funding

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 Arches guided tours starting this summer

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The many stories surrounding the famous Alyth Arches will be told in a new series of guided tours starting this summer.

Local stone carver and storyteller Neil Paterson (pictured) is to offer monthly tours around the historic monument, which is normally padlocked and only accessible on request.

Thanks to a grant from Alyth Development Trust’s community projects fund, Neil’s tours will be free to all – Alyth residents and visitors alike.

The tours will be once a month on Saturdays at 14:00 starting on August 8.  Neil will be concentrating on the history of the site and the stories of the characters who are buried in the graveyard including James Sandy, the famous Alyth Genius.

“I’ve met many people who live in the town who’ve told me they either didn’t know where the Arches was or how to access it. I’m also hopeful that these tours will attract more visitors to the town to enjoy the local cafes, pubs, shops and walks, planning their day out around a free tour and the wonderful views from the graveyard!”

Asides from the regular monthly tours Neil is also more than happy to provide free tours by arrangement for any interested groups or organisations that would like to visit the site or the town.

There is a Facebook page where you can stay updated: Alyth Arches Tours – and there will be a QR code for the site on flyers and posters.

Please get in touch with Neil if you’d like to host flyers or posters for the tours:  pater5365@yahoo.co.uk or scan the QR code for the Facebook page (attached)

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/.

ADT fund helps Alyth Scouts go global

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Alyth’s Scouts will be representing the town to the world this summer, with the help of Alyth Development Trust’s community projects fund.

Three Explorer Scouts from Alyth will travel to Iceland for the Icelandic Scout Association’s National Jamboree in late July.  They will join up to 3,000 other scouts from all over the world for a week of adventure near Reykjavik, .

Around the same time, three more Explorer Scouts will join the 40th International Patrol Jamborette at Blair Atholl, where they will camp alongside 500 other Scottish scouts and dozens more from around the world.  An intensive 10-day programme of sports and adventure and creative activities will keep them all busy and entertained, working in patrols comprising scouts from different countries.

Ron Kirkpatrick of the Alyth Scouts said:  “The Scouts attending are very enthusiastic individuals who attend their weekly meetings, and also help as Young Leaders in other sections. I am sure they will be worthy ambassador of our community.  Their involvement in these events will be a broadening experience for them as individuals and it will also promote our community as they will be meeting many others in this experience.”

Getting ready for the April Bookfest to raise funds for their international trips: (front left-right): Natasha Cameron and Amelia Milton; (back left-right): Struan Robb, Edward Worrall and Oren Worrall.

The Scouts have been hard at work raising funds for the trips, including the regular BookFests run by the group; another one is scheduled for 4-18 April.

“The Scouts going overseas have been very active and committed in fund-raising for these trips,” added Ron.  “The trips will develop their personal skills in an encouraging environment, and I am sure they will have many experiences that stay with them for the rest of their lives.”

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 aims high with help from ADT community fund

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Professional tutor Jim Semple (far left) oversees piping practice led by Pipe Major Charlie Munro (right)

Alyth Pipe Band is getting ready to compete at national and maybe even international level, thanks to a grant from Alyth Development Trust’s community projects fund.  The fund is contributing £2000 to help the band hire specialist tuition from leading experts within the Scottish piping and drumming communities.  

Founded in 2006, Alyth Pipe Band has long been a focal point of the town’s social and cultural life.  They play at major events such as the annual Christmas Lights Switch-On ceremony, and also lead the town’s participation in national occasions such as Remembrance Sunday.  

They are also a familiar sight at charity events and fundraising events for the town, where their presence boosts residents’ sense of pride and engagement in the community, as well as contributing to the preservation and promotion of Scottish heritage, arts and music which helps strengthen the town’s visual identity.

Pipe Major Charlie Munro of the band explained:  “The grant has allowed us immediately to start structured tuition for our existing members and, we hope, attract new members keen to learn piping or drumming.  As our pipers and drummers learn new skills and confidence, we plan to enter into national and perhaps even international competitions as ambassadors representing the Alyth district. 

“Tuition and support from leading experts will encourage new and existing members to gain new skills and become confident enough to compete with other bands.  It will also help younger or junior members to work towards achievements in music and pipe band studies.  We’ll be able to offer specialised or one-to-one support for these requiring more enhanced learning environments that may not be possible in bigger bands or at school bands.

“The plan is for us to increase our membership and reach competition standard within six months to a year.  It’s ambitious, but we’re determined to get there!”

The grant funding will allow the band to set up workshops and focus groups to help young and upcoming players or help existing players to enhance their skill set.  Alyth Pipe Band already provides members with free tuition from the current pipe major but the enhanced tuition enabled by the grant will allow the band to provide a higher standard of tuition to a larger skill base from absolute beginner to academic level.

The grant has already enabled the band to retain the services of piping expert Jim Semple, who is a professional bagpipe tutor, examiner and adjudicator.  Jim was a member of Strathclyde Police Pipe Band for 22 years and won the world pipe band championships twice while there.  He also played for the Vale of Atholl grade 1 band and was Pipe Major of Linlithgow and District Pipe Band.

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/.

ADT funds help target damaging invasive plant in Alyth countryside

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Funding from Alyth Development Trust is set to boost volunteer work this summer to tackle a non-native plant threatening waterways and ecosystems around Alyth.

ADT’s Community Projects Fund is giving £2000 to help Bamff Wildland recruit a coordinator to manage a team of local volunteers to remove Himalayan balsam from along the Auchrannie Burn, which runs from Bamff down to the River Isla at Airlie Castle, crossing several farms along the way.

Himalayan balsam is classed by NatureScot, the Scottish Government’s nature agency, as a “priority invasive non-native species”, meaning it can be a serious threat to native species and ecosystems.  The plant tends to grow by waterways and has spread considerably in recent years around the local area, meaning there is an urgent need to take action to prevent further spread. 

Sophie Ramsay of Bamff Wildland explained:  “Himalayan balsam is a tall annual plant, which produces large pink flowers and lots of seeds in mid to late summer.  It attracts bees and other pollinators away from smaller, native flowers and tends to crowd out other plants wherever it grows. And recent studies from Stirling University show that when it dies back in the autumn it leaves few plant-roots to hold the soil together, which exacerbates riverbank erosion.

“The good news is that Himalayan balsam can be controlled using no chemicals and no specialist technical skills. But it is time consuming, and better done in groups. It is an ideal job for a local volunteer group,” she added.

The volunteer coordinator post is a part-time, fixed-term paid contract running from May until the end of August 2026.  It would suit an outdoor and nature enthusiast, with good knowledge of plants, and excellent people skills, who can coordinate a team of local volunteers to pull balsam from late June to August – after the plant has emerged, and before it produces seeds. 

Bamff plans to have the coordinator in post by May to begin planning and recruiting volunteers, and then do a survey in early June to identify target locations.  The volunteer team will then do a series of two-hour sessions from late June to late August along as much of the Auchrannie Burn as possible.

Sophie added:  “If we can, we’d love to keep the group going as long as possible so that we can remove more Himalayan balsam from the same area and beyond in the coming years, working from the top to bottom of streams across the Isla catchment.”

For more information and to apply for the post, visit:  https://bamff.land/jobs/

More information on the Community Projects Fund is at:  https://lovealyth.org.uk/projects/alyth-community-projects-fund/

AGM reports and January minutes now online

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We had a successful AGM on 12 January, and the minutes are now available online, along with our Annual Report and Financial Statements plus a Powerpoint presentation on the year’s activities.

Have a browse through it all here and let us know what you think: https://lovealyth.org.uk/about-alyth-development-trust/annual-general-meeting-2025/

We had our January directors’ meeting right after the AGM, and the minutes of that are also available to read here: https://lovealyth.org.uk/about-alyth-development-trust/board-minutes/

December minutes now available online

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The minutes of our Directors’ Meeting on 1 December are now available to read online: https://lovealyth.org.uk/about-alyth-development-trust/board-minutes/

Have a look and see what we’re up to at the moment. For more information and to get involved, please come along to our Annual General Meeting this coming Monday, 12 January at Alyth Town Hall – https://alyth.online/listing/alyth-town-hall/ – starting at 7.00pm. Hope to see you there!

ADT funding helps teach Scouts stone-carving

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Alyth’s Scouts are learning new skills as part of a project to create a public sculpture for the Millhaugh community facility, thanks to a grant from Alyth Development Trust’s Community Projects Fund.

Local stonecarver Neil Paterson is running a series of workshops for the Scouts over the next few months, teaching them carving techniques.  They will then help Neil design and create a public sculpture using a specially-selected block of local sandstone, which will celebrate and commemorate the Scouts’ long association with the Millhaugh site.

Stone carver Neil Paterson teaching Scouts the secrets of his craft
Stone carver Neil Paterson teaching Alyth Scouts the secrets of his craft

Millhaugh has been at the heart of Alyth life for centuries, with corn-milling and timber milling providing employment for generations of Alythians right up until the sawmill closed in the 1980s.  ADT raised £170,000 to acquire the site in 2023 and refurbish the former sawmill buildings as a community event facility.

Neil explained:  “We will be creating the sculpture from a lintel recovered from one of the derelict buildings demolished during the refurbishment.  The sculpture will be carved as a legacy piece that will enhance the site, reflect upon the history of the site, celebrate the involvement of the Scouts in the site and encourage the community and visitors to explore and appreciate the site.

“It will be a permanent tangible memorial symbolising the history of the site and in particular the involvement of the Alyth Scouts – very much aided by scout-leader Ron Kirkpatrick, whose family formerly owned the site.  It will also help to raise awareness of stone-carving as a practice and traditional craft historically associated with the local area.”

The Community Projects Fund grant is paying for materials, stone-carving tools and safety equipment for the Scouts, as well as Neil’s time and expertise.  Once this project is complete, Neil will use the equipment for other community groups and individuals to learn new skills.

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/.

More info about the Millhaugh site is here:  https://lovealyth.org.uk/millhaugh-development/

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