Just a reminder that the closing date for nomination papers for this year’s community council elections is coming up (it’s on Thursday the 15th!). So if you fancy being on the CC pick up a form from the Council. Rufus at Bridgend Cottage also has some to give out.

Hi all

You may remember we emailed you a couple of months ago about the launch of a new national phone number “105”, which will be launched by all electricity network operators for customers to call should they need to report or get information about a power cut in their area. Instead of dialling 0800 numbers, customers will be able to call the new “105” number.

Key points to note about this service are:
· Dialling 105 will put customers through to their local electricity network operator – the company that manages the cables, power lines and substations that deliver electricity into homes and businesses in their area.
· 105 is just one of the ways that customers can contact their electricity network operator. They can also contact them by phone or via their website, and most network operators are on social media too.
· 105 is a free service for people in England, Scotland and Wales.
· Customers can call 105 no matter who they choose to buy electricity from.
· Customers can also call 105 if they spot damage to electricity power lines and substations that could put anyone in danger. If there’s a serious immediate risk, they should call the emergency services too.

One simple, but effective way you support the launch is through joining our social media Thunderclap. This allows causes, such as the launch of 105, to gain support from huge groups of people through using their social media following.

Through Thunderclap people can show their support by agreeing to share a single message about the launch of 105. Our Thunderclap will complete at 10am on 6th September, at which point this single message will be sent from the Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr account of everyone who signed up. This will give the launch of 105 a huge amount of reach in a very short space of time.

How do you use Thunderclap?

· Go to the ‘Power cut? Call 105’ Thunderclap page: https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/46062-power-cut-call-105
· Click on the large red buttons to show support through using either Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr.
· The next dialogue will confirm the message that will be sent on your behalf when the campaign completes. Give it a read and check you’re happy. The default message is “There’s a new number to call in the event of a power cut. Don’t get left in the dark – call 105. http://thndr.me/deu51r “
· Click ‘Add my support’
· You’re all done!

A national consumer awareness campaign will run from this month through to next spring and will include PR, media advertising, social media and coordinated messaging through partner channels.

Hopefully you can help us to raise awareness of this important new national 105 service through your channels, once the service is launched. We can provide you with materials to use, including:
· Copy for newsletters, websites and magazines
· 105 imagery
· Tips on what to do in a power cut
· Comment from our spokespeople
· Social media assets
· An animated film explaining 105
· We can also work with you to co-create bespoke content specifically for your channels.

We will also want to continue to work with partners to raise awareness of 105 in the longer-term.

A Stakeholder Toolkit, which includes creative collateral you might wish to use (in English and Welsh), along with the brand guidelines, has been produced. It can be downloaded from here.

If you have any questions or would like any further information, do let me know. Also, if you are able to support awareness raising of 105, please can you let us know when, where and how you can help by contacting/emailing encommunications@spenergynetworks.co.uk.

Kind regards

Tracy Joyce
Head of Stakeholder Engagement and Communications
SP Energy Networks

Fab fundraising efforts from Alasdair, age 9. He’s doing the ‘Pedal for Scotland’ 46 mile cycle from Glasgow to Edinburgh in aid of Arthritis Research UK on Sunday 11th September. Please donate if you can!

The Crystal Rig Windfarm fund is a community benefit fund available for the community of Garvald and Morham to carry out improvements to their local area in any sphere, including the environment, local amenity or tourism. Each year, the wind farm allocates an amount of money to the community council, who then administer its disbursement to the community. The total amount of money available is based on the installed capacity of the wind farm.

Here’s what Garvald & Morham Community Council has approved and paid out from our Wind Farm monies since October 2015. There is a great variety of funding that has taken place over the past year I am sure you will agree.

Applications

Morham Community, Ltd Company & Charitable Status £3,000.00
Garvald Hogmanay Fund December 2015 £1,200.00
Garvald & Morham Xmas Trip 2015 £1,164.00
Garvald Village Hall Lighting £4,913.00
Yester Nursery Play Project £5,000.00
Scott Thomson, Judo Expenses £2,000.00
Garvald Village Hall  Secondary Glazing £5,000.00
Daisy Ingram, Violin £145.00
Isaac Ingram, Guitar amps and accessories £143.24
Alasdair Easton, Chanter £45.00
Rudie Shearer, Club cycling costs £273.00
Alasdair Easton, Club cycling costs  £273.00
Rudie Shearer, Morham Runners  £200.00
Harry Lee, Morham Runners £200.00
Molly Clark, Morham Runners £200.00
Robbie Clark, Morham Runners £200.00
Garvald & Morham Choir £320.00
Garvald & Morham Xmas Theatre Trip £1,600.00
Lucy Ballantyne, Swimming Expenses £1,000.00
Aidan Ballantyne, Swimming Expenses  £1,000.00
Haddington & District Swim Club, French Swimming Exchange Visit £3,000.00

Total: £30,876.24

As you will be aware the current committee will hold it’s last meeting in Garvald on October 3rd prior to the Elections taking place, to elect a new committee. If you’d like to be involved in the Crystal Rig funding process, please come and join the committee. Meetings are bi-monthly, alternating in Garvald and Morham village halls.

Consideration is be given to all types of project that benefit the local community, and the Community Council is keen to widen the scope of projects funded. We are particularly keen to support young people with their sports, music and extra-curricular activities, so whatever idea you’ve got (no matter how big or small) please consider applying. The fund is not available to projects that would be under the remit of East Lothian Council or that would be working against the windfarm. Application forms are available to download on the GMCC webpage or from me at the Old School, Garvald. For more information please see the application form.

Thank you,

Phillip White

As you may know, the current term of office for East Lothian Community Councils is coming to an end in the next few weeks. I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank every Community Councillor for the service they have given over the last four years. These volunteers have worked hard for their communities in many different ways, from organising or helping to run community events, to representing local interests to East Lothian Council and other public and private bodies, as well as continuing to work closely with their partners in the Area Partnerships.

Elections for this our most local level of democracy, are scheduled for this October and East Lothian Council will shortly be issuing details of how to get involved. In the past, most of our Community Councillors have been appointed unopposed as there have been insufficient nominations. I wish to be clear that this is no reflection on those who have put themselves forward, we should all be grateful that they did, however, more candidates than positions will trigger local elections. This benefits us all as it raises awareness of what Community Councils do, increases community involvement and ownership, and strengthens the mandate for each Community Council with increased confidence that they reflect local opinion.

Nominations for this coming term will open on August 29th. Whether you are an existing Community Councillor, or just someone who has an interest in their local area and it’s future (and who doesnt), I would encourage you to stand for election. You need no special qualifications, apart from an open mind and a genuine wish to make a positive difference in your community. It does require making a commitment but it can be an incredibly rewarding experience, one that I heartily recommend.

Again, my thanks to those who have decided against standing for re-election, my best wishes to you. To those returning and new colleagues who are successfully elected to their Community Councils in October, the Association of East Lothian Community Councils extends a very warm welcome.

Yours etc,
Hilary Smith
Chair of the Association of East Lothian Community Councils

The Garvald Village Hall Trust’s AGM is having a makeover this year, yes really. And it’s going to be fun, honestly it is. Please save the time and date 7pm on Wednesday 5th October. And more details will follow …

East Lothian Council will be undertaking emergency carriageway repairs from Tuesday 26th July for approx 1 week. For safety reasons it will be necessary to close the road to through traffic however local access will still be maintained. Access for emergency vehicles will also be maintained.