened mid-December 2019 and runs until the end of March 2020, or until the funding is fully allocated. So far 14 grants have been awarded ranging from £685 to £4,000.
  
  Awardees
  
  
• A Positive Start – Deborah Crozier - £3,800 for pilot project 
• Café Recharge CIC – Amy Wight - £3,700
• The Splash Project – Susie Hopewell - £2,440 for pilot project 
• Youth Wellbeing Coaching CIC – Lynsay Laird - £3,800 for pilot
• Newtown St Boswells Community CIC – Elaine Thornton-Nicol – £2,000
• Transform Arts CIC – Lara Greene - £3,800 to develop classes and products
• Weigh Greener – Charlotte Aitchison - £3,800
• AccessAble Borders CIC – Dean Fisher - £1,500
• Sea The Change – Tracey Dick - £3,152 for pilot project 
• Abundant Borders – Karen Birch - £2,756 for pilot project 
• Kingsmeadow Enterprise – Robin Tatler, chair - a grant of £4,000 for pilot project 
• Bird Garden Scotland – Owen Joiner - a grant of £3,900 for project
• Kelso Writers –Peter Munro - a grant of £688 for Writing Workshops for Working Adults 
• Eat, Sleep, Ride – Danielle Mckinnon - a grant of £2,830 for Outdoor Pursuits project