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Citizen of the Year – Recognition and Celebration 2025
Project code: 1151
Estimated Price
£1,000
Project Summary
This year we used Participatory Funding to help fund bringing back Citizen of the Year to honour the great volunteers that work tirelessly throughout the year in Beith. Citizen of the Year is a time to boost and bring the community together to celebrate and give recognition to not only Citizen of the Year but to also recognise The Organisation of the Year and Young Persons Contribution of the Year. It is a vehicle to attract new volunteers to the community through promoting the benefits of volunProject Description
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Beith and District Community Council want to make it a night to remember and not just for the award winners but also for the nominees and their families. To be given
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recognition by the community for the many hours of dedication, loyalty and hard work by volunteers is worth its weight in gold. For volunteers to be appreciated publicly gives them a sense of great positive wellbeing by knowing their skills and resilience are valued and making a positive change to themselves, others and their community.
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Our event will bring a sense of pride and community cohesion through the discovery of sharing their experiences with other winners and nominees and of course the whole community. We want to provide free travel to support attendees access the event to reduce isolation. Delivering Citizen of the Year event is an important milestone for BDCC in bringing people together to celebrate, reduce isolation and to make new connections and friendships.
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We are delighted to take this opportunity to reinstate such an important event for our volunteers.
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COSTS TO BE UPDATED
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For our event to be successful we require funding for the following:
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Venue costs - £250
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Catering costs - £400
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Table decorations - £100
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Entertainment costs - £400
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Award Purchases - £400
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Printing – Forms, Promotional material & Certificates - £180
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Total costs £1730
Location: Volunteering happens all across Beith and District via many different organisations - as such Citizen of the Year does not occur in any one place. Last year the celebration was successfully held in the Beith Bowling Club. By giving recognition to volunteers will enhance community pride and encourage others to take the step into volunteering
Proposed on behalf of: Beith and District Community Council: Beith and District Community Council is a constituted group that bridges the gap between local authorities and local communities. This year we have launched the Garnock Valley Local Place Plans. This plan was created through extensive community consultations throughout Beith and District and the Garnock Valley over a two year period. The aim is that we now have a ten year improvement plan identifying the priorities for Beith and District included in the GV Local Place Plan. The plan will also support the priorities for next Local Development Plan 3 We have supported various events throughout the years including reinstating an unused and unloved garden - The Coronation Garden with the installation of plants, benches and an outdoor draughts board. This led to the celebration event for Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee celebrations where the whole community came together to join us in the parade, games, music and dancing. This was the first major event that took place on the return of isolation from COVID and brought together and reconnected community members who had been apart for a long time. we donated through grant funding to support mental health and wellbeing, 5 Breathing Space picnic benches – 2 which are wheelchair accessible - for our local park along with 6 pieces of outdoor gym equipment in partnership with the Beith Skatepark Group to redevelop the skatepark. We supported the Skatepark Group with the launch of the new skatepark and outdoor gym in May this year. We also donated a Breathing Space bench to Beith Development Trust and Friends of Spiers which have now been installed on their sites. We delivered a DDAY 80 years event to commemorate and to pay ‘tribute’ to those that gave so much to enable us to share the freedom we have today. We worked alongside Beith Drama Group, our local bugler, piper and minister to create a memorable community event that was hugely successful. Last summer we adopted several planting areas in the town and planted up summer bedding to support community wellbeing and happiness through a donation from Beith Christian Action Group and plant donations from Scotplants. We have now supported local groups to adopt these sites and they are flourishing beautifully. We deliver an annual competition for shops to decorate their windows for Christmas in support of the Lights & Laughter event Citizen of the Year event is our next big event in supporting our community. Our Community Council currently comprises of 8 volunteers who have been elected to serve as Community Councillors. We have appointed from its membership a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. The purpose of Community Councils is finding out what local people think about issues affecting the local community; making sure that Councils and other public bodies are aware of those views; communicating information to the local community and acting in the interests of the local community. We meet every second Tuesday of the month. We are represented in other bodies such as the Garnock Valley Local Place Plans working group, Orr Trust Park Strategy, Spiers Trust Group, Group, Garnock, Valley Locality Partnership and Garnock Valley working group. We work alongside our local community councils - Dalry Community Council and Kilbirnie & Glengarnock Community Council to share common concerns, share practice and support one another.
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