Funding boost promises bright future for events in the Borders
Tuesday, June 6 2006
Scottish Borders Council has successfully secured European Union Objective 2 Funding for two, part-time Event Fieldworker posts. The new fieldworkers will support organisers in planning and developing local events to ensure that they are distinctive, well-attended and successful.
They will succeed two pilot posts funded under the New Ways Events and Innovation Scheme (NWEIS), which recently came to the end of its three-year Leader + funding.
Final reports show that the NWEIS project achieved a lively, year-round calendar of diverse, distinctive, high quality, safe, well-attended events and festivals. They made best use of the region's natural and cultural resources and helped make the Scottish Borders an exciting place to live in and to visit.
The project approved grants of £90,000 to 20 funded events and offered advice and support to some 250 other events. Research shows that these events attracted at least 8,000 visitors to the area, bringing an economic impact estimated at £110,000. More than 70% of visitors said they would be returning to the Borders after attending an event here.
The introduction of community event fieldworkers added huge value to the scheme and key successes were seen in the overall quality and organisation of events. Where a fieldworker was involved, the structure and the delivery of the events was felt to improve.
As well as continued funding for Event Fieldworkers, the Scottish Borders also has a new event organisers' guide, Eventful, while the Event Forum for event organisers continues to meet regularly. Catherine Maxwell Stewart, Event Forum Chairperson, explained, "One of the great benefits of the scheme is that it has brought event organisers together for the first time. Many of us have found great benefits through networking and we are determined to continue raising the profile of events and their importance to the local economy."
The new Fieldworkers, who will be appointed in June and SBC will continue to work with local event organisers, VisitScotland Borders and Scottish Enterprise Borders to develop existing events and attract new ones to the region. For a copy of the Eventful pack, please see www.scotborders.gov.uk/eventful or call the Events Officer, Claire McAteer on 01835 825066.
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