Glenfarg Community Centre Update

As most of you will know the Hall Committee has reorganised itself so that it is better able to carry out the exciting plans to create a Community Centre. This will bring together the existing Hall and the adjoining Schoolhouse as one building offering a variety of space for community use. In addition to the hired spaces, it is also planned to offer freshly made food from an artisan café during the day and to provide flexible space for all.

Ever since we bought The Schoolhouse in April 2019, the board of trustees has been busy behind the scenes getting prepared to start the refurbishment of the building. After a very successful Open Day in May 2019 we spent an evening with a host of volunteers removing old carpets from the Schoolhouse. Various fundraising activities took place in 2019 too including a Bingo Night, a Kiltwalk  and we received  funds from the fantastic Pantomime which happened just before lockdown. This money is going towards buying the extra bits we need for the centre before it opens. An architect, Matthew Cowan was hired to prepare building warrant drawings & proposed plans which were submitted to Perth & Kinross Council. These were given the go ahead in February 2020 & then COVID hit…and like so many other projects we are now in limbo waiting for a time when the builders can continue the work in a COVID safe environment.

This has not deterred some key outdoor activities - The large sycamore tree towards the garage end of the garden was felled by Treetec in October and the logs split and stacked into 4 potato boxes provided by Robert Doig at Old Fargie. This storage space has been doubled by using pallets donated by Davie Meldrum. We would like to thank Alistair, Robert & Christine Morton and the Glenfarg Scout Group, Colin Campbell and Isabel Nicholson for their help with the fire wood processing. The wood will be used in a stove to be fitted in the new café.

Along with the café, the building itself has rooms for hire to for a variety of clubs, a teenage hub, a lounge and an office workspace. It is hoped in the future to employ a centre manager & to offer breakfast & after school clubs.

While we wait to start the building work, we are looking for input from everyone now as to the garden around the Schoolhouse & what you would like to use the space for. We have a blank canvas at the moment and in this large garden we can imagine lots of functions…. This would be an ideal venue for fetes, weddings, BBQs, craft markets, classes etc. having a large grassy area which will incorporate the Hall garden & can be easily accessed from the car park. We are going to compile a Survey Monkey which will be promoted on the Glenfarg Grapevine Facebook page. We’d love you all to share your thoughts about The Schoolhouse garden.

The Schoolhouse is to be an integral part of our village which along with the adjoining hall will serve Glenfarg for years to come. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of our community being able to meet together and socialise. We are all missing this aspect of village life and are looking forward to when we can get together once again.

Gillian Forbes secretary@glenfargcommunitycentre.com

Fund Raise for the Glenfarg Community Centre!

Our target is to raise £12,500 from village activities. So far we have raised an amazing £8,500.  We still need that bit extra to buy what we will need for the Centre before it opens later this year. Mary McAinsh and Margaret Scott started the ball rolling with their Bingo Night which raised £240 for the Community Centre. Thanks Mary and Margaret! Our weekly Coffee Lounge also raises money for the Centre. Thanks to our volunteers who keep the Lounge going from week to week! The annual Kiltwalk saw five members of the community walking around Edinburgh and raising over £2500 for the Centre.  Thanks to all who took part in this event - and those generous people who sponsored them. The Kiltwalk is a low cost platform for us to raise funds. 140% of the money you raise will go directly to where it is needed most. This is because for every £1 you raise a further 40 pence is added by the Hunter Foundation. Visit www.thekiltwalk.co.uk and choose Glenfarg Community Centre as your charity.  We plan to do the walk again this year. A generous donation has been received from local buseiness, Earnside Coaches.  A big thank you to the Rutherford’s for this.  We have also received a kind donation from the Knitting Group.  Thank you for this. And finally, the wonderful Panto raised an amazing £2,000 for the Community Centre!  Well done to all involved.  This was a tremendous event which sold out over two nights.  Brilliant!

Glenfarg Village Hall/Arngask Hall

Annual General Meeting arrangements

December 2^nd 2020 19.30 (virtual by Zoom)

We have now received from our Independent Examiner the 2020 Annual Report and Accounts for the Hall, and are in a position to put these to our AGM for approval.    The Accounts are available here.

I would like to thank both our Treasurer, Ross Blakie, and our Independent Examiner, David Johnston for the preparation of these Accounts.

Because of the reorganisation of the Village Hall Association into a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (or SCIO) there are two sets of Accounts.  This means there will be two parts to the AGM – one following the other.

These will be on the same date of Wednesday December 2nd starting at 19.30 with the Village Hall Association AGM and followed by Arngask Hall (SCIO) AGM. In addition to the approval of the accounts, the Agenda will include a motion to wind up the Village Hall Association, This was approved in principle at the AGM held on November 26^th 2019. The motion is available to view on the Glenfarg Community Centre website and also appears below. There will also be elections to the Board of Trustees of the SCIO, Arngask Hall.

Remember that the Village Hall membership includes anyone living in the community, whereas the Arngask Hall membership includes only those who have signed up as members. If you wish to join Arngask Hall as a member the application form is available on the Community Centre website.  I would encourage you to do this in advance of the meeting – there is no cost involved.  However, if you are not a member of the SCIO you will only be able to vote on the matters relating to Glenfarg Village Hall Association.

Because of the current restrictions on meetings, the AGM will be held virtually by Zoom invitation.  The invitation will be sent to all Arngask Hall members who have provided an email address.  Anyone else wishing and eligible to attend, and not receiving an email invitation, should email me in advance of the meeting so that I can reply with an invitation. My address is below.  My email invitation will have a link highlighted in blue that you need to click on and open the meeting connection to be admitted to the meeting.

The Agenda for the AGM is below.  I hope you will be able to attend this meeting and if you have any questions please contact me.

Cedric Wilkins, Chairperson