Spring 2014 - Langholm Online

The Langholm
Initiative
Newsletter
Spring 2014
A Foreword from the Chair
Welcome to the Spring 2014 edition of our newsletter, which I hope you will find informative.
2013 has been another busy year in Langholm, both for The Langholm Initiative and for the many other groups, organisations and volunteers that help make Langholm and Eskdale a great place to live. As will be seen throughout this
newsletter, there is a great deal of good work being delivered in the area, but we still need to be aware of the need to
equip ourselves for the many changes facing Langholm and Eskdale in the medium and long term future – changes in
our economy, in public services and healthcare, and in the make-up of our local community. This need was clearly
identified in the ‘Langholm and Eskdale – The Way Forward’ study in 2013 (see page 3 of this newsletter).
Following on from the study, the Langholm Initiative, in partnership with key local organisations including Langholm,
Ewes and Westerkirk Community Council and The Eskdale Foundation, is now looking at ways of developing an
organisation that is custom-made to take the development of the area forward over the next 20 years, possibly including the formation of a Community Development Trust (see page 4). One of our key tasks in 2014 will be to take this
process forward.
The Future
Despite having major setbacks with the loss of jobs in the community and the hammer blow of losing our last remaining Care Home facility, there are positives to take forward:
The David Stevenson Trust has generously pledged to fund the building of a new purpose-built Care Home and
efforts are being made to secure a suitable site within the town to enable this project to go ahead.
Those of you who have read the Langholm and Eskdale Advertiser will no doubt have seen that the Health Board are
reviewing the potential for building a new combined cottage hospital and health centre facility within Langholm.
Both of these projects will be major assets within the community of Langholm and Eskdale for years to come and ensure the stability of our core service provision as well as providing secure job opportunities to replace those lost.
And finally .......being a peripheral community makes us more vulnerable to budget cuts and the reshaping of service
provision by the Local Authority and NHS. On the other hand it also throws up opportunities for us as a community to
take on some of the tasks ourselves. I do know that these organisations are willing for us to take on certain commissions if we can demonstrate that we have the ability and wherewithal to manage these. I feel that we have that potential provided that we organise ourselves through the vehicle of a Development Trust whereby this body acts as an
overarching organisation giving one point of contact for the interface between the Local Authority , Health Service and
the Third Sector .
This plan would be radical and bold but would give the community of Langholm and Eskdale more control and say over
future planning , decision-making and service provision. As alluded to in my introduction these issues are presently
being discussed with all of the key organisations within the community to find a way forward to achieve that goal. Rest
assured that the community at large will be given the opportunity to be involved in that debate within the near
future.
In an ever changing world we need to understand that we have to also make
changes in order that we secure a more stable and sustainable community
for the following generation and their children. I have every confidence that
as a community we have the skills, enthusiasm and capacity to make this
happen.
David Yarrow, Chairman
Supported by
About the Langholm Initiative
The Langholm Initiative was initially set up in 1994, to help the town recover from the closure of many of the local mill
industries. Since then, we have broadened our remit, and the organisation now supports a range of activities that help
the social, physical and economic development of the area. Our goals are:
We are supported by Dumfries and Galloway Council in the form of an annual grant (which covers a part of our basic
running costs for the organisation and premises) but the majority of our income now comes from subscriptions, contracts
and from the range of projects that we manage on behalf of the community. Over the past 5 years, these projects have
included Making the Most of the Moorlands, Stayin' Alive, Powerdown, Climate Challenge, the Langholm Heritage, Thomas Telford and Prehistoric Trails, Galaside Wood, Shop Local, Tourist Information, and Bonnie Langholm.
The chart gives a snapshot of our income sources over the past
five years. It’s important to note that the grant income for projects
is all secured competitively from regional, national and international sources that provide investment across wide areas, on the
basis of the merits of individual projects - so to put it simply, if we
hadn’t got the money for Langholm and Eskdale, it would have
gone somewhere else! Over the past 5 years this equates to
around £597,000 (or £222 per person) that has been put into the
local community —matched against £143,400 in core
funding from Dumfries and Galloway Council.
Income to the Langholm Initiative, 2008-2013
This is, of course, all supported by a huge volunteer effort from our local community – Including the Initiative Board,
alongside dozens of others who operate the Tourist Information Centres, maintain the wonderful floral displays for Bonnie Langholm, participate in the annual Spring Clean, and a huge range of other tasks. Without the efforts of these volunteers, many of the activities that the Initiative supports, and that contribute to making Langholm and Eskdale such a vibrant and attractive place to live, could simply not go ahead
The Initiative also works to provide a voice for Langholm and Eskdale. As well as working closely with the Langholm
and Westerkirk Community Council, we build strong partnerships with organisations across Dumfries and Galloway,
and further afield, – Including Third Sector First, who support community and voluntary organisations across Dumfries
and Galloway; LifeSkills, delivering back-to-work support for people with employment problems; and Business Gateway, who provide advice and support for people looking to start up or develop their business. These partnerships are
helping to ensure that Langholm remains very much ’on the map’
This Newsletter gives an overview of just some of the projects that the Initiative has delivered in the past 12 months, plus
some of the other great work that's been going on in the area—The completion of The ‘Stayin Alive’ project, which has
established some of the key reasons why younger people are leaving the area; The Shop Local scheme over the Christmas period, encouraging people to sample the wonderful range of shopping right here in the Town; and the revamping of
the Town Hall Gallery, alongside its year-long programme of exhibitions which attracted over 800 additional visitors to
the facility. May 2013 also saw the overwhelming success of the first Muckle Toon Adventure Festival. The Festival dreamt-up and delivered from scratch by a team of local outdoor enthusiasts - attracted over 800 competitors, with many
more supporters and spectators, to the town to enjoy the fantastic local countryside...and get very muddy! 2014 also
sees the fifth year of Making the Most of the Moorlands, our multiple award-winning project that raises awareness of
our fantastic local landscape and wildlife.
One Voice
Working together to put
the third sector first
Third Sector First (TSF) is a charitable organisation that provides a voice for the Third Sector across Dumfries and Galloway. What is now commonly known as the Third Sector refers to any group that delivers services, support or help to it’s
local community on a not-for-profit basis, including:
Charities
Community groups and projects
Social enterprises
Voluntary organisations and volunteers
Co-operatives and mutual associations
We work to promote, develop and assist all such organisations and their work across the region, by
 Supporting and developing a strong third sector
 Developing Social Enterprise
 Developing volunteers and volunteering
 Connecting the third sector to community planning
In 2014, The Langholm Initiative is representing Third Sector Voice in the Langholm and Eskdale Area. Any voluntary, community or charitable group seeking advice and support can contact us directly (details on back page) or
alternately go to www.thirdsectorfirst.org.uk to find out more.
Langholm and Eskdale - The Way Forward
In 2012 and 2013, Langholm and Eskdale were the subject of a ground-breaking survey, which asked the community what THEY wanted to see happen in the area over the next 20 years. The project, ’Langholm and Eskdale—
The Way Forward’ was undertaken by the Langholm Initiative in partnership with Putting You First, the Langholm and Eskdale Community Council, the Eskdale Foundation and CADISPA (Conservation and Development In Sparsely Populated Areas) - a nationally recognised research organisation.
The study, which involved the participation of over 500 local people, gave some clear indications about what was
important to local people, and in response, four task groups have been created to take forward some key areas of
concern where an immediate impact can be made . After a lot of initial work from committed community members,
at the end of January 2014, these groups met to develop action plans and are now taking these forward:
Tourism
Encouraging visitors to the area
Renewable Energy
Developing renewable energy for
the benefit of the local community
Communication
Keeping the community informed
High Street Regeneration
Improving the high street and it’s offer to
locals and visitors
l
Substantial progress has already been made, with (amongst other activities) the launching of a Visitor Network for
the area; development plans for a community garden; proposals for a new community websites and noticeboards;
and plans to roll out the successful ‘Shop Local’ scheme throughout the year in 2014.
Further information or a copy of the ‘Way Forward’ report are available at www.langholmonline.co.uk or contact the Langholm Initiative (details on back page)
Making the Most of Moorlands is a Langholm Initiative community and education project
which began in 2009. The project raises awareness about moorland habitats and wildlife. The
project also helps raise awareness about the Langholm Moor Demonstration Project (LMDP), a
10 year project lead by SNH, Buccleuch Estates, GWCT, RSPB and NE seeking to demonstrate whether the needs of an economically viable grouse moor can be met alongside the conservation needs of protected raptors, especially the Hen Harrier.
Over the last 4 ½ years the MMM project has involved more than
7000 participants through a programme of presentations, school
activities, youth events and family activities. A highlight of the
past year has been winning a second Dumfries and Galloway
LEADER Rural Award – Healthier Scotland.
We also maintain the Moorland Bird Feeding Station, located ½ mile north of Broomholmshiels Farm on the southern
side of Whita Hill. Visitors are welcome year round to come and catch a glimpse of the multitude of bird and animal species that visit the area – which in 2013 included Hen Harriers, Roe Deer, Slo-Worms, and of course our
resident family of woodpeckers. Early morning and late afternoons are the best times to catch them
coming in for their breakfasts and dinners.
Plans for 2014 include developing a covered bird-watching hide at the site, but in the meantime, make
sure you bring some warm clothing!
If you are part of a school, community (or any other kind of) group that like to find out more about our wonderful local
landscape and wildlife, or would like more the project contact Cat Barlow at the Langholm Initiative
[email protected]. You can follow the progress of Langholms young Hen Harriers alongside project activities on the project blog - langholmmoorland.blogspot.co.uk
Supported by
A Development Trust for Langholm and Eskdale?
One of the clearest issues identified through the ‘Langholm and Eskdale—The Way Forward’ study (see page 3) was
the need for greater co-ordination between the many organisations currently working to ensure a sustainable future for
Langholm and Eskdale. One key proposal—currently under discussion between The Langholm Initiative, The Eskdale
Foundation and Langholm Ewes and Westerkirk Community Council—is the creation of a Community Development
Trust for Langholm and Eskdale.
Community Development Trusts (CDTs) are charitable organisations, led by local communities, with the power to acquire
assets and use them to generate income that can then be used to improve the quality of life in the area—basically, a
business, but where the profits go back into helping local people. In most cases, this spirit of entrepreneurship has been
proven to offer a successful way of providing services where other organisations and public services could not. At present
there are over 100 Trusts operating across Scotland, with combined assets of over £50 million, operating in many different areas of activity— for example sports facilities; older people’s care; renewable energy projects, community transport
and community buildings.
For further information on Community Development Trusts and how
one could be of benefit to Langholm and Eskdale, visit
www.dtascot.org.uk or contact The Langholm Initiative.
Stayin’ Alive
In January 2013, in partnership with Langholm Academy and the Xcel project, The Langholm Initiative and the
Glendale Gateway Trust from Wooler in Northumberland, with assistance from Scotland’s Rural College,
(SRUC), agreed to collaborate on a project to establish the reasons why young families and young adults are
leaving our area, and to develop ways of helping younger people to stay in the area and lead prosperous
lives.
The Project undertook a data gathering exercise in which 288 young people from
the communities of
Langholm, Canonbie, Eskdalemuir and Newcastleton were consulted, asking questions about what their plans for the future were, and what would help them to remain within our area if they wished to do so. Overwhelmingly, young people said
that employment prospects were their biggest challenge in the future.
In response, the project has established the Langholm Enterprise Academy Partnership (LEAP), a group
comprising education providers, support agencies, and over 20 businesses—both local and national. LEAP is
now working to provide:
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Awareness-raising of job potential in a number of sectors;
Improved and informed decision-making on study options and career development;
Practical work experience
Business planning skills.
The Stayin’ Alive Project completed on December 31st 2013 and a full End of Project Report
has been produced by The Langholm Initiative, available from: [email protected]
Supported by
Tourism in Langholm
Once again in 2013 the Langholm Initiative supported the opening of Langholms’ 2 Tourist
Information Centres, in the Town Hall Gallery and at the Kilngreen. The centres - manned entirely by volunteers– provide information and advice to visitors to the area, as well as directing
them to local services and accommodation providers. In addition, exhibitions are staged at the
Town Hall Gallery throughout the year— on topics including local craftspeople, photography, and
Neil Armstrong (pictured with family?). Perhaps due to the better summer weather, 2013 saw an
increase in total visitor numbers from 1168 (in 2012) to 1614, an increase of 38%.,
and the enhanced exhibition schedule at the Gallery attracted 813 visitors, almost 2
and a half times the number in 2012.
Exhibitions planned for this year include:
Clarencefield Quilters - Exhibition in support of Alzheimers Scotland
Tanith Pemma Marron exhibition
Gilnockie Art Group Annual Exhibition
Spring Fling weekend - Local Artists and Makers exhibiting their
work at various locations throughout Langholm
Pop Up Gallery - A collective exhibition by some of the best artists
and crafts people from Eskdale & surrounding area
Langholm Photography Group annual exhibition
Langholm & District Art Club Summer exhibition
Langholm Playcare - Boys Common Riding, past and revived (TBC)
Jane Telford—Multi Talented Artist
Making the Most of the Moorlands Multi Active Experience
03/03/2014 - 17/03/2014
07/04/2014 - 21/04/2014
07/05/2014 - 21/05/2014
23/05/2014 - 25/05/2014
23/05/2014 - 25/05/2014
02/06/2014 - 16/06/2014
02/07/2014 - 16/07/2014
17/07/2014 - 29/07/2014
30/07/2014 - 13/08/2014
15/08/2014 - 30/08/2014
Exhibitors in the Gallery will be impressed by the refurbishment of this valuable community facility over the winter, undertaken by volunteers from the Bonnie Langholm Committee (with some advice from a professional!). A big thank-you also
to Margaret Pool and the team of committed volunteers who made all the above possible.
Bonnie Langholm
Langholm was once again blazing with colour in 2013, thanks to the sterling efforts
Bonnie Langholm
of
Composed entirely of local volunteers, and supported by the Langholm Initiative, the
group is responsible for the wonderful floral displays, hanging baskets, flower tubs
and window boxes that brighten our town throughout the spring and summer months
(take note this spring of the wonderful display of daffodils that illuminates the southern entrance to the town), as well as maintaining local greenspaces.
In addition, Bonnie Langholm organises the annual Langholm ‘Spring Clean’, collecting carelessly discarded items
around the town and along popular walks in the vicinity. In 2013, efforts were redoubled in preparation for the influx of
visitors for the first Muckle Toon Adventure Festival, with the Committee organising a week of intensive litter collection, ably assisted by Langholm sports fiends (Rugby, Golf, Cricket and both Bowling Clubs), Langholm Beaver
Scouts, Langholm Rotary Club, and pupils from the Primary schools and Langholm Academy. The Co-operative
store seconded staff for the clearing-up the area around the store, and all volunteers
were suitably armed with collection bags, litter pickers and protective gear courtesy of
Dumfries and Galloway Council. Langholm Rotary have now ‘adopted’ the area between
Lands End and Skippers Bridge and are organising regular clean-ups, with their latest
expedition completed in the last week of February 2014
We are now gearing up for the 2014 Season, which will see the complete revamp of
Clinthead Gardens this spring, along with the construction of a new iron fence—alongside
refurbishment of the existing railings— at Rosevale Gardens.
We are always looking for new volunteers, so anyone interested in helping out this year for the 2014 Spring
Clean, watering the town centre displays or for other horticultural activities over the spring and summer,
should contact either Margaret Pool (01387 381163) or the Langholm Initiative (contact details on the back
page of this newsletter)
Shop Local In Langholm
You don’t have to go on the internet......
Over the festive period in November and December 2013, the Langholm Initiative (with a tremendous amount of support
from local businesses) delivered a scheme to remind local shoppers and visitors alike of the wonderful retail offer available in Langholm. The scheme involved a prize draw, where any customer making a purchase of £5 or more at a participating outlet received a free ticket to win a hamper of local goodies, worth around £200, provided by the huge range of
shops in town, including everything from produce vouchers through to (very posh) cosmetics.
Over 1250 tickets were completed, and feedback from businesses was overwhelmingly positive, with shoppers requesting tickets, even after they had run out! For 2014, we’re hoping to repeat the scheme, possibly to include extending it
throughout the year.
Thanks for participating go to:
Abbots Fine Choclatiers
B. Barbour Electricals
Blue Moon Gallery
Chloe@Labelle
Cut The Mustard Gallery
Dalstons Pharmacy
Helens’ Market
HMC2
Langholm Gallery
Latimers
Magpies Antiques and Collectibles
Martins Garage
Mojos
Pelosis
The Paper Shop
Truly Scrumptious
T.M. Morrissons’ Garage
Townhead Bakery
W.W Middlemass Butchers
David Yarrow, along with Laura
Ellis (Blue Moon) , Lisa RothwellYoung (Cut the Mustard) and entourage draw the winning ticket
In Other News
The Muckle Toon Adventure
Festival
Building on the success of the inaugural event in 2013, Muckle Toon Adventure Festival returns to Langholm on the 15th-18th of May 2014.
The 2013 festival attracted over 800 participants for mountain biking, road
cycling, running and walking events, as well as additional contingents of touchline supporters and well-wishers, many of whom visited the Town whilst their associates were off in the hills.
The overwhelmingly positive feedback from the 2013 festival focused on the friendliness, welcoming nature, and beauty of Langholm, and the event received
extensive coverage in the media, particularly the national cycling press, which has
greatly helped raise the profile of Langholm and Eskdale as a visitor and outdoor sports destination.
All events return in 2014 with an anticipated increase in numbers and visitors. In
addition, a family bike ride will compliment the other children’s activities that include bike skills course, stream dipping, running races and games.
Graham Obree is the headline on the Saturday evening as one Scotland’s greatest
cyclists: the underdog who built his own bike from washing machine parts, trained
without technology and went on to break perhaps the most prestigious record in
cycling - the hour record - not once, but twice!
To get involved as an athlete, as a volunteer, or to simply find out where to cheer on the entrants contact the
Langholm Initiative, or visit www.mtaf.co.uk Shop Doctor
In autumn 2013, 18 retail businesses in Langholm were treated to a makeover from the ‘Shop Doctor’
The Doctor visited 18 businesses in Langholm Town Centre, and working alongside business owners, used
their expert eye to generate ideas for displays, merchandising and the overall marketing of Langholms broad
retail offer. The scheme really helped to make an impact over the festive period in 2013, particularly as it was
combined with another spectacular display from Langholm Christmas Lights, special late night-opening on
Fridays throughout December, and the ‘Shop Local’ scheme (see page 6)
The Shop Doctor scheme is delivered across northern England and southern Scotland, and was supported
by Dumfries and Galloway Council—for further information go to www.lets-talk-shop.co.uk
Community Energy Scotland
Is a registered charity that provides practical help for communities on green energy development and energy
conservation, and aims to ensure that LOCAL communities can benefit from energy generation in their area.
The organisation assists local groups in identifying and developing renewable energy sources (for example
micro hydro, wind and solar power) and can assist with finding sources of support and funding for microgeneration projects, maintains a network of like minded communities sharing information and good ideas, as
well as providing advocacy for renewable energy at a national level.
To find out more go to www.communityenergyscotland.org.uk , or
contact the Langholm Initiative.
We can offer support to :
 Look at your business ideas and potential
 Help create a business and marketing plan
 Explore funding options
 Provide access to a wide range of training workshops and
business events
Contact us on 01387 808738 and make an appointment to speak with our Business
Advisor in Langholm.
Meetings will be held on Tuesdays, based on demand, at:
The Langholm Initiative, Buccleuch Mill, Glenesk Road, Langholm—1.30pm to 5pm
Contact The Langholm Initiative
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For further information on any of the projects and activities mentioned in this newsletter
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To find out more about how YOU can get
involved
To join the Langholm Initiative as a Community Member (free) or a Business Member (for
a nominal fee)
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Or for general information about community, business and
support organisations in our area
Office hours 09.30-12.30, Monday to Friday
If no-one is available, please leave a message and we’ll get back to you