BRAG’s 2020-21 AGM

We held our 2020-21 AGM on Friday 1st October at 4pm, some members of the board appeared in person at Brag’s Crosshill Community Enterprise Centre with the majority attending virtually via the zoom platform.

A new annual report has been produced highlighting the challenges that the Coronavirus pandemic has posed to many charities and organisations over the year and how Brag teams responded positively and adapted delivery of their services to suit the restrictions, embracing the digital world and using virtual meeting places instead of face to face sessions.

Speaking of the unprecedented year Brag’s Managing Director Brian Robertson-Fern said; “Our staff and volunteers all stepped up and acted as a springboard to stability and opportunity for those we supported, and we are pleased that we have helped create real social impact in the communities we serve”.

Discussed was the impact from the various projects that Brag have delivered over the financial year, here are just a few highlights:

The New Enterprise Allowance team worked with 770 people who aspired to become self-employed which is an increase from the previous year at 539. The pantry@brag initially set up as an emergency response during the first lockdown then becoming a member’s pantry supported 8867 people, provided 42,466 meals into the Benarty community whilst diverting 12,450 Kg of food from landfill! Together Levenmouth assisted Fife Council with the emergency food provision based at The People’s Pantry in Leven and safely produced the largest post lockdown artisan market in Fife. Square Start Levenmouth worked with 43 families; 49 adults and 86 children supported by the programme’s full family approach to employability. Fife-ETC (of which Brag are lead partners) registered 996 unemployed people, helping 459 into employment and offering in work support to 225 individuals. Meanwhile Brag’s employability team registered 386 clients, supported a further 110 people and completed and reviewed 233 CV’s securing employment for 144 of those clients.

Brag’s Chair David Piper said of the organisation’s impact over the financial year; “The achievements that the organisation has gained in such projects such as Adult & Community Delivery and Square Start Fife during these trying times bodes well for the future and the entire team are to be commended for their resilience and endeavour in maintaining the track record of delivery.”

As with all charities, volunteers are the backbone of Brag with the pantry@brag alone registering 32 volunteers and clocking up 4,992 volunteer hours over the year. Many of those volunteers were furloughed from their own jobs. If you would like to volunteer for any of Brag’s projects in Levenmouth, Benarty or in the Dunfermline area with Square Start then please email [email protected]

The Annual Report is now available to view here.