Blackridge Community Fund: Impact of all shapes and sizes
A look at some of the highlights from the Blackridge Community Fund, the work of the Blackridge Community Fund Panel and achievements of the Burnhead Moss Education and Training (BMET) Fund.
Blackridge Community Fund
Since the Blackridge Community Fund began 10 years ago, it has awarded nearly £350,000 to 29 different groups for community and charitable activity in Blackridge. 116 grants of varying sizes have made a big difference in community life.
With one round still to go at the time of writing (the decisions for the last round takes place in November 2024), 2024 has seen twelve grants worth nearly £50,000 awarded.
Both the Blackridge Social Activities and Entertainment Group and Blackridge, West Craigs, and Westrigg Gala Day groups received £15,000 each to support the annual fireworks and Gala Day respectively. This funding is to support these activities over the next three years.
Blackridge, Westrigg, West Craigs OAP Association, Blackridge Senior Ladies Indoor Bowling Group and the Monday Club all received grants towards their annual programmes of activity,
Four groups recently received £500 each to cover the unexpected introduction of new Craig Inn annual fees as a result of planned reductions in local authority support to the venue.
The smallest grant went to cover the costs of storing and seasoning felled timber from the primary school for a bit longer whilst Beechbrae SCIO, pupils, the Community Council and other groups work out the final arrangements to transform the timber into a lasting legacy within the school, benefiting generations of children for years to come.
The Blackridge Primary School Parent Council also received funding to run a food voucher scheme helping alleviate the effects of the cost of living crisis for families across Blackridge.
EDF Renewables (from the Burnhead Moss Wind Farm), Gresham House (from the Torrance Wind Farm) and FIM services/Netro (from the Harthill Wind Rarm) all continue to provide annual community benefit payments into the fund.
For more information about the fund, what is has supported and how to apply, check out the Blackridge Community Fund page on our website.
Blackridge Community Fund Panel
As well as making award decisions, the Blackridge Panel and Foundation Scotland this year worked hard both to promote the fund (hopefully you’ve seen the posters!) and to arrange additional support for community groups in the area.
As a result, Voluntary Sector Gateway West Lothian (VSGWL if you like acronyms) offered to provide a session dedicated to Blackridge groups at the Craig Inn in early November. VSGWL is the “Third Sector Interface” for West Lothian, dedicated to supporting and developing volunteer community groups, charities and social enterprises in the area. They are experts at supporting groups around the issues groups highlighted during a recent survey – things like funding and fundraising; policies; safeguarding; accounts/financial practice; constitutions; banking; and volunteer policies/management.
Hopefully this will help groups continue to deliver the fantastic range of activities and projects that make such a difference in Blackridge community life.
If you’d like to become a member of the Panel, email malcolm@foundationscotland.org.uk for more information.
Burnhead Moss Education & Training (BMET) Fund
As part of community benefit arrangements from the EDF Renewables Burnhead Moss Wind Farm Fund, Blackridge residents can apply for bursary grants from the BMET scheme to help them take up education and training courses.
Since launching in 2016, 106 Blackridge residents have benefited. This has included a wide variety of training, from hair & make-up artistry to dental nursing, joinery apprenticeships to degrees in social work, Italian and education & teaching.
A huge number of people have gained new skills, got into jobs and progressed in their careers thanks to the Burnhead Moss Education and Training (BMET) Fund.
For more information, check out the EDF Renewables Burnhead Moss Education & Training (BMET) Fund page on our website.