About us

Belhelvie Community Trust (BCT) is a small charity which works throughout the parish of Belhelvie, which includes Balmedie, Blackdog, Potterton, Whitecairns and Belhelvie, and all dwellings in between.

It is an umbrella organisation, helping existing community projects and developing new ones, all in response to community need.

Our aims

Our aim is simple, to make things a bit better in our parish…by restoring and improving facilities or creating new ones…and to encourage volunteering …to make things happen!

Getting started

BCT was formed in 2014 as several local groups were experiencing difficulties with funding and recruiting volunteers and it was agreed that a Trust could pool resources, knowledge and expertise.

We sought charitable status to give the Trust credibility and enable us to apply for funding from a wider range of sources.

In April 2015 we were awarded SCIO (Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation) status – SC045563 with the purpose of community development, by OSCR (Office of Scottish Charity Regulator). BCT has successfully submitted annual returns to OSCR and takes its duty of care to its community seriously.

How we are organised - meetings and trustees

We are a constituted body, and all members can attend all meetings.  Meetings are formal but friendly!  Our minutes are available on request, contact us to let us know if you would like a copy.

We have seven Trustees who are responsible for running the charity, of whom one is chair person, one is treasurer and one is secretary.

Members are a mixture of people representing community groups and individuals with an interest in the local community.

Our work

Since 2014, BCT has taken on the running of The Sand Bothy in Balmedie Country Park – an asset transfer from Aberdeenshire Council. Our volunteers also run Balmedie Beach Wheelchairs, the Community Sensory Garden in Balmedie and a community park and burn in Potterton. We hold monthly litter-picks in Balmedie. Much of our work is concerned with access for all to Balmedie Country Park, and to tie in with Balmedie Beach Wheelchairs we have installed a Changing Places disabled facility and inclusive play equipment in the park.

Over the years we have also assisted other community groups in the parish with funding applications, volunteer recruitment, links to other organisations, information and advice. These groups have included Balmedie Heath Walks, Better Balmedie and Belhelvie Community First Responders.

BCT is a member of Development Trust Association Scotland, and Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action, so we can benefit from their advice both for BCT and other groups.

Funding

BCT has no guaranteed source of funding. Our projects have all been funded from a range of sources, including The National Lottery, local businesses, charitable trusts and local authority funds.

A lot of time is spent applying for appropriate funds for both BCT and other groups, which is has become increasingly competitive as Council budgets are cut and more communities are looking for funds for projects of all kinds.

We have also raised some funds by our own efforts from Family Fun Days, Sand Bothy Kiosk sales and the production and sale of a calendar.

Our Funders

Since our formation in 2015 BCT has been very fortunate to receive funding from many sources. These funds have all been used in the running of our projects: The Sand Bothy, Balmedie Beach Wheelchairs, Changing Places Toilet, Inclusive Play Equipment, Balmedie Sensory Garden and Potterton Burn Project.

In addition to grants and donations as listed below, we have also raised funds via Just Giving pages, collection boxes, charity sales, stalls at Balmedie Gala, Gift Aid, and from individual donations in cash and kind from our supporters.

• The National Lottery Awards for All
• The Co-operative
• Foundation Scotland
• St James Place Wealth Management
• The Gordon and Ena Baxter Foundation
• British Heart Foundation
• Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action
• The David and June Gordon Trust
• Dickies’ Pharmacy
• Aberdeenshire Council Community Planning Partnership
• Aberdeenshire Community Safety Partnership
• Aberdeen Airport Community Fund
• Aberdeenshire Wellbeing Festival
• Premier Oil Community Fund
• Balmedie Beavers
• Big Lottery Fund - Awards for All
• Apache North Sea Production Limited
• Aberdeen Cerebral Palsy Association
• Liz Boynton
• David Cousins
• Dyce Parish Church of Scotland
• Highland Hustle with Carolle
• Technip
• Fiona Smith Aberdeen Dyslexia Learning Centre
• Carol Menlove
• Aberdeen Training Services
• Brian and Sheila Gray
• Balmedie Leisure Centre
• Anonymous
• Barratt Homes
• Joni Corbett
• YPI Ellon Academy
• Running Sisters Aberdeen
• Belhelvie Cubs
• Rachel Sinclair
• Jim and Sandra Copland
• Alex and Kathleen McIntyre
• Lawrence of Kemnay
• Forestry Commission Scotland
• Ellon Lets
• CSV Action Earth
• Tesco
• Woodland Trust
• Scottish Landfill Community Fund
• Formartine Rural Partnership
• Postcode Lottery
• Aberdeenshire Council Developer Obligations
• ASDA
• Aberdeenshire Charity Trust
• Scottish Government Recovery
• Arnold Clark
• Priscilla Anne MacPherson
• Marjorie Roadnight
• Brian and Catherine Cassie
• Nicholas Reid
• Wishart McBride
• Julie Fordyce
• Emma Lovie
• Winnie Stewart
• Coastal Communities Fund
• Scottish Government Supporting Communities Fund
  

Donate

When required we run fundraising campaigns online but you can donate at any time by bank transfer (details available on request) or by Paypal at paypal@thesandbothy.co.uk

Belhelvie Community Trust

Supporting groups, clubs and developing new projects in various parts of the parish since 2014

Meetings