Community Development
Portpatrick Community Development Trust is a community-based organisation that exists solely for the benefit of the Community in which it operates. The Trust’s aims and objectives include the provision of social and community facilities, environmental, heritage and cultural improvements, youth development and support to local people, groups and businesses. The company has been formed to benefit principally the community of Portpatrick and adjoining
districts, which comprises area defined by Portpatrick and the parishes of the Rhins of Galloway
(“the Community”) with the following objectives:
(1) To maintain and/or improve the provision of public amenities. (2) To maintain and/or improve buildings or sites of historic or architectural importance. (3) To protect and conserve the local environment through, for example, the encouragement
of renewable energy sources, where and as appropriate. (4) To create training and employment opportunities by the provision of workspace,
buildings and/or land for the use of locals. (5) The advancement of community development including the advancement of rural
regeneration. But only to the extent that the above purposes are consistent with furthering the achievement of sustainable development. Coastal Rowing
Following the very successful Skiffie World Championships on Loch Ryan last year, there has been an upsurge in interest in coastal rowing with more and more towns and villages getting groups together to build their own skiff. Portpatrick, through the PCDT will also now be joining this burgeoning community by forming the Portpatrick Coastal Rowing Club and building their own skiff. If you’re interested in having a go at coastal rowing or helping build the skiff contact us on [email protected]
Community Resilience
The PCDT is a D & G approved Local Community Resilience Team under arrangements put in place to help deal with the COVID-19 Pandemic. Working through authorised volunteers the Trust has been helping to ensure that the basic needs of our most vulnerable families and individuals have been met during the current crisis. Those volunteers have been working tirelessly throughout to provide meals, delivering prescriptions and practical help and advice to local people who have been shielding or are to infirm or just plain afraid to go out. And all the time conforming to the Council’s volunteering good practice guide. Even when this crisis is over, we intend to continue our support to the most vulnerable and isolated members of our community. We have joined with other development trusts in the area to secure funding for this important work through the Supporting Communities Fund administered by the Development Trust Association of Scotland. We are a member of the DTA
Community Gardening
Thanks to the support of the Coastal Benefit Fund we are working to establish a community garden in the village. Community gardens have demonstrated how plants can bring people together in multiple ways and how the act of growing and caring for plants has many benefits for wellbeing, as well as the environment. The active involvement of the primary school pupils along the lines of the RHS schools’ gardening initiative is also sought to increase inter-generational activity. Interpersonal relationships are strengthened and the opportunity to share what people love about plants with other people in your community. The project will be the basis of other events so that many more people can benefit from being involved, enjoying the space, using skills or learning new ones, all while having the chance to socialise and chat. In the meantime, our volunteers have been honing their gardening skill by tidying up the entrance to station court for the benefit of both the residents and for visitors or those just passing by. The plants were kindly donated by Dumfries and Galloway Council under their Civic Pride and Bedding Plants 2020 programme. We have also carried out some gardening work for villagers who have been unable to get out during lockdown so that the view from their windows is a source of joy and not despair.
