CHAIRPERSON REPORT 2024-2025
Stoneyburn and Bents Future Vision Group SCIO SC046760
Chairpersons Report 2024-2025
AGM. 14 April 2026
Welcome the AGM of Stoneyburn and Bents Future Vision Group SCIO. Our accounting period runs from August to August, and as such, this report covers the period between August 2024 and July 2025.
Allow me to thank the Board of Trustees of SBFVG SCIO for all their hard work, determination, effort, teamwork and commitment throughout the year; to our Project Development Officer for her dedication; and to our Project Coordinator. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Village Primary Schools’ staff and pupils, both Primary Schools’ PTAs, the Community Centre Staff and Management Committee, the numerous Village organisations, groups, and local businesses, West Lothian Council, our local Councillors, WLC NET's Services, Citizens Advice Bureau West Lothian, WLC Regeneration Officers, The Woodland Trust, Walking Scotland, Voluntary Sector Gateway, Development Trust Association Scotland, the University of Stirling, Mining Landscapes, School Bank West Lothian, West Lothian Litter Pickers, the PSYV, and of course, the residents of our village.
This period saw many events take place within the village and brought new challenges as the Group continued to support the community amid the ongoing cost of living crisis:
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Continued village improvements and village litter picks.
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Our annual Burns event and afternoon tea events.
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Our annual Santa Parade for its 13th-year.
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Expanded our social media presence to highlight the Group’s work.
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Ran our Amigos club, and delivered the Summer of Fun programme, providing family trips and activities. Another successful day at our Annual Fulshie Fun Run. The continuation of our Fulshie Films in the Hub.
Stoneyburn and Bents Future Vision Group SCIO SC046760
Chairpersons Report 2024-2025
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The Young at Heart project for older residents continued to thrive after more successful funding.
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We took trips down memory lane with Tom Purdie.
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Our Larder and Warm Hub Service provision continues.
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Our Care for Carers group continued to grow.
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We saw the return of the OPAL & Xcite Games.
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We also became Guiness World Records Holder
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Our new Men’s Group was launched and continues to grow. We continue to maintain the Village Defibs thanks to Ian McKay.
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Continued our partnership with the School Bank West Lothian to continue our School Clothing Bank.
Sandy continues to be the driving force behind our paths projects, with meetings involving Councillors, SUSTRANs, WLC Officers, Paths for All, landowners, and other stakeholders. Despite the many challenges, progress is steady.
The Group has worked closely with the Woodland Trust to maintain the walks, paths, and forest around the Fulshie. Path upgrades and tree management continues, with the Woodland Trust having further improvements planned over the next few years.
Laura has continued her vital work, securing funding to support the Group’s five-year Strategic Plan. She has led many projects, forged partnerships, and strengthened community links.
Our Blether Service, providing essential social contact for isolated elderly residents. Thanks to Mary’s dedication, and the cost-effective nature of the service, this service continues to deliver for our residents.
Our annual Santa Parade celebrated its 13-year anniversary: Santa toured the village with his elves, creating another memorable event. To mark the occasion, we hosted a Christmas Film Night, Kids’ Film Screening, and a children’s Christmas Disco. Our Christmas Elves (Sandy and Laura) even managed to deliver a selection box for all our primary school children.
Stoneyburn and Bents Future Vision Group SCIO SC046760
Chairpersons Report 2024-2025
The Young at Heart programme delivered multiple events throughout the year, designed to bring older residents together. Thanks to additional funding secured by our Project Development Officer, we were able to expand the programme further introducing new activities and partnerships.
Our Amigos, and our Intergenerational summer programme returned for another successful summer, packed with games and activities. Our Summer of Fun provided trips to Portobello Beach, National Museum of Scotland, Burntisland, Dunfermline Abbey, Glasgow Science Centre, along with guest speakers, pottery sessions, fitness workshops, and the return of the everpopular Gaming Bus.
Throughout the school holidays, we continued our support to provide breakfasts for children, with packs available from the Larder free of charge. Additional packs were handed out during the summer clubs to assist families over the seven-week break. We also handed out 50 ‘ready for school packs’ for some of our amigos.
Our Care for Carers programme helped those with caring responsibilities take time for themselves, offering wellbeing sessions, craft activities, and a book club. Packs were also delivered to those unable to attend in person.
We launched our clean up Stoneyburn and Bents, with regular litter picks involving our residents and our local primary schools.
I would like to thank Jean for maintaining our planted areas, Raymond for his efforts to keep the village tidy, and the Walking Group for litter-picking the Fulshie. A special thanks also to all our volunteers who volunteer throughout the year, who continue to support our community. We welcomed a number of new volunteers this year, who continue to help our community thrive.
Stoneyburn and Bents Future Vision Group SCIO SC046760
Chairpersons Report 2024-2025
We welcomed Stacey to the team, who begin her journey with us helping within our larder and warm hub. She was instrumental in the facilitation and growth of some of our groups, including our Elevate Programme for the young people in our village. She also helped to re-establish our quarterly newsletter, which has continued throughout the year.
This has been another eventful year for the Group, and I look forward to the year ahead, and extend my sincere gratitude to everyone involved in making Stoneyburn and Bents Future Vision Group SCIO, a vital force at the heart of our community.
Iain MacIntyre
Chairperson