Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Green Hive awarded Big Lottery Funding


Nairn’s environment charity has been successful in attracting a substantial two year grant from the Big Lottery Fund (BLF) to start in January 2019.

This grant will enable Green Hive to expand the volunteer projects and activities it runs and through piloting social enterprise introduce regular volunteering and work experience opportunities in Nairn.

Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, Maureen McGinn, said: “I am delighted that Nairn River Enterprise’s Green Hive project has been successful in securing a Big Lottery Fund grant. The funding will make a big difference where it is needed most and I wish Green Hive every success as it goes on to develop and expand its project for the benefit of their local community.”

Green Hive Chair Simon Noble said “This grant gives us a fantastic opportunity to consolidate the achievements of the past 2 years. We’ll be able to build on the partnerships we’ve forged with the schools, local organisations like the Allotments Society, Men’s Shed and WASPs Studios, and we’ll be able to organise so many more opportunities for people to volunteer and later on offer work placements and skills training.”

Green Hive’s success will make a difference in Nairn with public events being held in Viewfield and Riverside Park, opportunities for local residents to learn skills in food growing, sewing and up-cycling, and employment being created in the area.

This new funding from the BLF will enable Green Hive to expand its development officer’s role to support, coordinate and build our projects with two new staff roles being created later this year. It will go towards the cost of renting Green Hive’s hub space in the Old Links School; public events, maintenance and resources for the Viewfield community orchard; food, refreshments and training for volunteers; as well as the set up of our Green Enterprise.

Green Enterprise will take waste materials and create usable useful products to sell in our community, such as growing mushrooms from used coffee grounds. Our enterprise project will adopt a social enterprise model meaning that any profit generated will be used to fund charitable projects in Nairn.

Including this grant from the BLF, over the last two years Green Hive has enjoyed support from Scottish Government’s Voluntary Action Fund, The Davidson Trust, The Highland Council, The Pebble Trust, Foundation Scotland, Tescos Bags of Help and The Robertson Trust. This grant from the lottery will cement the progress they have assisted.

Green Hive is an organisation owned and managed by community volunteers. Our mission is to create more opportunities for the people of Nairn through action to protect and conserve our environment. We want to celebrate Nairn’s wonderful natural landscape and make Nairn a place where we are all proud to live. Green Hive coordinates the Viewfield Community Orchard and composting project, Bumblebags sewing group, community litter picks and ‘Art is Rubbish’ competition.

Find out more about Green Hive: follow us on facebook @NairnsGreenHive, www.greenhive.co.uk, nre@greenhive.co.uk, 07453912697

Group photo taken at the Apple Day event 21st Oct 2018

Gill Hay picking litter at the beach and riverside clean up 30th September 2018


Volunteer sewing a Bumblebag

Alastair Simmons digging beds at the Viewfield Community Orchard

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