King's Coronation Fund
The King’s Coronation Fund was a one-off fund established by ourselves to enable community councils within the Scottish Borders to apply for up to £500 of grant funding to organise celebratory events to mark the King’s Coronation weekend.
The King’s Coronation Fund was open for applications from 9 February 2023 until 5 May 2023 and approximately £19k was awarded to 41 community councils. Please see further detail on successful grant awards below.
Berwickshire
- Abbey St. Bathans, Bonkyl and Preston Community Council was awarded £500 to hold a celebration event in the Abbey St. Bathans Village Hall for local residents which included a live screening of the Coronation Service and a buffet and refreshments.
- Allanton, Whitsome and Edrom Community Council was awarded £200 to hold a Sausage Sizzle and a community get together to rejuvenate Allanton Village Hall garden and Allanton Children’s Play Area for the Coronation celebration.
- Burnmouth Community Council was awarded £500 to host a community celebration on the King’s Coronation weekend. The event was free, open to the entire village of Burnmouth and had a bouncy castle, games, food and refreshments.
- Coldingham Community Council was awarded £500 to hold an afternoon tea at the Coldingham Village Hall on Sunday, 7 May 2023. The funding was used to pay for afternoon tea for 300 local residents, hall hire costs, advertising costs and sundries.
- Eyemouth Community Council was awarded £500 to distribute to the local Primary School and Secondary School to hold community Coronation celebrations. The funding was used to pay for food and refreshments for the two events, which includes a Coronation cake making competition
- Gavinton, Fogo and Polwarth Community Council was awarded £475 for the hire of community cinema equipment, a bouncy castle and to purchase food and soft drinks for an event which took place in the village hall and the village green.
- Gordon and Westruther Community Council was awarded £500 to cover hall hire, food and drink and sundry costs for events in both Gordon and Westruther.
- Hutton and Paxton Community Council was awarded £500 to cover the cost of stage hire, a bouncy castle, bunting and printing.
- Lammermuir Community Council was awarded £500 for three celebratory events. On Saturday, 6 May 2023, the community was invited to a celebration at Longformacus Village Hall where the King’s Coronation Event was screened. On Saturday afternoon at Cranshaws Community Orchard there was a Coronation barbecue and bush craft event for families, including craft activities. On Sunday, 7 May 2023, there was a community Coronation Big Lunch hog roast in Longformacus.
- Leitholm, Eccles and Birgham Community Council was awarded £500 to host events in each of the three villages and to cover the cost of food and soft drinks.
- Reston and Auchencrow Community Council was awarded £500 to purchase food, refreshments, sundries and to cover the cost of hall hire. There were various events over the King’s Coronation weekend in both Reston and Auchencrow, including a tea party, a choir performance and a street party.
- St. Abbs Community Council was awarded £499 for a celebration including a buffet and soft drinks in St. Abbs Village Hall.
Cheviot
- Crailing, Eckford and Nisbet Community Council was awarded £500 for events in both Lothian Hall, Crailing, which provided food and catering for 25 people with activities for children, and Eckford Village Hall where there was a buffet lunch plus live viewing of the Coronation.
- Ednam, Stichill and Berrymoss Community Council was awarded £500 to hold an event in Stichill Village Hall, free to all, where the King’s Coronation was shown live and teas, coffees, cakes and ice cream were served. There was a volunteering event held, as suggested by the King. Ednam also hosted a community event, open to all, and used the funding for food, soft drinks and a bouncy castle.
- Floors, Makerstoun, Nenthorn and Smailholm Community Council was awarded £500 to purchase food and sundries for each area of the community council to assist with the celebrations of the King’s Coronation.
- Heiton and Roxburgh Community Council was awarded £458.38 to hold events in Roxburgh Village Hall, where there was a live screening of the Coronation and a picnic-style banquet for community members and at Heiton Village Hall which provided food, soft drinks, music and games in a traditional street party environment.
- Jedburgh Community Council was awarded £500 to purchase prizes, sundries and public liability insurance. The grant was also used to cover the cost hiring Jedburgh Town Hall and for donations to local town bands who provided entertainment at a King’s Coronation event on Sunday, 7 May 2023.
- Kalewater Community Council was awarded £450 to hold a tea party in Morebattle.
- Lanton Community Council was awarded £200 to fund venue hire and refreshments for a celebration event at Lanton Village Hall.
- St. Boswells Parish Community Council was awarded £500 to host a community celebration on Saturday, 6 May 2023 at St. Boswells Village Hall. The Coronation event was screened and a free buffet was provided. Attendees were encouraged to take food from the event to any vulnerable members of the community who were unable attend.
- Yetholm Community Council was awarded £500 for refreshments for a celebration event in the Wauchope Town Hall, Yetholm on Monday, 8 May 2023. The community council also offered a delivery service for people who were unable to make the event on the day.
Eildon
- Bowden Village Committee was awarded £50 for refreshments following the Dawn Chorus Bird Walk on Saturday, 6 May 2023 with coffee, croissants, bacon rolls and a future assembling of a Coronation Bug Hotel. All events took place on Bowden Common or on public rights of way.
- Earlston Community Council was awarded £500 to hold two community events to celebrate the Kings Coronation including an afternoon tea, food and soft drinks at Earlston Rugby Club.
- Ettrick and Yarrow Community Council was awarded £500 to be split between the village halls to host community gatherings to celebrate the King’s Coronation.
- Galashiels Community Council was awarded £500 to cover the cost of hall hire, food, refreshments and public liability insurance. There was a King’s Coronation afternoon tea at the Focus Community Centre in Galashiels on Friday, 5 May 2023.
- Lilliesleaf, Ashkirk and Midlem Community Council was awarded £300 to hold two picnic/bring-a-plate events at Lilliesleaf and Midlem Village Halls, on Sunday, 7 May 2023. The funding was used to pay for refreshments, decorations and tableware for the two events.
- Newtown St. Boswells and Eildon Community Council was awarded £500 to host a coronation celebration on Sunday, 7 May 2023. The community were encouraged to bring along a picnic to the event where they enjoyed refreshments, games, a bouncy castle and a children’s fancy dress competition.
- Oxton and Channelkirk Community Council was awarded £500 to host a street party on the King’s Coronation weekend. The grant covered the costs of family games and a bouncy castle.
- Selkirk Community Council was awarded £481.45 to hold a free afternoon event in the Cross Keys to bring together the Selkirk community by celebrating many of its societies, organisations and performers that make Selkirk special.
- The Parish of Stow Community Council was awarded £500 for a free buffet tea for all members of the Stow and Fountainhall community to celebrate the King’s Coronation. All leftover food was distributed to the local community.
Teviot and Liddesdale
- Denholm and District Community Council was awarded £500 to host a community celebration on the King’s Coronation weekend. The majority of the grant paid for the hire of public toilets with the remainder going towards food and refreshments.
- Hawick Community Council was awarded £500 to host a celebration event in Evergreen Hall, Hawick on Sunday, 7 May 2023 from 14:00 until 16:00. The grant covered the costs of food, sundries, hall hire and marketing.
- Hobkirk Community Council was awarded £500 to run a Coronation afternoon tea in the William Laidlaw Hall over the Coronation weekend. Funding was used to purchase catering, drinks and cover marketing and printing costs.
- Newcastleton and District Community Council was awarded £500 to hold two Coronation celebration events. The funding was provided to support a ‘Little Explorers Party’ and a ‘Copshaw Goes Potty for the Coronation Event’ where the whole village was invited to attend the event. Newcastleton and District Community Council also secured further funding from the National Lottery to run the events.
- Southdean Community Council was awarded £500 host a King’s Coronation party on Sunday, 7 May 2023. The event was open to the whole community and the grant covered the costs of an ice cream van, a bouncy castle, refreshments, decorations and games.
- Upper Liddesdale and Hermitage was awarded £500 to hold a Coronation lunch. The outdoor event included a hog roast (with vegetarian option) and was hosted jointly between the Hermitage Hall Committee and the Upper Liddesdale and Hermitage Community Council on Sunday, 7 May 2023.
Tweeddale
- Manor, Lyne and Stobo Community Council was awarded £350 to host an afternoon picnic with music for the Coronation celebrations. The event took place at Hallmanor House, Stobo. The funding was used to pay for venue hire, refreshments, decorations and advertising.
- The Royal Burgh of Peebles and District Community Council was awarded £500 to host an event for those who may be socially isolated and would otherwise have to watch the Coronation celebration alone, to come together and watch it in company. Transport was arranged for those who were unable to make their way to the venue unassisted. The free-to-access, ticketed event took place at the Eastgate Theatre in Peebles with free refreshments provided.
- Tweedsmuir Community Council was awarded £252.19 for a “ring your own picnic” event, at the community owned “Crook”. The funding was used to provide soft drinks and cakes which were distributed to vulnerable members of the community who were unable to attend.
- Upper Tweed Community Council was awarded £500 to host a Coronation community lunch event on Sunday, 7 May 2023 at Broughton Village Hall. The grant was used to purchase food, drinks, sundries and equipment hire.
- Walkerburn and District Community Council was awarded £500 to host a series of free community events in celebration of the Coronation including an afternoon of family fun on Saturday, 6 May 2023, with games and light refreshments in the public hall. On Sunday, 7 May 2023, there was a Coronation Big Lunch and the grant was put towards food costs. Both events were used to highlight the value of volunteering and being involved in community activities.