Balintore’s Seaboard Centre ‘so grateful’ for funding lifeline from charity auction
AN auction with a difference pulled together to throw a funding lifeline to an Easter Ross community hub attracted lots of interested and generated a remarkable £4780.
The event hosted by the Seaboard Centre in Balintore has also thrown light on the tough financial climate faced by Third Sector groups which plug gaps in provision in rural areas with minimal support.
Centre stalwarts rallied a magnificent local response with items ranging from a week’s stay in a luxury caravan to horse trekking, a laptop, Anta rug to pork and venison.
The Seaboard Memorial Hall - also known as the Seaboard Centre - has been in existence since 1959, playing a major role in the social, educational, recreational and wellbeing of the Seaboard, Fearn and Nigg communities and providing a plethora of services and activities to community and visitors.
The new hall, opened in 2002, has been described as a welcoming, modern, adaptable building with excellent facilities which has had a transformational impact on the community.
It has been credited with helping to improve social cohesion, reduce isolation and assist community regeneration.
The first-of-its-kind auction was a huge success with over 120 in attendance and 65 registered bidders.
Centre stalwart and local councillor Maureen Ross said the work that went into approaching contributors and gathering and delivering items was “immense” and carried out “with enthusiasm and energy from both Linda and Michael Fraser”, well supported by businesses and individuals.
Two ‘runners’ from Hilton of Cadboll Primary School - Lacey and Macie - ran between the auctioneer and administration table.
Councillor Ross admitted to being seduced by the occasion into spending a little more than planned. She said: “I for one really enjoyed the day and found myself raising my bidding paddle up quite a few times - funny how you begin to get competitive. Once or twice I had to remind myself it was not a competition and think how much did I really want or even need the item!
“So many folks thanked us for having such an event and were even wondering when the next one was going to be.”
She hailed silver tongued auctioneer Sam Ferguson, adding: “At times I felt as though I was at a show and Sam was a performer. He also encouraged us to bid, I went home with a couple of things which to be honest he encouraged me to buy for more than I had in mind – job well done I’d say.”
She said: “Sam encouraged bidders to go that bit more and his moto was sell, sell, sell and at the end of the day a grand total of £4718 was raised. This is an amazing figure and something which the Seaboard Centre are so grateful for.
“We just got our annual insurance quote which has gone up by over £700 and now takes the premium up to over £4000 – how do organisations like us survive? Local and national governments and public agencies really do need to address the rising core running costs of Third Sector organisations who day in and day out pick up on the gaps of provision in rural communities especially, but that’s a discussion and issue for another day.”
