Each year Pencaitland Community Council seeks to give financial help towards the work of local groups. If you run, or know those running, a local community organisation read on to find out how to apply.
Pencaitland Scouts were just one of eight local community groups to benefit from Community Council support in 2013.Each year Pencaitland’s Community Council seeks to make available funds to help support the efforts of local groups working for and with members, young and old, of the local community around Pencaitland, New Winton and Glenkinchie. Typically these are only small sums of money as the Community Council itself receives very limited funding support from East Lothian Council.
Last year the Community Council was able to award between £100 and £200 to eight different groups active in the area. Examples of past support include funds to New Winton and Boggs Holdings for maintenance of local community halls, cash towards books for Pencaitland Parish Church, money to assist the local Rainbows Pack and many other beneficiaries over the years.
If you work with a local group in the community, to be considered for funding support we ask for the following:
What does your group do in the community?
How much do you require?
What will the funds you are seeking be used for?
Whilst we cannot guarantee that the Community Council will be able to meet funding requests, we will do our best to allocate what we do have as fairly as possible.
How to Apply
The Community Council will consider all requests it receives before the 15th of February. Please email your funding request to chair@pencaitland.org or, if you would like to discuss it first you can contact any of the Community Council members or call the Chair Ralph Averbuch on 01875 340 641.
Since October 2012 Pencaitland has seen the return of both Cub and Beaver Scouts. Now plans are being made to launch Scouts for older kids.
Pencaitland 1st Scouts aims to bring a Scout troop for 10 to 14 year olds to Pencaitland… but it needs adult helpers to make it a reality.Scouting is a great way for both boys and girls to learn a wide range of practical and inter-personal skills as they grow into young adults. Now with troupes for both six to eight year olds and eight to ten, the next phase is the launch of a full Scout troop for kids ranging from ten and a half up to 14 years of age.
The Scout Troop forms the senior section of Scout Groups. Since 2003 it has been open to ten and a half to 14 year olds. This Troop is the longest running section within the UK organisation, although it was originally termed the Scout Patrol when the movement started back in 1907.
Local organiser Ken McNight is keen to talk to any parents or other adult helpers willing or able to spare their time, however limited, to help bring this next stage of the Scouting movement back to the village.
Meeting Planned
A meeting is planned for the 11th of December in the Winton Arms at 8pm in order to recruit a team of people keen to make this happen. It’s only through volunteers that have helped out to date that we already enjoy both Cubs and Beavers Scouts. Now it’s your chance to get all three local Scout sections based back in Pencaitland.
Please come along on the 11th and help make this next step a reality. Don’t assume that someone else will step up and make it happen. Sadly that’s what contributed to the previous demise of Scouts in Pencaitland over ten years ago. Everyone who wants to help is very welcome and very much needed, and the more that help the easier it is and the less each person will need to do individually.
If you can’t make it to the meeting on the 11th please contact Ken directly on his email at kenneth@commsworld.com.
Ian Archer was kind enough to bring along some of his lab-coated colleagues from Ingenza to last night’s Halloween Cubs night in Trevelyan Hall, treating the kids to practical hands-on experiments and a small fireworks display.
There were also prizes for the best pumpkin designs.
If you don’t see the photos below you can view them here.
Pencaitland Scout Group has been through a very exciting period with increasing numbers of children and adult volunteers since being revived in 2012.
Pencaitland is seeking a Group Scout Leader. Could you help? Click to find out more about the role…The Scouts now need a Group Scout Leader (GSL). This is a volunteer manager role that is responsible for leading the Scout Group and ensuring that our youngsters get the best quality Scouting possible.
How can I help?
The search is now on for a new GSL. Since the scouts returned to the village it’s become clear that there are some amazing people within and outside the Group and the Scout movement is keen to ensure that everyone gets the opportunity to nominate people they feel could take on this role and make that crucial difference.
You are being invited to contribute to this search by submitting a nomination, (or nominations), of persons, including yourself, who you feel should be considered for this important and rewarding role.
As well as considering those for nomination the Scouting movement is asking you to share this information with your contacts and encourage them to nominate candidates for this role.
Who can I nominate?
Self nominations are actively encouraged and expected. If you believe you can bring the right skills and expertise to the role and you are enthusiastic and motivated then why not nominate yourself? If you don’t, and are not nominated by someone else, you may miss out.
To nominate others or yourself please complete this Nomination Form and either post or email it to Scott Burton. You can also contact Scott Burton, Local Development Officer for South East Scotland Scouts, or Liz Wilson, District Commissioner for East Lothian Scout District, to have an informal chat about the role and what it entails.
It does not matter if the individual you want to nominate is new to Scouting. Scouting has a comprehensive adult training scheme which can provide training and support for anyone new to the role, enabling the individual to develop. What is important is for them to bring the leadership and skills that will continue to move the Pencaitland Scout Group from strength to strength.
What’s in it for me?
In the role of GSL you can make a real difference to local young people by working with a team of like-minded volunteers to deliver Scouting. You will be responsible for ensuring each adult has what they need to be confident in their role, whilst being able to fit the role around your availability – you don’t need to be down at the Group every week nor do any direct youth work! To get you up to speed you will have access to training relevant to the role and will receive an induction, as well as on-going support from the team at Scouts Scotland.
More information on the role
Click above for more details [PDF]
The postal address for nominations is:
Scott Burton
South East Scotland Scouts
15 Valleyfield Street
Edinburgh
EH3 9LP
The search will close on 29th November 2013 so please ensure your nomination is in in good time.
What happens next?
Nominations will be reviewed by the search team and a shortlist drawn up for interview. If you are unsure or would like a non-committal chat about the role, or any nominations you wish to make, then please do contact either Scott or Liz to discuss further.
Due to a change of circumstances the Community Council’s Secretary, Susan Spilsbury, has had to step down from her role.
Due to a change in circumstance Susan Spilsbury has to step down as Pencaitland’s Community Council SecretaryThis means your Community Council is on the lookout for someone able to take on the post. It includes a modest allowance.
Pencaitland Community Council, which also covers Boggs Holdings, New Winton and Peastonbank/Glenkinchie, represents your local community, seeking to liaise with other local bodies and East Lothian Council. This includes ten Community Council meetings a year which usually take place on the last Wednesday evening of the month.
The role itself involves minuting the Community Council’s ten meetings and managing and re-distributing correspondence. This is increasingly via email. You can see a recent example of the Community Council’s minutes here.
In recent years the Community Council has made much greater use of the web and social media to update the local population of news and events. In addition to pencaitland.org on the web, the Community Council can be found on both Facebook and Twitter. Whilst not part of the post, training will be given to any Secretary interested in this area.
If you would like to know more about what’s involved please contact Susan Spilsbury to discuss the role. Susan steps down shortly but would be delighted to tell those interested in the post about what’s involved. She can be contacted initially by emailing secretary@pencaitland.org.
Both of Pencaitland’s Brownie packs are under the threat of closure due to a lack of adult volunteers to keep them going.
Could you spare a few hours of your time to ensure that Brownies survives in Pencaitland?Last year, after a ten year hiatus, the Scouts returned to Pencaitland thanks to the efforts of local volunteers keen to revive a long tradition of Cub and Beaver packs in the community. The response to its return has been excellent with a number of mums, dads and other adult volunteers coming forward to make the Scouts revival a real success story.
But now a similar threat hangs over both the 1st and 2nd Pencaitland Brownies. By Christmas, if adult volunteers don’t come forward to assist in the running of the Brownie packs they will shut up shop, leaving the village and surrounding area without a place for girls to go, to learn a range of invaluabe social and life skills outside of a school and home environment.
Can you make a difference?
Do you think you could spare some time to help save the local Brownies? If you do then call 01875 341 289. You can also learn more about the Girl Guiding movement, including its aims and objectives here.
We are delighted to report that recent efforts to fill the vacancy for a new person to take on the role of Community Council Secretary were successful. The community’s new Secretary is Susan Spilsbury.
Susan Spilsbury joins Pencaitland Community Council as its Secretary.Recently the post of Community Council Secretary became vacant when long-time Community Councillor, and Secretary for the last twelve months, Nicky Neighbour stepped down from her role after many years of great service.
Fortunately for the Community Council Susan saw the recently advertised position in Pencaet News, the local church’s newsletter, and got in touch to offer her services.
Amongst other things Susan is currently a volunteer for Pencaitland Day Centre and as Committee Secretary for the older people. In her 16 years living in Pencaitland, Susan has also been involved in the Mothers & Toddler Group (Secretary), Playgroup (Treasurer then Playleader), Rainbows (Leader), Operation Christmas Child (Local Organiser)and Pencaitland Church (Sunday Club Leader).
Susan can be contacted on the email secretary@pencaitland.org. Further information on all members of Pencaitland Community Council can be found on the Members page.
Want to get involved?
We are searching for new blood to join the team. We need more voices on issues which directly affect you and your local environment. If you care about local matters then take the next step – come along to your local community council and see if you’d like to become a co-opted member.
Interested? Next Steps
Want to know more? Contact the current Community Council Chair, Ralph Averbuch, on 01875 340 641 or 07920 094 923 to discuss how you can get involved. Or you can email chair@pencaitland.org.
This is your chance to represent your local community and directly affect the way it develops in the future. Come along and be part of the team.
The Community Council has recently been approached by village members keen to see both a local garden club and possibly garden open days take place in and around Pencaitland.
Are you a keen gardener? Would you like to works with others of a similar mind to help improve the community environment by sharing your skills, knowledge and expertise?
The Community Council is keen to hear from you if you would like to help. Please send your contact information to website@pencaitland.org or phone 01875 340 641.
