Community is set for what’s on showcase
A showcase event offering community groups in Blairgowrie and Rattray the chance to highlight their work will take place in Blairgowrie Town Hall later this year.
The event, which will take place on Sunday, October 16, from 2pm to 4pm in the Brown Street venue, is being organised by Blairgowrie and Rattray Development Trust (BRDT) as part of its community engagement work.
More than 40 community groups and organisations have already signed-up to take part in the event, which will see a range of information stalls and tables set up in the hall for people to visit and chat to the volunteers involved about they work they are doing.
Among those taking part are the local Boys’ Brigade battalion, Blairgowrie and Rattray GirlGuiding Association, Blairgowrie Ramblers Association, Rattray and District Women’s Institute, the Freedom Coach
Association, Blairgowrie and Rattray Access Network, the local Climate Café, Blairgowrie Riding for the Disabled Association, BOOKMARK, the Rotary Club of Blairgowrie, as well as many more.
There will also be a presentation about the town’s community action plan and the progress that is being made by groups and organisations in working towards the aims and objectives set out in the plan and which local residents highlighted as being of the most importance to them.
The event will be followed by BRDT’s AGM, which is open to members of the public so that anyone who wishes to find out more about the work of the Trust has the opportunity to do so – although only Trust members can vote on any decisions made on the day.
Teresa Donaldson, chair of BRDT, said “Blairgowrie and Rattray has 142 community groups and organisations and we are there to support them in their efforts to make the town a thriving and attractive place to live in, work in and visit.
“As part of this support and our
community engagement work, we wanted to do something to showcase all the great work that is going on in the town and have been delighted by the response to the event, which is nearly full already.
“After two years of Covid restrictions, we also felt such an event would be useful for people who live in the town or who have recently moved to the area, reminding folk what is going on, what has been achieved by groups and organisations over the past couple of years, and what’s coming up.
“It also provides people with an opportunity to get involved in any projects or initiatives that they might be interested in, should they wish to.”
Teresa continued: “We will also have a presentation about the community action plan to show how all the work going on in the town fits with the community’s aspirations as laid out in the plan, which was launched last year following an extensive consultation exercise.
“The BRDT AGM will be held on the same day after the main event, and we would be delighted if as many people as possible were able to stay for that as well.
“It is a great opportunity for people to come along, get an update on what is happening and let us know their thoughts.”
Award-winning environmental
group Blair in Bloom has been working closely with the development trust over the past few years on a number of initiatives, including during the purchase for the town of the Rattray Community Garden at Mount Ericht.
Chair Mary Birch said: “Blair in Bloom is about so much more than hanging baskets and pots and planters, and a huge amount of volunteer work goes into ensuring the town is looking its best all year round.
“Thanks to support from BRDT we were able to successfully apply for funding and secure a plot of land for the community which would otherwise have been sold off to developers.
“The community garden in Rattray is still very much a work in progress but it is already being used by other community groups and initiatives such as the local Climate Café, the BaRI Food Store and the bench trail, benefiting an increasing number of people.
“After more than two years of Covid restrictions we’re very much looking forward to this event and being able to share with the local community everything that has been going on and our plans for the garden in the future.”
Refreshments will be available throughout the afternoon.
Anyone who is interested in finding out more about the event should contact the Trust by emailing admin@ discoverblairgowrie.co.uk.