Coldingham Gala Committee: Building Community Through Music and Events

Background

The Coldingham Gala Committee exists to assist in community-based projects and organise community activities, with a focus on community involvement. Their primary initiatives include the annual Coldingham Gala, two musical festivals per year (ColdFest), and supporting other musical and village-based events and entertainment. The Coldingham Gala Committee was established on 1st January 1977 with nine committee members who met monthly in the village hall. The events are used as fundraising opportunities, with funds raised distributed to local causes.

Coldingham, a village of approximately 600 residents, has become a vibrant focus for musicians and performance artists from a range of genres. The events organised by the committee attracted audiences not only from Coldingham but also from surrounding villages and the nearby town of Berwick upon Tweed. Larger outdoor events attracted between 500 to 3,000 people, while smaller indoor events could draw crowds of 100-300 attendees.

The Challenge

For each event, the committee needed to hire a PA system and the services of a sound engineer, costing approximately £400-500 per occasion. This expenditure significantly reduced the funds raised through these events, which limited the amount that could be distributed to worthy local causes. The performers at these events often gave their time and services for free, but the technical requirements remained a consistent financial burden.

The need for a dedicated solution was easy to identify in financial terms—the costs of hiring external equipment and expertise heavily impacted fundraising activities, greatly reducing the amount that could be channelled back into local community groups and initiatives.

Project Goals and Objectives

The committee identified an opportunity to purchase a state-of-the-art PA system that would be owned and managed by the Coldingham Gala Committee on behalf of the local community. 

The primary objective was to create a community-based resource, free at the point of use for the committee's events, thereby maximising their fundraising potential and increasing the funds available for distribution to local causes.

Additional objectives included making the PA system available for hire to other local groups under clear conditions. The committee also aimed to provide training for a small team of local residents, including young people, in the operation of the PA system. They sought to develop skills among community members whilst supporting the vibrant local music scene and enhancing event quality. Furthermore, the project was designed to improve social cohesion and community well-being through high-quality events.

Project Funding 

To support the project, the Coldingham Gala Committee submitted an application to the Drone Hill Wind Farm Community Fund for £10,000 for financial assistance towards purchasing a state-of-the-art PA system.  

The Drone Hill Community Panel considered the funding request during its April 2024 decision-making meeting and agreed to award the full amount.  The Panel appreciated the opportunity that the award would offer the committee and the long-term benefits for the community. 

Project implementation 

The goal was that the PA system would be managed by the Gala Committee but would be available for hire to other community groups. The rental fee structure was designed to be flexible, with commercial requests charged up to £200, while charitable and not-for-profit groups would either have the fee waived or be asked for a small contributory donation. All hires would include the provision of a trained sound engineer.

The committee arranged for training for 2-3 local community members as Sound Technicians, which offered the additional benefit of building local capacity for the local residents.  Working in partnership with the local hall meant that the group secured storage for the equipment.  

Impact and Benefits

The acquisition of a dedicated PA system was expected to generate several benefits:

Financial Benefits

The acquisition would eliminate PA rental costs of £400-500 per event, which resulted in significant savings across the approximately 13 events organised annually. This would result in increased funds available for distribution to local community groups and charities. The committee also considered the potential of generating income through the hiring of the equipment to neighbouring communities. The project would also contribute to the pooling of local assets and resources, enhancing the sustainability of community activities in the area.

Community Benefits

The project would enable the continuation and enhancement of a thriving music scene and community music events that would increase cohesion and inclusion within Coldingham and surrounding areas.  The provision of high-quality events and performances would enhance overall community well-being for the 600 residents and visitors alike. 

Local performers would gain improved access to professional-quality sound equipment, elevating the standard of their performances while also nurturing up-and-coming talent from the village and beyond.

Additionally, there would be valuable skills development for community members trained as sound engineers, providing them with transferable technical expertise and potential future employment opportunities.

Finally, there is the benefit of removing the costs of renting the sound equipment for each event, freeing up more of the funds raised to support local causes.

Fund Alignment

The project aligned with all three of the Drone Hill fund priorities. It would directly improve the quality of life for local residents by providing social events,  enhancing social cohesion and well-being. The project would contribute to the vibrancy of the local community, encouraging visitors to the village and supporting local businesses such as pubs where some events were held. Furthermore, the project would promote community spirit and create new community activities.

Conclusion

The Coldingham Gala Committee's initiative to purchase its own PA system represented a strategic investment in community infrastructure that promised both immediate and long-term benefits. 

By eliminating the recurring cost of equipment hire, the committee would be able to maximise the impact of its fundraising efforts, channelling more resources back into the community while continuing to provide high-quality events that enrich local life.

The project demonstrated how targeted investment in shared resources can support local capacity, create sustainable approaches to community event management and enhance a community's cultural life.

Click here to find out more about the Drone Hill Wind Farm Community Fund.