Community

Community projects grant for Christmas Day lunch

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Eunice Rodger (left) and Linda Martin (right) are getting ready for a bigger Alyth Christmas Lunch

Last year’s Alyth Christmas Day Lunch was such a success that it is being repeated this year, with the help of a £500 grant from Alyth Development Trust’s community projects fund.

The inaugural Lunch last year brought together a team of volunteers to provide a full traditional Christmas meal for members of the Alyth community who would otherwise have been on their own on Christmas Day.  Around 20 guests enjoyed a proper Christmas feast and good company in Alyth Town Hall.

The ADT grant will enable organisers Eunice Rodger and Linda Martin to start the serious fund-raising and planning for what they are confident will be an even bigger and better event than last year.  

Eunice commented:  “We believe the event embodies the true spirit of Alyth, caring for neighbours and reducing social isolation.  Social isolation at Christmas can be very difficult to those on their own, especially the recently-bereaved. This event gives an opportunity to bring people together to share a meal along with company, thus improving the quality of life for local folk who would otherwise spend the day alone.”

This year, Eunice and Linda are moving to the Airlie Street Hall to take advantage of its larger kitchen, so that they can cater for up to 30 or more guests.  The plan is still for a full traditional Christmas lunch, with broth or lentil soup followed by turkey with all the trimmings (vegetarian option if preferred), and then trifle or pavlova and finishing with tea/coffee and Christmas cake or mince pies. 

The ADT grant kick-starts fund-raising over the next few months, beginning with a coffee morning in the Airlie Street Hall on Saturday 3rd October.  There will be a selection of stalls, raffle, tombola, home baking and hampers, as well as tea and coffee, and booking forms for the Christmas Day Lunch will be available.

Eunice said:  “As well as taking bookings, we’ll be happy to chat about volunteering opportunities and donations towards this community event.  We’re specially keen to hear from anyone willing to volunteer either as a server in the Hall or as a driver giving lifts to guests who need it.  We look forward to seeing everyone on the 3rd.”

ADT’s Community Projects Fund distributes the community benefit funds provided for Alyth by the operators of the Tullymurdoch Windfarm, some five miles north of the town.  Applications to the fund are judged by an independent panel of volunteers drawn from across the community.  Apply at https://lovealyth.org.uk/projects/alyth-community-projects-fund/.

New training strips for Alyth Juniors 2012s squad

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The Alyth Juniors 2012 football team will be training even more effectively this season, thanks to a grant from Alyth Development Trust’s community projects fund.

The independent panel that judges applications to the fund has awarded a grant of £1500 to the club to buy enough kits to equip each boy with his own training tops and bottoms.  The club has bought 20 full sets, enough to equip the whole squad.

The club had already secured a sponsor for their playing kits, and having the training kits will keep the playing strips pristine for games over the winter season. The kits will also keep the boys warm during training sessions at the club’s home on Jubilee Park in Alyth.

Team secretary Jenni Milne said:  “We’re committed to encouraging boys to be involved with youth football in Alyth. Having enough training kits means they can keep warm during training sessions even in cold weather, which is an important part of physical exercise.”

ADT’s Community Projects Fund distributes the community benefit funds provided for Alyth by the operators of the Tullymurdoch Windfarm, some five miles north of the town.  Applications to the fund are judged by an independent panel of volunteers drawn from across the community.  Apply at https://lovealyth.org.uk/projects/alyth-community-projects-fund/.

Alyth’s community council and development trust join forces to help shape local development plans

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Alyth Community Council and Alyth Development Trust are working together to make sure the town is properly featured in Perth & Kinross Council’s development plans over the next few years.

The two bodies have agreed to collaborate with PKC on incorporating Alyth’s Community Action Plan into a new “Local Place Plan” for the town.  The Local Place Plan for Alyth will be a key component of PKC’s revised Local Development Plan for the whole county, currently being finalised.

The CAP, drawn up in 2021 and launched in 2022, already sets out a clear list of community wishes and aspirations for developing Alyth.  The LPP will identify areas and locations where future development could be encouraged for the best outcome for the town.  

Unlike the CAP, planners are obliged to follow the LPP when considering planning applications, so incorporating the CAP into a new LPP means that the wishes of the Alyth community are taken fully into account.

ADT and ACC will work together over the next three months, aiming to get Alyth’s LPP incorporated fully into the draft Local Development Plan scheduled to be considered by the Council towards the end of this year.  If approved, the Plan would be put out to public consultation with a view to adopting it in full next year.

Ann Hooper, chair of ADT, commented:  “The CAP essentially decides the ‘what’ of future development in terms of the community’s wishes, whereas the LPP dictates the ‘where’ that development could best take place.

“We’re delighted to be working with the Community Council on making sure that future development in Alyth continues to be what the community wants and needs.”

Allan Nisbet, ACC chair, said: “This joint ACC/ADT initiative in conjunction with PKC will ensure that the Community Action Plan is underpinned by a well-developed, community led Local Place Plan that the Planning Officers must consider fully when determining planning applications in the area”.  

The CAP was the largest-ever consultation carried out in Alyth, gathering input from many residents and local groups, and run by a steering group comprising representatives of ACC, ADT and many other bodies in the town.

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More information:

CAP  –  https://alyth.online/cap/

Local Place Plan  –  https://www.pkc.gov.uk/localplaceplans

CPF grant beings new games, books and activities to 50-Plus Club

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Alyth’s long-running 50-Plus Club is enjoying new board games, puzzle books and craft activities thanks to a new £1,250 grant from our Community Projects Fund.  

A similar grant in late 2023 enabled the Club to increase its weekly turnout by 30%, comprising new members joining as well as current members coming more regularly.

Club chairperson John Lindsay said:  “We wanted to continue the success of the previous funding which enabled us to provide our members with a range of new activities and crafts which went down really well.  We plan to keep this going by purchasing more materials to keep the existing crafts going and to also introduce new craft and game ideas that have been suggested to us by our members.”

As well as games, craft materials, puzzle books and the like, the Club will buy new storage items and refurbish some games equipment, as well as provide prizes and engraved trophies and offer expenses to visiting guest speakers.  The grant will also help to offset catering costs which have increased significantly over the past year.

John explains:  “Last year we re-started our bowling, kurling, and dominoes tournaments and started a new table shuffleboard tournament which can be played by everyone including the less physically able members.  These have been very popular, and they help members to mingle better. 

“We want to encourage  more members to attend the club, especially people who live

alone and would benefit from the social aspect of the meeting as well as the stimulation provided by the games, activities and talks.  Our aim is to create an enjoyable and informative experience to which members can look forward each week.

“Providing a wider variety of games and activities means members can

do different things at each meeting and perhaps get inspired to take up new

hobbies.  Several members have told us that the club is a lifeline for them and has helped improve their mental health and given them a reason to go out and interact with others. Better mental health in the community is a benefit to the whole community.

ADT’s Community Projects Fund distributes the community benefit funds provided for Alyth by the operators of the Tullymurdoch Windfarm, some five miles north of the town.  Applications to the fund are judged by an independent panel of volunteers drawn from across the community.  Apply at https://lovealyth.org.uk/projects/alyth-community-projects-fund/.

Alyth Pipe Band gets new look with casual uniform grant

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Alyth & District Pipe Band have a new look for their practice sessions and informal appearances thanks to the Community Projects Fund administered by Alyth Development Trust.

A CPF grant of almost £1000 has enabled the Band to buy enough new T-shirts and hoodies featuring the Band’s name and logo.  This means all its members now have a new casual uniform to complement the full kilt outfits worn for formal performances.

The new gear also means that younger members who are too small for the full uniform can be properly decked out when joining the rest of the band while playing at events, while their parents and other non-playing members are identifiable as being part of the Band family.

The T-shirts and hoodies were ordered from specialist clothing suppliers Image Scotland and are already being worn with pride at Band practice sessions and performances. 

Band secretary Karen Barton said:  “The new outfits will help give the Band a stronger

band identity, within the band itself bringing the band together and to the public when out and about, which should hopefully help attract new members and make those members feel part of the Band.  We also thought it was unfair to expect all members to pay for new casual uniforms on top of weekly subs during the cost-of-living crisis, meaning everyone is treated equally.”

The Band is always keen to have new members come along to learn to play.  They practice on Wednesday nights in Alyth Town Hall at 6.30pm – if you or anyone you know is interested please contact alythanddistrictpipeband@gmail.com or get in touch on any of their social media platforms @alythanddistrictpipeband.

Alyth & District Pipe Band often plays in the town at community events such as at the Remembrance Sunday Parade and Alyth Christmas Lights Switch-on, helping the town come together and promote community spirit.  The Band gives these performances free of charge and also provides free volunteer tuition to new members, as the members feel that it is important to give back to the community.  But this means that the Band needs to fundraise and apply for funding to help support its growing membership – exactly the kind of initiative for which the Community Projects Fund was established.

ADT’s Community Projects Fund distributes the community benefit funds provided for Alyth by the operators of the Tullymurdoch Windfarm, some five miles north of the town.  Applications to the fund are judged by an independent panel of volunteers drawn from across the community.  Apply at https://lovealyth.org.uk/projects/alyth-community-projects-fund/.

Out-of-School club grant helps tackle cost-of-living crisis

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The Alyth Out of School Care Group is doing its bit to help local parents through the cost-of-living crisis, thanks to a grant from our Community Projects Fund.

The grant will help the Group to cover running costs avoid having to increase its fees for the time being, so it can continue offering a breakfast club and after-school club with healthy snacks and many activities, supported by qualified and enthusiastic local staff members.

Shona Kilgour of the Group said:  “During this period of financial instability, it is more important than ever that we are able to offer local parents cost-effective childcare, whilst still paying our staff in accordance with the minimum wage requirements and fairly in line with their responsibilities.

“We’re planning to grow by advertising and working with the school and parent council to spread the word and encourage more parents to use our services and improve our finances.  The grant from ADT’s Community Projects Fund will be a big help in covering our costs over the short term until our numbers grow, and to avoid making any additional fee increases and potentially threatening attendance numbers.”

The Community Projects Fund distributes the community benefit funds provided for Alyth by the operators of the Tullymurdoch Windfarm, some five miles north of the town.  Applications to the fund are judged by an independent panel of volunteers drawn from across the community.  Apply at https://lovealyth.org.uk/projects/alyth-community-projects-fund/.

Grant to help Alyth’s footballers stay in the game

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Alyth’s football club is getting a helping hand from ADT’s Community Projects Fund.  

The independent panel that adjudicates applications to the fund has awarded £2000 to Alyth Amateur Football Club (AAFC) to help cover the substantial extra costs they’re facing as a result of the devastating fire that gutted the pavilion on the Jubilee Park.  As well as destroying a lot of equipment, the fire left AAFC with nowhere to train and play home games.  

Perth & Kinross Council, who own the pavilion, have been so far unable to agree the claim with the insurance company, so AAFC have had to hire pitches and training facilities in Blairgowrie.  This has severely depleted the Club’s funds, and although they are doing as much fund-raising as they can there was a very real question mark over AAFC’s long-term future.

L-r: Jenni Milne, her son Rohan Milne, and David Barclay of AAFC outside the Jubilee Park pavilion which is awaiting refurbishment following last year’s fire

AAFC’s Jenni Milne explained:  “The grant from ADT’s Community Projects Fund means that we can keep going on the present basis until at least the end of this season.  This is of great benefit to our players, supporters and the local community of which we are a part.

“The grant will support our own fund-raising efforts until as a club we can return home to the Diamond Jubilee Park in Alyth.  We’re determined to continue being part of Alyth’s community – which has always been so loyal to the Club in the past,” she added.

The Community Projects Fund distributes the community benefit funds provided for Alyth by the operators of the Tullymurdoch Windfarm, some five miles north of the town.  Applications to the fund are judged by an independent panel of volunteers drawn from across the community.  Apply at https://lovealyth.org.uk/projects/alyth-community-projects-fund/.

New grant to provide more help for Alyth’s cyclists

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Cyclists in Alyth will be be able to get expert help more frequently this year thanks to a grant from ADT’s Community Projects Fund.

Over the last couple of years, Dr Bike has been a fixture at the Summer and Winter Markets and one or two other community events, doing minor repairs for any cyclist who brings their machine along.  Callum Brooks and Neil Tuer from Alyth Cyclery on Commercial Street provide their expertise for free, along with minor replacement parts such as brake-blocks, if needed, to make sure Alyth’s cyclists are on road-worthy machines.

Callum (left) and Neil (right) pictured at Dr Bike’s base in Old Barony Church, Commercial Street.

The new grant will cover the costs of more frequent events during 2024, including not just the Summer Market in July but pop-ups around the town and perhaps even special sessions at the Primary School and elsewhere.  Dr Bike would be able to handle up to around 10 bikes per session.

Callum explained:  “We’ve run a few Dr Bike sessions in the past and we’ve always struggled with the format as its hard to predict how much work and new parts might be needed on each bike.

“This grant will enable us to run an in-store (and out of store during events) Dr Bike once a month for at least the Spring and Summer, with each session being widely promoted around the town.

“This is a locally-targetted effort to improve the value of each Dr Bike session, encouraging sustainable travel and benefitting the local community.  It’s very much aimed at the daily bicycle user who uses their bike instead of a car, which supports the improvement of the quality of life within the community and helps move transport within the town in a more sustainable direction,” he added.

ADT’s Community Projects Fund distributes the community benefit funds provided for Alyth by the operators of the Tullymurdoch Windfarm, some five miles north of the town.  Applications to the fund are judged by an independent panel of volunteers drawn from across the community.  Apply at https://lovealyth.org.uk/projects/alyth-community-projects-fund/.

New lease on life for historic Alyth Kirk clock

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John Smith of Alyth Parish Church with the historic Vulliamy clock mechanism
John Smith of Alyth Parish Church with the historic Vulliamy clock mechanism

Alyth Parish Church’s venerable clock is getting a new lease on life thanks in part to grants from Alyth Develoment Trust.

The clock chimes have been telling Alyth folk the time for almost 200 years apart from a few brief silences, most recently during the COVID lockdown.  Last year, the Kirk’s fabric committee decided to automate the clock’s winding mechanism and brought in specialists from the Cumbria Clock Company to advise on the best way of doing it.

They immediately recognised the clock as a rare and historic example of the work of Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy, clockmaker to Queen Victoria.  Alyth’s clock is one of only two in Scotland known to have been made by Benjamin, was one of the best clockmakers of his time –extremely well regarded in the horological world and a second generation master clockmaker.

He was five times master of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers, and clockmaker to King William IV then Queen Victoria, making many of the internal clocks in Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Kensington Palace, Clarence House and Brighton Pavilion and many of the other palaces that the royals use, as well as many of the internal clocks in the Houses of Parliament at Westminster. 

Alyth’s clock was made and installed in 1840, by which time Benjamin was a renowned master craftsman having already designed and fitted the clocks in the Royal Palaces. The bell in Alyth’s tower would have been supplied by him at the same time as the clock; it was cast by the Mears Foundry, who cast Big Ben for the Houses of Parliament.  

No-one knows how Alyth came to have a clock of this quality and expense, made to Vulliamy’s exacting standards.  The Cumbria Clock Company discovered that the clock has very little wear even after 183 years of service, and with automation should have at least another 183 years in it.

John Smith, Kirk Fabric Convener, said:  “Many of the local community had commented on missing the striking of the bell, and we wanted to bring the 180-year tradition back to Alyth.  After the work is done, the local community will be able to continue to see the time on the clock and again be able to hear the bell striking on the hour.

“The clock itself only requires a light servicing since it was made to such high standards, but this project will fit a new mechanism for automatic winding and to allow the chimes to be silenced over night – something the old mechanism didn’t allow.

“We’re pleased to be able to bring back the historic chimes to Alyth, and delighted to have found out that the town possesses such a rare and fine piece of clock engineering.”

The project is costing around £12,000.  The Kirk has already secured a grant of £3,000 from Perth & Kinross Heritage Trust and is seeking grants from other sources.  ADT is contributing £2,000 from its Community Projects Fund and will cover half of any shortfall from its strategic funds, with the other half coming from the Kirk’s own reserves.

Find out more about Benjamin Vulliamy here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Lewis_Vulliamy

ADT’s Community Projects Fund distributes the community benefit funds provided for Alyth by the operators of the Tullymurdoch Windfarm, some five miles north of the town.  Applications to the fund are judged by an independent panel of volunteers drawn from across the community.  Apply at https://lovealyth.org.uk/projects/alyth-community-projects-fund/

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