Bridgend Farmhouse Renovation Steering Group

Meeting Minutes - 7th October 2010 at Bridgend Allotments

Attendees:
− Will Golding, Sally Swann, David Buchan, John Knox
− Apologises from Chris Macefield, Anna Danby, and Georgia March who could not make it.

Summary of main action points from the meeting:

− Write up agreed aims, objects and membership as a constitution of an unincorporated

association to be called Bridgend Inspiring Growth
− Identify clearly the needs, outcomes and evidence of these for the possible renovation and
function of the farmhouse
− To look into community bank accounts and what we would need to do to form one and who
would take on that responsibility.
− Look into how to register as an official charity as a follow on to this.
− Prepare information, constitution, poster and membership forms for the Apple Day on
Saturday
− To flyer and walk around local residences to speak to people about a possible renovation to
get their views.
− Agreed to prepare a proposal and plan to send to the council prior to our meeting with them
on the 29th October.

Constitution:
− Sally suggested the name of Bridgend Inspiring Growth which everyone agreed to, although
suggesting that at this stage we would be known as Bridgend Inspiring Growth Farmhouse
Renovation Group so as to emphasis the focus on the renovation for now.
− Felt that Bridgend Inspiring Growth would reflect the wider collective vision of bringing
together many different people and groups from the area, as a hub for development through
training, social interaction and education – all as forms of empowerment and community
building. It would be a cooperative venture were all involved could have a stake in the
ownership and running of the space and what went on it.
− We all agreed to be members of the committee, currently as directors and later deciding on
respective responsibilities.
− Finalised and agreed upon the aims and vision of the group and what are objects would be,
and the powers this would require. This was all written down and agreed and signed.
− Clarified details of open membership and the form we would use for people to become
members and become part of the committee if they wished, and re-elect committee members
when requested.
− This is to be copied and taken to any awareness raising events done and when asking if
people would like to be members so they can see what the constitution is.

The Plan:
− Discussed how to tackle these objects and aims and how to identify these based on need,
evidence, outcomes and activities.
− Need:
− Respite/Supported employment: young adults with Learning Disability aged 17 – 34yrs
(respite for carers) addressing a gap in service provision - funding via Social Work or
Direct payments or Lottery funding under criteria: a) Life transition b) Growing
Community Assets. In 2009 there were 3,745 adults known to Edinburgh City Council
 with learning disability of which only 13% were in employment or supported
employment – still awaiting respite data.
Action: Sally would look into this more

− Environmental: improve local environment and peoples connection to and use of

Craigmillar Castle Park, and promote environmental issues through education and
healthy activities.

Action: Will to contact other groups currently working in this area to see how they could best utilise
the space, and what it could provide to help with these aims that they currently are unable to.

− A closer connection with the historical and social relevance of Bridgend and Craigmillar
Castle Park.
− The need for the community to have a say in how the space is developed and looked
after and to feel responsible for it, after so long feeling helpless in seeing it become
dilapidated and unused and having it increase anti-social behaviour and problems in the
area.

Action: Look further into how more people could become involved in a community venture to own
and run the property.

− Evidence:
− Need 1: Evidence is provided as Sally mentioned, and to look into more.
− Need 2: Evidence is provided in documentation we looked at regarding the importance
of outdoor activities and work for healthy living and learning, and connections to the
new national curriculum for excellence. Also shown in the national outcomes as
important to develop. Further information to be looked into from research done by
BACHIP. Also shown through desire and needs identified at initial public meeting and in
some of the questionnaires.
− Need 3: Lack of awareness through speaking to local residents, and lack of
acknowledgement in Craigmillar Castle or the Inch. Also identified through the
Craigmillar Castle Park Plan and from the estates department email.
− Need 4: Desire and want identified and communicated at the initial public meeting.

Action: Try to gather more research and information on what might be the needs of people in the
area and of the local council, and also get more views of members through the membership form.

− Intended Outcomes:
− Improve appreciation, engagement in and conservation of the local environment
− Reduce anti-social behaviour and fear in local community
− Provide age appropriate support/respite for young adults with LD
− Improve confidence of young adults with LD / young offenders
− Improve employment opportunities for people with LD / young offenders
− Improve awareness of environmental issues and biodiversity
− Promote growth of healthy living and wellbeing
− Act as a hub for a variety of local and environmentally focused organisations and groups
that could enhance and grow through greater interaction.
− Bring together different members of the community from both Gilmerton/Liberton and
Craigmillar.
− Empower people to take responsibility and ownership for the property and to develop
socially as a group and build a cooperative community group, through negotiated and
 working out the running, organisation and administration of any renovation and
development.

− Possible Social & Environmental Enterprise Activities:

− Allotment / kitchen garden - growing food, acquiring new skills
− The BIG café - selling cooked allotment produce (mainly as a training resource rather
than revenue making part of the space)
− The BIG courtyard – space for outdoor café seating, farmers market/stalls/educational
workshops
− The BIG brewery (micro-brewery) selling fruit/light beers/ciders to local farmers
markets, supermarkets or online. Harvest fruits from local orchards.
− The BIG Eco-shop – sell eco and organic produce
− The BIG Barn – environmental education, learning opportunities, workshops on rural
skills/crafts, farmers market, Possible Edinburgh Festival venue: art, music, theatre,
lectures (including the Science festival, the storytelling festival and the Fringe festival).
− Within the BIG community we could expand with further ideas….office space etc.
− Utilising the space as a hub of different users and groups to look to re-invigorate
something based around TreeFest that used to run in Inverleith Park into the Inch Park.

− Outcomes would enable:

− Learning opportunities and personal development of young adults with LD in an
inclusive setting
− Foster independent living skills, independent travel and learning in context
− Education – growing food, cooking food, environmental awareness – involving young
adults with LD but also young people, families and the local community
− Health & wellbeing – healthy activities – gardening, nature/woodland walks, cycling
(embracing Craigmiller wood/cycle track)
− Entrepreneurship
− Multiple employment opportunities
− The BIG cooperative community’s positive and inclusive ethos could benefit young
adults with LD and their carers across Edinburgh, local residents of Bridgend, allied
partners and communities in south of Edinburgh. Also, people working in the area -
staff/patients travelling to Lothian University NHS Hospitals or Biotechnology Park.

− Sustainable design, technologies and development:

− A mutual approach perhaps engaging students from colleges (Telford/Stevenson/Jewel
Esk) on building trade courses or engage young offenders to learn disappearing skills:
stonemasonry and thatching etc.
− Use of environmentally friendly design/technology for building materials e.g. biomass
pellet boiler, solar/photovoltaic panels, wind turbine, ground source? Materials such as
sheep’s wool/ hay bale, paper insulation, cedar roof tiles, reclaimed stone/materials, oak
beams…etc.

Action: John and David to look into this more, contacting appropriate businesses, colleges or
organisations.
Action: Contact to be made and research done into design and development including renewable
technologies. Speak to Energy Scotland, Changeworks, Powerpod (the Woodcraft Folk) and
Malcolm Fraser Architects.

Next Meeting: 18th October at 6.30 pm The Inch Community Centre (all steering group)
25th October at 6.30pm at Bridgend Allotments (if necessary) (committee members)