A newly formed charity will create community events which boost the local economy and fundraise for improvements in their local area, it’s been announced.
Cowdenbeath Events Crew is a registered charity and has the ‘gold standard’ in accountability and oversight, being regulated by the Scottish charity regulator OSCR.
The charity aim to launch events in the town which help raise money for developments in the area, a similar model to that of Benarty Events Group who have raised thousands of pounds from Rockore, money which is reinvested in their community.
The Events Crew are hoping to run their first events this summer and will make more use of the Green Square in the town’s High Street which is seen by many as an under-used asset in the town. They’re now keen to recruit volunteers with events experience to join the team!
Chair of the trustees, Stuart Duffy, said:
“We’ve been learning lots over the past year from inspirational organisations, like Benarty Events Group and our hardworking Gala committee, about what works well and where the gaps and opportunities might be. We think there’s a place for a group which compliments the amazing community spirit in Cowdenbeath and places an emphasis on doing social good – really developing volunteers, creating places and events for community togetherness and raising funds to invest in the town.”
“Recognising the skills and importance of volunteers is a key aim of Fife Council’s ‘Plan 4 Cowdenbeath 2023-2026’, so we really feel this is the right time to get local folk involved in making a difference.”
“For example, a huge majority of people who gave feedback in our recent survey said they really value the town’s public park but they want to see it improved. Maybe some events could be held there again, similar in the way Kelvingrove’s Bandstand in Glasgow was brought back into use for the community a few years back.”
“We’re really keen that we do that with the support of existing groups like the Civic Week and Community Council, who have done a great deal of work already. My Cowdenbeath have been supporting these groups since we launched in 2022, so I know the new Events Crew will continue to work closely with local partners. We all want to see Cowdenbeath prosper and this is our way of lending a hand to meet that ambition.”
One of the first tasks for the new charity is to recruit volunteers who want to support some of the exciting plans for the group – both at a Trustee level and as an Event Volunteer. The charity are encouraging anyone with trustee experience running a charity, or those with events experience at festivals, music events, or other public gatherings, to get in touch by email – info@cowdenbeathevents.scot – setting out why they’d like to get involved.
The charity will also have a stall at the next Cowdenbeath Volunteering Day on Saturday 9th March, 12.30pm til 3pm at the Maxwell Centre in Cowdenbeath, to which everyone is encouraged to attend.
“Launching this charity is one of the main building blocks we wanted to put in place in the town” Stuart continued, “we feel it helps give us more effective and transparent structures to build on for the future. The development company My Cowdenbeath CIC is now established and working on its first projects; our media group Radio Cowdenbeath CIC is set-up and launching soon; the Community Resilience Group was established back in December to support in times of emergencies; and now the events charity is ready to go. It’s an exciting time as we start to deliver on some of the priorities identified in the recent community study, with over 1,100 local participants, it’s been great feedback to get us started!”
My Cowdenbeath CIC 