funding

New trailer for Alyth Path Network 

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Alyth Path Network’s vital work in maintaining footpaths around the town will be even more effective now thanks to a new trailer bought with a £2000 grant from Alyth Development Trust’s Community Projects Fund.

Alyth Path Network volunteers show off their new equipment trailer.

APN volunteers regularly travel out to ensure local country paths are kept clear and safe for residents and visitors alike.  The new trailer makes it much easier and safer to transport large equipment such as strimmers which previously had to be fitted awkwardly into group members’ cars.

The APN group maintains several miles of paths in the countryside around Alyth, and has also published two “WalkAlyth” leaflets.  More than 3000 copies have been distributed among the local community and the increasing number of walkers who now visit the town throughout the year.  Last year, the APN was voted Alyth Community Group of the Year – a remarkable achievement for a group which has only been in existence for just over a year.

APN founder Ron McGill said:  “Well-maintained and signposted paths give walkers with little navigational experience the confidence to venture out, and walking is now widely acknowledged as a major benefit to health and wellbeing.

“However, local councils no longer have the resources and finance to maintain core paths, and therefore rely on local volunteer groups.  By keeping our local paths in a safe and enjoyable state, we are enabling walkers of all ages and abilities to enhance their physical and mental wellbeing, reduce social isolation, and enjoy the beautiful countryside around Alyth. In addition, local businesses are benefitting from an increase in visitors to the town, which boosts the local economy,” 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/.

Forest Bathing and Mindful Photography Sessions Coming to The Den of Alyth

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Funding from Alyth Development Trust and the Scottish Forestry Wellbeing Fund is supporting an opportunity to slow down, appreciate nature’s peace and view yourself and your surroundings with fresh eyes.

This unique project is running from June 2025 to March 2026 in Alyth Den, merging the quiet, healing practice of “forest bathing” (Shinrin-Yoku) with the creative exploration of “mindful photography.  The project is being run by local forest bathing practitioners Nature Minds and mindful photography specialists Present Focus under the banner A.W.E. (Attuned With Earth).

Monthly sessions led by Dorota Kiedrowska (founder of Nature Minds) and Kelly McIntyre (founder of Present Focus), pictured above, aim to foster health, wellbeing and a deep connection with nature in our community.  Participants will enjoy gentle, guided walks, creative nature art and photography, wild tea ceremonies, relaxation in hammocks and more — all designed to bring respite from daily demands, boost wellbeing and help people appreciate their local woodlands in all seasons.  Open to all — locals, visitors, community and minority groups — everyone is warmly invited to take part.  The programme concludes with a pocket guide and photo exhibition, featuring images taken by participants — a lasting legacy of their experience.

The sessions started in June, and the second is scheduled for 27 July (2pm–5pm).  Additional dates will be revealed in due course.  Registration is essential due to limited spaces.  For more information or to book a place, please visit www.natureminds.co.uk, email dorota@natureminds.co.uk, or phone 07568 477789.

CPF grant promises an even spookier Halloween than last year

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Halloween 2025 in Alyth will be even spookier than last year thanks to a grant from ADT’s Community Projects Fund.  

The Alyth Haunted Scarecrow Trail is set for a spine-tingling return from 28 October until 3 November, aiming to equal or surpass last year’s amazing inaugural show of creativity and imagination from across the town.

Some 55 “haunted scarecrows” adorned Alyth for several days around Halloween 2024, delighting and scaring residents and visitors from all over eastern Scotland.  The scary and humorous creations generated lots of positive publicity for Alyth in the press and on social media, prompting organiser Jilly Henderson to start making plans for another Scarecrow Trail this year.

Jilly explained:  “I had no idea whether any one would want to take part in the first Trail and was preparing myself to be the sole scarecrow-maker.  I was overwhelmed by the response, and although it turned out to be a lot of work, the idea is now firmly rooted in Alyth and I think we’ll hit the ground running a bit more this year.”

Last year’s scarecrows adorned shops, businesses and private dwellings all over the town, and displayed enormous creativity in the range of themes and the variety of materials, many of them recycled – a key part of the concept.

“We’re hoping for a similar or even better result this year,” said Jilly, “and we’re developing plans not just for dozens of scarecrows around the town but also a Haunted Scarecrow Parade, as well as a unique and prestigious trophy for whichever scarecrow is voted the scariest!

“We’re considering outdoor workshops, possibly at the new Millhaugh community space, where people could create bigger ‘parade pieces’ using willow and enlisting the help of experienced craftspeople to make a selection of stunning lightweight sculptures which could be carried as part of the Haunted Scarecrow walk.”

Jilly is inviting volunteers and helpers to get involved and make the 2025 event bigger and better than before.  Get in touch and keep up to date via the Scarecrow Trail Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559511803234

The Community Projects Fund panel has awarded a grant of £2000 to cover materials, promotion, prizes and expenses.

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/.

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/.

ADT helps get the community juggling!

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Adults and children are being given the chance to learn juggling for free, thanks to a grant from our Community Projects Fund.

Nordic Circus performers John and Ansio will be sharing their skills in the Town Hall all next week from Monday to Friday (9-13 December) in specially-designed classes for children.  Sessions for 7-12 year olds will be 4.30pm to 5.00pm, while bigger kids and older kids will be 5.45pm to 6.15pm.

Open pop-in sessions lasting three hours are also on offer during the following week (16-20 December).  Lasting from 4.30pmhese are designed for those who have completed the skill training, and you can come and go for as long or as little as you please: work on your skills, get tuition or just play!

The classes are completely free, with refreshments laid on, and each participant will received a free set of juggling balls.  Why not give it a try?  As well as the mental and physical health benefits of learning a new motor skill, you could also entertain family and friends over the festive season!  Places are limited, so sign up via message or PM at https://www.facebook.com/groups/944562195607741/user/608868296/

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/.

Community Projects Fund helps fight against dog-fouling

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Efforts to combat dog-fouling in Alyth’s streets and public spaces can continue for another two years with help from a grant from ADT’s Community Projects Fund.

The Fund has awarded Alyth Community Council a grant of £2000 over two years to buy poo-bags for its network of six dispensers located around the town.  Community Council member Ian Holland installed the dispensers in May this year and keeps them filled in his spare time.  Each dispenser features a reminder to dog-owners to pick up after their animals and can hold several hundred disposable bags.

ACC member Ian Holland, with Nessie, pictured by the poo-bag dispenser on Springbank

Ian commented:  “The dispensers have been a great success, with hundreds of bags being used by local dog-walkers every month.  We know that the majority of dog-owners are responsible but sometimes might not have a bag on them when needed.  We also hope that the dispensers will encourage the few not-so-responsible owners to c lean up after their dogs.

“We have placed dispensers at the foot of Toutie Street, in the Square, the Wee Park, Jubilee Park, and at Springbank and on Alyth Muir.  The bags, which can be deposited in any of the public litter bins throughout the town, are being well used and making a real difference to the pavements and open spaces.”

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 grant secures AYP meeting space for next three years

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Youngsters enjoying an AYP meeting

Alyth’s young people will continue to have a warm and welcoming meeting space for the next three years, thanks to a grant from Alyth Development Trust (ADT).

ADT’s Community Projects Fund is to donate £6000 to the Alyth Youth Partnership (AYP) to cover half the cost of hiring spaces for its club sessions over the next three years.  AYP uses various venues to create a safe, warm, and welcoming environment for the young people of Alyth. 

George Annan of AYP said:  “We spend just over £4000 a year on rent, which is currently paid for from our core budget.  However, this budget is coming under more pressure with the rise in all other costs incurred in running 14 clubs a week, free of charge and including food, to around 140 different young people every week.

“The ADT funding will allow us to continue providing our service free of charge despite the growing cost of everything that we do. By covering a significant chunk of our core costs, the grant will also allow us to concentrate on fundraising for specific projects safe in the knowledge that the regular bills are covered,” he added.

AYP enhances the quality of life in the town by supporting young people and their families in a number of ways: by giving young people somewhere safe and warm to socialise all year round, to go on trips that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford, and by engaging some of the hardest-to-reach young people in the town.  AYP also provides one-to-one support to young people with additional support needs, and supports many parents to have more effective relationships with their children.

Find out more on AYP’s social media:  https://www.instagram.com/alythyouthpartnership/ and https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064861057263

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/.

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