Background
In 2010, Fife Council asked the community whether it would be interested in taking over the three halls owned and managed by Fife Council - the Community Centre, the Town Hall and the Victoria Hall. In November that year, 10 community groups formed the Auchtermuchty Halls and Centres Steering Group to look at the community's facilities, particularly those three halls.
The Steering Group held a number of focus groups within the community over the next couple of years, looking at what everyone wanted. It was clear that the community wanted the Fife Council halls to continue in use – and had lots of ideas about other activities and events that could be held in them.
The Trust
These discussions led to the formation of the Auchtermuchty Community Trust. The Trust obtained Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation status in November 2012. Its trustees are local residents from various backgrounds, including two councillors as well as representatives from the community council, theatre group, festival, church and community centre.
The Trust is committed to bringing facilities to Auchtermuchty which are functional, appealing and complement the other facilities already operating within the town.
That’s not all though. The Trust has a much wider remit. Its overall purpose is to advance community development, and to provide recreational facilities, or organise recreational activities for the community so as to enhance the conditions of life for those living in the community. The Trust also believes in the importance of preserving the historical and architectural heritage of the town for the community. For more details, see the Trust's constitution.
Funding
The Trust has no funds of its own. It is reliant on fund-raising activities and on grants from government and other grant funding bodies.
In 2013, the Trust secured £10,000 from Fife Council and the European Community rural scheme called LEADER. The funds were used to carry out an extensive community survey and options appraisal. Both the survey and the appraisal are required by funding bodies (such as the Big Lottery) who might provide significant funds for building renovations in the future.
In March 2014, a group of four Auchtermuchty community organisations, led by the Trust, were awarded a grant of £29,379 from the Voluntary Action Fund. For more information see the cluster grant project.
The Trust will be doing more fund-raising as its projects develop.