Initiatives encouraging intergenerational connection, education and skills development and engagement with nature are among nine projects to receive grants in the final round of funding in Destination Tweed’s Community Grants Scheme.
The Scheme, which is financed by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, has now awarded a total of £203,000 to 30 different projects as part of efforts to support community initiatives with a connection to the River Tweed and its nature, history, stories and traditions. It is one of 12 projects making up the £25 million Destination Tweed initiative.
The most recent grants awarded include Borders Young Musicians’ River Tweed Singers project which has received £10,000 towards the creation of two new intergenerational choirs. Based in Kelso and Galashiels, the choirs will rehearse newly commissioned works about the Tweed which will eventually be performed in riverside locations. In Berwick-upon-Tweed, a grant of £7,903 to the Friends of Castle Parks will go towards the development of a vibrant new piece of public art created by artist Anna Chapman Park and pupils from Tweedmouth Prior Park First School.
Leitholm, Eccles and Birgham Community Council are receiving £2,348 from the Community Grants Scheme towards the creation of a series of fixed-point photography posts and an information board. The posts will allow visitors and local people to take pictures at fixed points as they enjoy walks around the local Birgham Haugh route. The pictures will be uploaded onto a new website and will encourage an engagement with nature in addition to collecting evidence to help monitor how the local environment and water levels on the River Tweed change through the seasons.
Fishing on the Tweed will be the focus of a new intergenerational film project by YouthBorders, which has received a grant for £9,550. From Stream to Story – Bridging Generations on the Tweed will see older citizens paired with young anglers to share stories, knowledge and skills about the art of fishing. A short documentary will be produced as part of the initiative and screened locally and available online.
In Dumfries & Galloway, pupils from Moffat Academy will learn practical skills including metal work, tool use, design and team work thanks to a £6,750 grant to Live Learn Earn CIC. The project will see the pupils create a new art installation at the school made using recycled bicycle parts and inspired by their relationship with their local landscapes.
Other projects receiving funding include 1629 – the Year of Rope and Flame, a community theatrical piece that tells the story of the 27 men and women from Peebles and West Linton who were executed for witchcraft in the 17th century. The initiative is led by Inspiring Life – Evie Douglas Memorial Fund, which has received a grant for £9,850. Through the exploration of this dark period in Borders history, the play aims to open up dialogue and draw parallels with modern life. At Tweedsmuir, a grant for £4,269 will provide a wooden shelter at Tweedsmuir Community Garden to offer protection from the elements during volunteering sessions and community events.
Destination Tweed’s Community Grants Scheme has also awarded £8,000 to Tweedbank Community Council to update its nature trail and create a haven for wildlife in the community meadowland. At nearby Abbotsford, the former home of Sir Walter Scott, a grant for £9,300 is supporting the attraction’s Next Chapter Schools and Family Project. The initiative aims to reduce barriers to engagement for local schools and families, especially those from more deprived areas, providing opportunities to delve into the history of Abbotsford and Sir Walter Scott and foster connections to storytelling, literature and creativity.
Charlotte Douglas, Senior Project Officer at Tweed Forum, which leads the Destination Tweed Project, said; “It’s really inspiring to see the creativity, passion and community spirit reflected in the latest round of successful grant applications. From celebrating the river’s heritage through music and storytelling to encouraging young people to learn new skills and connect with nature, each initiative will strengthen the bonds between local people and the river environment. Our Community Grants Scheme has shown the power of local ideas and enthusiasm in bringing the River Tweed’s history, culture and environment to life.”
Caroline Clark, Director for Scotland, National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “It is fantastic to see the success to date of the Destination Tweed community grants and how the scheme is helping to engage local people in heritage that matters the most to them. Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, we are very proud to continue our support for this programme that will ensure more local stories are preserved for future generations and help to further a sense of pride in place for communities.”