Tell us what you think online

In order to contribute to sustainable economic growth in the Borders, the Council, along with other local bodies, has developed the Our Scottish Borders regional brand. This will help promote the area as a high-quality destination for living, working, studying and visiting, as well as offering first-class opportunities for business investment.

A short online survey is being carried out to gain people’s opinions of thearea and the Our Scottish Borders brand.  

You can have your say by completing the questionnaire, confidentially, at www.surveymonkey.com/ourscottishborders

Everyone who takes part will be entered into a prize draw for a chance to win a Christmas hamper filled with Scottish Borders produce worth £100!

Games champions

They will be among 5000 ambassadors recruited from across the UK by 2012.

Kirsty Hill and Ben Leslie have been appointed as ‘gold’ ambassadors and will lead the Kelso High School ambassador team through the coming year, which includes Anna Ramsay and James Stewart, who were selected as ‘silver’ ambassadors.

Kirsty and Ben attended a training conference in October to prepare them for their role. Some of Britain’s top Olympians and Paralympians were on hand to talk about the importance of London 2012 to young people. 

The four will act as role models – championing sport and the values of the Olympic and Paralympic movement throughout the region.

 

 

For more information

 

New space for business

Anyone interested in developing on the site should contact Alister McDonald on 01835 825060, or amcdonald@scotborders.gov.uk

Council Tax Benefit news

You can get a claim form by telephoning Customer Services on 0300 100 1800, emailing customerservices@scotborders.gov.uk or by visiting your local Council contact centre. You can also use our online benefit calculator at www.scotborders.gov.uk/benefits

£350,000 for Hawick regeneration plans

The Council was successful in its recent bid to the Scottish Government’s Town Centre Regeneration Fund for the final phase of work on west High Street and Silver Street as well as traffic management improvements in Drumlanrig Square. 

Work on these elements, and the finalisation of the one-way system, is expected to be finished by March 2010.

The funding will also support the provision of free wireless internet access (wi-fi) across the town centre.

Wi-fi provision has proven to be a key draw for tourists – encouraging visitors to stop, stay longer and spend money in the town. 

Signs for visitors will also be improved, to make sure they fully explore the various attractions and shops in the area. 

The success of the project will be assessed by looking at business figures and visitor numbers as well as feedback from local residents.

 

For more information

 

Looking out for children

Did you know that there are child protection guidelines on the internet?

If you are concerned about a child or you work with children either in paid employment or as a volunteer, you can get up to date with the latest guidance online.

For more information

Visit www.brightnewfutures.org.uk and click on Child Protection Committee

Business programme update

The new initiative will help build awareness of public procurement and contract opportunities by providing information, specialist advice and training to help businesses become more capable of tendering for contracts.

Events being planned include training for writing tender submissions and a series of ‘meet the buyer’ surgeries to give businesses an opportunity to speak directly to procurement officers.

To gain free access to the full range of support, log on to www.sdpscotland.co.uk and register your business details.

 

For more information

 

A fun way to get active urged for all

The Active Schools team has produced an annual training programme aimed at teachers, parents and senior pupil volunteers to give them the knowledge, skills and confidence to get involved in the Active Schools programme.

Gary MacBeath, Assistant Active Schools Manager, said: “The training is fun and rewarding and gives volunteers a range of ideas on how to adapt activities to make them easier for some children or more difficult to challenge others.

“If people want to find out more they should get in touch with their local Active Schools Co-ordinator who they can contact through their school or from the SportBorders website.”

The team is responsible for developing and supporting an infrastructure for physical activity and sport within schools. Co-ordinators recruit, train and support a network of volunteers who in turn deliver extra-curricular physical activity and sport before, during and after school.

For more information

For a full list of courses available in your area, get in touch with your local Active Schools Co-ordinator via the school or www.sportborders.org.uk/active-schools.html or call Gary on 07799 341041.

Hugh’s at the gate to help

When not on site at client premises, Hugh will split his time between Council HQ and the Business Gateway offices based at Ettrick Riverside in Selkirk.

For more information

If you have a creative business and would like to know more about the support available, contact Hugh on 01835 826 773, 07827 955 886 or email hugh.williams@bgateway.com

Migrant support

It works closely with partners including the Council, NHS Borders, the Police, Borders College and Job Centre plus to provide a huge range of advice and support.

The service can also refer migrants on to other relevant agencies for help with employment, healthcare, housing, financial issues and English classes. It can also provide an interpreter.

 

For more information

Contact Magda Wójcicka, Migrants’ Support Service, The Weaving Shed, Ettrick Mill, Dunsdale Road, Selkirk TD7 5EB. Call 01750 724077, email migrantsupport@eildon.org.uk or visit www.newtotheborders.co.uk

 

Grants are available

The scheme for this year still has funding available in all five Area Committee areas of the Borders and funding can be accessed easily by completing an application form.

The scheme can provide funding of up to £5000 and has been a resounding success in recent years, benefiting groups in every area of the Scottish Borders. Last year, 103 community groups received support.

 

For more information

 

Network for carers

Borders Learning Network has been created for everyone working in care and support services and for care providers including statutory, private and voluntary organisations.

The network is a central point of contact for information about training for the care sector in the Scottish Borders.

Anyone interested in training is welcome to join the network. Users can find out about current and planned local courses or post information about other courses they’re aware of.

It also offers a forum for exchange of information on training and a place to share news of national events.

For more information

You can join the network in three easy steps at Yahoo Groups by sending an email to borderslearningnetwork-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

For more information or to speak to someone about training, email the network co-ordinator Joan Lawson at joan@bvccf.org.uk

In brief

Research has shown that path networks contribute to the health of communities and provide opportunities to enjoy and learn about the countryside as well as boosting tourism.

The countryside around Newcastleton is home to roe deer, brown and mountain hares, feral goats, otters, badgers, hen harriers and red squirrels. Wild flowers are also in abundance.

The booklet is available from all tourist information centres across the Borders and outlets in Newcastleton.

For more information

 

In brief

Your property could be one of those considered at risk of flooding from rivers and the sea. It is your responsibility to protect your property and be prepared to take action – which is vital.

Help is available from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, which has a number of flood warning schemes including the Eye Water, Liddel Water and River Tweed. All other areas, including coastal communities, are covered by the Flood Watch service.

Next spring, SEPA will launch a service called Flood Warnings Direct to deliver messages free to registered landlines and mobiles about flooding. If you already receive SEPA’s flooding alerts via the Scottish Borders Council Flood Warning service, you will be moved to the new system when it goes live and receive information directly about this prior to any changes.

For more information

SEPA’s Floodline service is operational 24 hours a day. Call 0845 988 1188 or go to www.sepa.org.uk/flooding

Hundreds join in at football festival

Nearly 300 local boys and girls played on the day, which was organised by Scottish FA Regional Development Officers.

The Bank of Scotland Soccer One is a national network of football activity which aims to create new football teams in schools for boys and girls, regardless of ability. 

Scottish FA Development Officer for the Borders, Dougie Anderson, said: “Soccer One allowed us to bring all these teams together for the first time after two years of establishing the initiative in the area.

“There has been huge demand for Soccer One in the area. Even schools new to the project, such as Earlston, attracted more than 100 pupils to their training sessions.

“Support to help fund transport for the pupils from the various areas has also been vital to its success.”

For more information

Visit www.sportborders.org.uk or contact the Sports Development Unit on 01896 756274.