“ Our vision is to create a town with a strong sense of community and identity, that is economically and financially sustainable by working for the people of Newton Stewart, alongside local groups, organisations, funders and governmental bodies. We aim to create a future where there are opportunities for people to thrive, not just survive, through socialising, employment opportunities and gaining life skills through volunteering.”
Our mission is to create opportunities for residents to thrive financially, mentally and physically in order to create a town with a strong sense of community and identity.
Newton Stewart Initiative is a community organisation with charitable status, reformed in 2014 to regenerate our town, involving as many people and groups as possible within the DG8 area. Newton Stewart Initiative aims to develop community facilities, support community led initiatives, businesses and regeneration projects, youthwork, and any other project that benefits the community living, working or studying in and around Newton Stewart.
Newton Stewart, ‘Gateway to the Galloway Hills’, is a small market town situated on the banks of the River Cree, in the heart of Galloway. Like many rural communities in recent years, it has suffered from economic decline; job losses; cuts to funding for facilities & services; and a perceived lack of social initiative & investment.
- In the analysis for the Dumfries and Galloway Local Child Poverty Action Report, Newton Stewart was identified as one of the neighborhoods with the highest proportion of 16-to-24-year-olds on the claimant count for unemployment in February 2024. The rate for Newton Stewart was 5.9%.
- The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation shows that whilst part of Newton Stewart are least deprived, there is also a large part of the town which sits in the 9th decile of most deprived.https://simd.scot/#/simd2020/BTTTFTT/13/-4.4588/54.9717/
Newton Stewart Initiative are working to bring our small town back to being a wonderful community to live in and showcase the many opportunities available for improvement and revitalisation, both in the beautiful landscape that surrounds us, as well as the inspiring community spirit.
Newton Stewart Initiative is an accredited Real living Wage Employer who are committed to Fair Work First
Newsletters:
Our monthly newsletters are sent out to all members of NSI. It is free to join us, just drop us an email at info@newtonstewartinitiative.net for an application form
A Brief Summary of the Organisation:
Registered Charity
Scottish Registered Charity No. SC029869
Board of Trustees: Chair- David Inglis | Vice Chair – Dave Bleasdale | | Trustee – Chrissie Hill | Trustee – Ken Barlow | Trustee – Linda Woodfield | Trustee – Moyra Breckenridge | Trustee – Alison Attenborough | Trustee – Lauren Keenan
Project Support Worker: Lindsay Banks
Admin Worker: Erin
Youth Work Coordinator: Matthew Robinson
Youth Workers: NSI employs four part time youth workers to support in the delivery of youth work provisions in the town
Circa 311 Ordinary Members
Volunteer Operational Management:
Monthly Board Meetings:
Core group – business/major decisions made
Work allocation
Community Involvement:
Regular updates in local press
All members sent circular information whenever appropriate
Use of Social Media – Facebook page, Instagram and Twitter
Own web page and links to it from other websites
Public meetings
NSI attendance at other committee meetings
Public consultations
Members from other groups invited to join focused sub groups to take projects forward
Financial Management:
We have a number of pots of money to be used for different areas of work:
Ring-fenced funds available for:
Youth Work from The Holywood Trust
Fixed Assets: Newton Stewart Centre.
Core funding for general use
Governance Structure
- Role and responsibilities: The board generally controls and supervises the SCIO’s activities. It is responsible for monitoring finances and ensuring the charity remains aligned with its strategic goals. The trustees, who also serve as directors for company law purposes, are responsible for preparing financial statements in line with Scottish charity law.
- Membership on the board:
- Member Trustees: Ordinary Members of the initiative can elect other members to serve as charity trustees at each Annual General Meeting (AGM). The board can also appoint members as trustees at any time.
- Co-opted Trustees: The board may appoint individuals who are not members to serve as trustees. This is often based on the need for specialist experience or skills. Co-opted trustees must retire at the conclusion of each AGM but are eligible for re-appointment.
- Terms: Member trustees serve on a rotating basis, with a portion of them retiring at each AGM, although they are eligible for re-election. The longest-serving trustees are usually the ones to retire.
- Board meetings: The board holds monthly meetings to make major decisions and allocate work.
- Ordinary Members: Have voting rights and can elect individuals to serve on the Board of Trustees.
- Associate Members: Do not have the power to vote at members’ meetings.
- Junior Members: Do not have the power to vote at members’ meetings.
- Project support workers
- Administrative workers
- Youth workers
Meet our trustees:
What is a trustee?
Trustees ensure their charity has a clear strategy, and that its work and goals are in line with its vision. A trustee’s role in a charity is to be the ‘guardians of purpose’, making sure that all decisions put the needs of the beneficiaries first.
They safeguard the charity’s assets – both physical assets, including property, and intangible ones, such as its reputation. They make sure these are used well and that the charity is run sustainably.
An Overview of Being a Trustee with NSI by Dave Bleasdale
Being a trustee is about sound governance and a strong and united vision, creating a team with mixed skills and backgrounds and pulling together. At NSI we have a strong leader in our chair, David Inglis, Linda Woodfield running and managing the shop, Dave Bleasdale leading on youth work and developing a strong partnership with D&G Youth Work team, Ken Barlow leading on developing initiatives and links with older people, Chrissie Hill developing Vibe 75, Moyra
Breckenridge on office work and administration, Lauren Keenan bringing the voice of youth to the table. Together we have developed Douglas Park, including a BMX track, inclusive play park and Changing Places Toilet, doubled youth work provision in the area, run several free family events, run a successful community shop which helps fund some of what we do, started a reminiscence group and are helping to regenerate the town centre with our involvement in the Grapes Hotel and Vibe 75.
We have established a solid and professional relationship with funders who continue to invest in our ideas and vision. We work closely and collaboratively with other organisations to deliver a Local Place Plan to D&G Council and helped kickstart Galloway Hillbillies into becoming the successful organisation they are now. NSI have supported other organisations such as the Galloway Pageant and the Christmas Lights Group and also help co-ordinate all events in our area through our regular events flyers.
Why would you want to become a trustee?
Being a trustee can be very rewarding. As a trustee you have the chance to support and shape the work and strategic direction of an organisation, and you can make a significant difference to a cause that matters to you.
You may choose to get involved with a charity focused on a cause or an issue you are passionate about or because your life has been touched by the work of that voluntary organisation. It is also a great way to get involved in a community or find out more about the not-for-profit sector.
Alison Attenborough has joined us as a trustee last month. “I started visiting the Newton Stewart area in 2021 after my daughter moved up here with her partner. During my visits I was always struck by the sense of community that exists up here, something that I had searched for, but failed to find, where I was living at the time. So, in 2023 I decided to make the move myself. Since moving up here I have been welcomed into the community and been able to integrate into that community through belonging to various groups and volunteering in the NSI Community Shop, in The Gallery at Glentrool Hive and through befriending with A Listening Ear and No-one Dies Alone.
NSI has already achieved much, in enhancing various areas within the community; keeping that sense of community, involving everyone who lives and works in the area, despite economic or social issues, is so important and it is for that reason that I wanted to be a Trustee. I hope that the strong inter-personal, communication and organisational skills I gained through careers in nursing, medical sales and teaching will be useful as NSI strives to complete future projects that will further enhance the community in which we live.”
If you would like to join NSI as a volunteer or trustee please email info@newtonstewartinitiative.net