Project case study - Charitable donations
As well as working with the community to create new jobs, training opportunities and providing volunteering support, the project team were committed to supporting good causes locally through fundraising and benefit-in-kind donations.
The project supported a number of worthy causes locally which has helped to leave a legacy beyond the construction phase of the project.
Bankfoot Church Tower Restoration
The Grade B listed parish church of Auchtergaven and Moneydie was destroyed by fire on 25 February 2004 and had been derelict since. The church was built in 1812, however the site was used as a place of worship since 1567.
Facing the potential demolition of the parish church building, the Minister for Auchtergaven and Moneydie approached the local Community Council in December 2016, offering the opportunity to establish a local community group to take on the ownership and restoration of the church tower. This resulted in the establishment of the Auchtergaven Old Church Restoration Community Group.
The community-led project relies on volunteers from within the village to assist with the restoration process. The Auchtergaven Old Church Restoration Community Group aims to help strengthen the community by providing the opportunity to enjoy the most distinctive and prominent building in Bankfoot - a landmark for many and an important part of the cultural identity of the village.
Balfour Beatty, the contractor for the A9 Dualling: Luncarty to Pass of Birnam project donated £2,000 towards the restoration project.
Luncarty Community Council – Defibrillator Pads
In August 2019, the Project was approached by Luncarty Community Council to support the replacement of pads on the community access defibrillator. These kits are a vital resource in the community and can mean the difference between life and death in an emergency, so the team was more than happy to help and provide replacement defibrillator pads for community use.
National Accordion and Fiddle Competition
The local area is famed for it’s talented young Scottish musicians and, each year, hundreds travel from around the country to come together for the National Accordion and Fiddle Competition. Balfour Beatty was pleased to provide sponsorship for this important community event.
Woodchips for local primary schools
As well as fundrasing and cash donations, the project was keen to make use of any spare or waste materials to donate to good causes. Repurposing waste has the dual benefit of helping out the community and being beneficial for the environment.
When a number of trees were felled as part of the construction works, rather than dispose of the chippings as waste, the project donated them to Ruthvenfield Primary School and Fairview School for landscaping their outdoor spaces. This saved the schools around £2,000 and prevented the material from being disposed of.
Supply Chain Donations
As well as donations of support and materials directly from the project and Balfour Beatty, the project’s supply chain also played an important role in supporting charities and organisations in the surrounding community.
- Central Traffic Management, the project’s traffic management subcontractor sponsored local football club, Jeanfield Swifts and donated £1,500 to support them to buy a new kit.
- Reconomy, the project's waste management subcontractor, donated the use of a skip to Auchtergaven Primary School to help clear space in the playground.
- Bruce Hope of Vantage Images, who provided all photography and drone imagery for the project, donated up to £2,000 of his services to the Stanley to Luncarty Cycle Path group.
- Breedon Group, a supply chain partner for surfacing works and aggregate supply, donated various materials for community groups and school projects.
- WM Houston Landscaping, the projects landscaping supply chain partner, donated tree stakes and protector sleeves to the Stanley Men’s Shed to assist them in planting the community orchard at Stanley Mills.
