OUR NEWS AND EVENTS
F&BV CDT's Annual Fair Day!
Staff at F&BV CDT would like to thank absolutely everyone who supported us at (our rather misty) Annual Fair Day in Eastfield Development Centre on Saturday 7 September. We made over £800 on the day and over 400 people attended through the day!
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Thanks to Albert Mancini for taking the photos, all the stallholders who attended including First Aid, the entertainers including Zoe's Face Painting & Balloons For Any Event, Silvano, Think Circus, Optimal Events Hire with the DJ, Football Buzz, Euan Black for live music, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service for taking time to attend with one of their appliances.
We also thank all the fabulous volunteers including mascots, the trishaw pilots, those who supported us on the tombola and in the kitchen providing snacks and refreshments, those who helped set up and then dismantle tables, gazebos and general clearing up. We couldn't do it without your help!
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Thanks also to the communities for coming along to our annual event. We really appreciate your support, as we realise the weather wasn't ideal this year!
Until next year....
Summer Programme fun at Eastfield Development Centre
The Summer Programme 2024 at Eastfield Development Centre was held on Monday 8 July to Thursday 1 August, Monday - Thursday from 11am-2pm and was a great success.
All activities were free and lunch was included. The programme targeted at P1-P7 included a variety of sports, beauty, arts, crafts, pottery, dance and more. 103 different children attended over the four week programme.
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Thanks to all the children who attended and to those who provided activities for the programme.
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British Heart Foundation Defibrillator installed
We are please to say that the defibrillator donated by the British Heart Foundation is in its cabinet at the front of Eastfield Development Centre, 2 Eastfield Road, Fauldhouse.
It has been registered on The Circuit (the UK’s national defibrillator network) and is available for community use 24/7.
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I'm sure you'll agree that this will be of huge benefit to the local community and hope it can help save lives.
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The BHF’s free digital training tool can teach you to save a life in 15 minutes with just your phone and a cushion,
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'Many of us will witness a cardiac arrest in our lifetime. Be ready for that day. The BHF’s digital training tool – RevivR, teaches you vital CPR skills and how to use a defibrillator in just 15 minutes on your mobile phone or tablet. Created by our medical experts, the tool will take you through a real-life scenario, so you feel prepared for an emergency. You never know when you'll need to give someone CPR, so learn today by taking the training at this link
Struggling? Eastfield Community Shop is
now open!
F&BV CDT have opened a new community shop at Eastfield Development Centre. Are you struggling with the high cost of living at the moment? If so, the Eastfield Community Shop could be the place for you.
If you live in Fauldhouse or the Breich Valley, please come along to the Community Shop at Eastfield Development Centre, 2 Eastfield Road, Fauldhouse, EH47 9LE.
The Eastfield Community Shop is open on
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Tuesdays 10am-12pm,
Fridays 9am-10am and
Fridays 6m-7pm (new time).
There is £1 membership/week entitling you to one visit per week for your food shop at greatly discounted prices but also unlimited visits for ‘free foods’. For example, pay your £1 and get Greggs items free on a Friday evening. The Eastfield Community Shop has bread, eggs, fruit and vegetables, frozen meat, tins and ambient Toiletries are available and much more.
Call Alex on 01501 229 645 during shop opening hours or just pop into EDC or The Hub for more information. The shop also has a Facebook page @eastfieldcommunityshop
You can also contact The Hub on 01501 773 699 for a wide range of information, support and advice services.
Barista training with Burnside School at
The Hub
F&BV CDT have worked in partnership with Burnhouse School (Skills Centre) to provide Barista training and work experience to the pupils at our weekly 'Coffee and Chat' morning on the newly installed Barista machine in The Hub.​
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A huge thankyou and well done to the students and teachers of Burnhouse School for their Barista coffee service (with a smile). It has been very well received.
Thanks also to everyone from the community who has supported this project and popped into The Hub for a cuppa and a blether on a Thursday morning.
One visitor's comment was that the coffee was '...better than Starbucks!'
Barista coffee is available at The Hub (during term time) on a Tuesday and a Thursday morning from 10am-12pm. Just drop-in and support the young people involved!
F&BV CDT's newsletter
Here's the most recent edition of F&BV CDT's newsletter, Fauldhouse and Breich Valley Together. If you live in Fauldhouse or any of the Breich Valley villages, you should have received your copy through your letterbox.
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Fear not if you didn't receive a copy, please see PDF link below for a digital version for you to download.
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Download our last newsletter here.
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If you wish copies of previous newsletters, please contact lesley.dunsmore@fauldhouse.org.uk
F&BV CDT Statement
Eastfield Development Centre is a key community resource and that will not change.
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As Chair of the Board of Trustees of Fauldhouse and Briech Valley Community Development Trust (F&BV CDT) I am aware of the negative social media posts and a petition that is circulating in the community from an ex-Trustee.
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While it is hugely disappointing that a former Board colleague is bringing the charity into disrepute in this way, I want to reassure the community that there is no need for a petition. We keep a record of all applications submitted, we are more than happy to discuss how the Trust operates and we plan a community open day at Eastfield Development Centre.
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The event is being held to highlight our plans, gather the communities ideas and suggestions, and to let people see the improvements made to the centre. There will be an opportunity to speak with staff, volunteers, Board members and partner organisations.
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The trust spent 10 years negotiating the asset transfer of the Eastfield Development Centre from West Lothian Council and we remain dedicated to its development as a valued community resource.
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The original funding for the asset transfer (WLC offset the purchase costs of the building) and redevelopment of the Eastfield Development Centre was secured (over the years) from The Scottish Land Fund, West Lothian Council, Coalfields Regeneration Trust, West Lothian Development Trust, Leavenseat Trust, among others.
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The Hub Manager, and the Board of F&BV CDT, were actively working with partners to transfer the asset (Eastfield Development Centre) for the benefit of the community, long before any current manager for Eastfield had been recruited. Since then, a varied and community led programme has been in place at Eastfield.
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Currently we are renovating the centre to improve the facilities and offer a greater programme of activities. We are delighted that a local contractor secured the current redevelopment contract and is providing young people with skills training. We will continue to support the skills training provided and develop (for example) our Youth Pathway Project at Eastfield Development Centre.
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I can categorically assure the community that work at the Eastfield Development Centre will continue and the new refurbished centre will open within the next few weeks, with the user groups welcomed back to a premises that is fit for purpose.
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Everyone will be aware of the funding situation for charities at the moment. It is dire. So when the current manager's contract came to an end in April 2024, we were not in a financial position to be able to underwrite the continuation of this salary.
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We agreed as a Board to continue to pay the former manager, following the end of his contract period for a continued period of leave from our very slender reserves to give him time to secure another position, for which we wish him every success.
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If anyone in the community would like to discuss the Eastfield Development Centre or the broader work of the trust, please contact manager Julie Smith. You can call 01501 773 699 email: julie.smith@fauldhouse.org.uk or you can call into The Hub or Eastfield Development Centre.
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F&BV CDT is a charity that is managed by the members, a board of Trustees, who are elected at the Annual General Meeting. The Trustees must be local to the area. If you wish to be involved with our work and to shape our strategy and business plan for the community, please join us, become a member: contact details above or go to our website: www.fauldhouse.org.uk for further information.
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Thank you.
Robert Russell, Chair of F&BV CDT
13/04/24