Votes sought as groups vie for cash grant

More than 1,200 community groups were nominated to be shortlisted for the Community Fund cash across Scotland, but these have been cut down to 232, with four in each area receiving funding.

The public’s votes will decide the amount awarded, with the group with the most votes in each area receiving £3,000, the next £2,000 and then £1,000 and £500 for those with the third and fourth highest number of votes.

Votes can be cast on the Bank of Scotland Community Fund website, via Twitter, by text or in Bank of Scotland branches.

Shortlisted groups in the Borders are: Borders Children’s Charity, Children 1st Selkirk, Eyemouth and District Amateur Swimming Club, Kelso High School Girls Hockey Club, MS Society Borders, Newcastleton First Responders, and Riding for the Disabled Borders.

Borders Children’s Charity has said that it would use the money to help provide children living in stressful, chaotic and abusive situations the chance to enjoy respite experiences.

Children 1st has said it would use the funding to help the resource centre in Selkirk provide trauma and abuse recovery services to 100 children in the Borders who have experienced physical, mental and/or sexual abuse.

The provision of higher quality coaching and an increase in members is targeted by Eyemouth Swimming Club, which states that the club helps enhance children’s swimming abilities, builds confidence and improves health and wellbeing.

Also on the sporting theme, Kelso High School’s hockey team would use any funding received to help meet transport costs for its eight teams and buy new goalkeeper protection kit.

The MS Society Borders branch support people in the central Borders affected by multiple sclerosis and would use the £3,000 to support up to 70 people each month by providing physiotherapy and complimentary therapies, as well as providing pilates classes in three Borders towns.

The £3,000 top award would help Newcastleton First Responders train as many individuals and groups in the community as possible in ‘HeartStart’ techniques and also help cover the costs of supplying two defibrillators for public use at strategic points in the local area.

And finally, the RDA Borders Group would use the money to help increase the number of riders who can benefit from their services.

The group provides an opportunity for disabled children and adults from across the central Borders to ride under supervision at their indoor school near Jedburgh.