Aspiring West Lothian
WCDT was part of a consortium of voluntary organisations in West Lothian who were successful in applying for the European Social Fund Aspiring Communities Fund. This allowed each of the five areas to employ a full time development worker for 18 months. The main aims of each development worker is to help support their organisation and other local groups to develop projects for the community. Within his time here our development worker David has been involved in supporting and developing many projects for the community.
David has helped support the reestablishment of the Friends of Polkemmet group
The Friends of Polkemmet group are a group of volunteers who would like to help improve the park by having work party sessions where members of the community are welcomed to help improve areas of the park by cutting back vegetation. The group are also keen to support other events within the park as well to attract more members of the community to visit and use the facilities their local park offers.
Walking Football
Our Development worker secured funding from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust to be able to deliver weekly walking football sessions in Partnership with West Lothian Youth Foundation which means that these Weekly sessions are free to participate in.
These sessions are Every Thursday morning at Whitburn Community Centre 10.30 to 11.30 and participants stay afterwards for a chance to catch up and whilst have a cup of tea and a biscuit.
Whitburn Youth Project
David has been working in Partnership with pupils at Whitburn Academy to organise and deliver a community ceilidh which took place on Sunday the 3rd of February at Whitburn Juniors Football Club, the event was highly successful and enjoyed by all that attended. The Bass Rock Ceilidh band were fantastic and had everyone on their feet all night.
Financial Inclusion Project
We are working in close partnership with Citizens Advice Bureau to secure funding to employ a Citizens advice financial inclusion worker full time who will be based in Whitburn at our premises. They will be able to deliver 1 to 1 advice and financial capability workshops. We are still in the process of trying to secure funding, however we will keep you up to date.
Community Garden
We are also working in close partnership with the Inclusion and Wellbeing service (formally known as Burnhouse School) to bring a part of unused land into community use by turning it in to a community garden, where we will aim to grow fresh produce for our local foodbank. This is another project that is in the process of being developed and we will keep you up to date.