Alves Hall completed a major refurbishment of their premises in January 2018, including a new kitchen and meeting room, upgrading of toilets and improved storage facilities. The building, a former Territorial Army building, was taken over by the community 30 years ago and has hosted local user groups for over 40 years. The hall is now a more attractive venue for current and new users- with improved cooking facilities for users, and an attractive meeting space for meetings or small gatherings. There is improved disabled access at the back door; complementing earlier work providing a ramp at the front door.

     

This was a great experience for all involved and proved to be very successful. This was always intended to be an educational trip and was our first venture abroad as a Club. All who participated on the trip learned a lot about Germany and our twin town and we are grateful to all who helped us, especially the contribution from Berry Burn Community Fund which was invaluable.

Photograph of the winner of the best Diary of the trip Finlay Wallace receiving his prize from Club President, Graeme Ferguson.

The Dava Way Association and their volunteers are now in a far better position by being better equipped to maintain the path and keep it open and safe for walkers and cyclists.

The Colours of Cluny event has given a lot of pleasure to local people and a real boost to our local businesses at a quiet time of year. Without the initial funding from Berry Burn, our first funder, we would quite simply not have got this off the ground. We are extremely grateful for the support we received in both years which has made a real difference to the local community in 2016 and 2017.

     

 

Knockando Woolmill sits in the Spey Valley on the same site it has occupied for over 230 years. The Mill is small and relies on two modern looms to produce most of the cloth. The machinery purchased with the generous assistance of the Berry Burn Community Fund has led to significant savings in both time and materials in the factory. This modernisation allows the Mill to produce fresh, contemporary designs woven alongside traditional tweeds and classic woollen blankets – all produced with the same attention to detail and skilled craftsmanship that has always been at the heart of the Woolmill.

  

 

A £10,000 grant from Berry Burn has enabled Dyke Church to dramatically improve access to the church and church hall, a longstanding aspiration of the congregation. This disability-friendly path-creation project has been extremely well received by many diverse groups in the community. We are now in a position to move forward with our plans to exploit the improved access by making the church and hall a true whole community facility, and fundraising is well underway towards that end. We gratefully acknowledge this invaluable assistance.

  

Food Work and Health Matters! is an inclusive programme designed to support people in

living independent lives, able to make informed choices about a range of adult issues. Its focus

is on four areas – food and nutrition, managing money, looking after yourself, an access to

work, (paid or unpaid). It includes practical workshop sessions, cooking, visits, and one to one

opportunities with a skilled mentor, where students have the opportunity to explore and further

their own aspirations. Despite often experiencing multiple challenges, they have responded

with great enthusiasm. And they have enjoyed it.

    

   

Edinkillie Hall is approaching 100 years old. It had been many years since the wooden cladding on the hall had been painted, and that had been with a mixture of creosote and engine oil! The road side was the worst affected by weather and there were holes in the gable end. We were able to replace the worst affected boards and get the whole hall painted so that it looks like new and will hopefully be protected from the elements for many years to come.

Now getting towards the end of its second year the Forres Youth and Families Outreach Project is proving popular with children and families who take part in its many activities and events. These include monthly Messy Church sessions, the summer holiday club and lots of seasonal events, such as the Palm Sunday Walk and Pentecost Party. Lunchtime clubs at the three primary schools are also well attended. A monthly Youth Drop-In has recently started at Costa Coffee in Tesco. The Family Support Service continues to provide help and advice to individual families with a broad range of needs, such as debt management, coping with stress and anxiety, setting up new tenancies and healthy eating.

    

Thanks to the Berry Burn Community Fund Inverness Orienteering Club has obtained a new and up to date map of Anagach Woods at Grantown-on-Spey, using LIDAR data. This will improve navigation for orienteers during competitions at Anagach, allowing hundreds of local people to take part in orienteering events at Anagach. The map will be freely shared with Grantown Grammar Associated Schools Group, local youth groups and other local orienteering clubs.