Projects

Reconnecting Communities, Inspiring Creativity: Collaboration at the Heart of Change

Since its establishment in 2021, Heids and Herts has focused on fostering community connections through creative expression across North East Fife and East Neuk. Our artist-led workshops, funded by the University of St Andrews, supported communities facing COVID-related challenges, transforming village halls into vibrant artistic spaces.

We refined our Village Creative initiative with support from the Fife Council Local Community Planning Budget, the Binn Wind Turbine Community Fund, administered by Foundation Scotland and GoFibre's GoFurther Community Fund. We launched eight community art projects in collaboration with local builders. Each community pitched its project and managed timelines and logistics while partnering with Heids and Herts to engage artists and measure impacts. These projects ran from late 2023 to autumn 2024.

Projects highlights:

Giffordtown Village Hall Committee: A writing project leading to the community’s second book publication, "Once Upon a Time…", launching in late autumn 2024.

Colinsburgh Community Trust: Cooking workshops teaching residents to prepare economical meals from the community fridge with seasonal ingredients.

The Listening Library': An intergenerational podcast project with the Youth Ambassador group associated with Balmerino Gauldry Kilmany Logie Community Council.

Garden Tales: Cultivating Community Through Art. An art initiative by the Collessie Village Hall Committee and highlighting the village gardens and green spaces.

A village history mural: A series of art workshops creating a glass mosaic commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Memorial Hall, created with the Gateside Community Association.

100 Years of Memories: A series of gatherings and workshops connecting older adults at Kilmany Parish Church and creating a village memory book preserving community heritage.

Photography Workshops: Exploring cameras and photography and engaging children, young people, and their parents with Families First, St Andrews.

Arts and Poetry Project: A creative collaboration with Migrant families at CiC Community Café and the LGBTQ HUB in Cupar.

Together, these diverse projects enriched community life and rekindled connections through creativity.

(Trustees Amber Shaw-Smith and Jenni Gudgeon are pictured in Falkland celebrating the Go Fibre - Go Further Community Fund news)

Haiver FM: Amplifying Community Voices

Our Haiver FM broadcast on 87.9FM became a powerful platform during Mental Health Awareness Week, running from May 9th to 15th, 2022. This initiative featured engaging daily bulletins and transitioned into an exciting two-week live broadcast, offering 12 hours of captivating programming each day from May 16th to 29th. All of this creativity blossomed from our lively temporary studio in the Jubilee Hall, Burnturk.

The results were extraordinary! Our Haiver FM media player attracted over 2,500 listener sessions from 22 different countries, with audiences tuning in for a remarkable 28,353 minutes of content throughout the month. On social media, Heids and Herts reached an impressive 12,900 individuals, garnering 2,291 engaging interactions that sparked conversations and connections within our community.

Join us on this journey! Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to stay updated with regular podcasts and project highlights as we advance the Haiver Community Radio and Podcast Project—putting Community Voices at the Forefront.

This transformative project was proudly funded by the Fife Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, administered by Fife Voluntary Action with support from the Scottish Government.

Introducing The Sonic Museum: Capturing the Sounds of Land and Sea

Heids and Herts Scotland proudly announces The Sonic Museum, a new initiative that empowers local communities in North East Fife and the East Neuk to explore their rich intangible cultural heritage through sound. Following the success of Haiver FM, our temporary community radio station established during Mental Health Awareness Week in 2021, we aim to combat loneliness and isolation by using digital recording technologies to capture and share stories.

With recent funding from the Community Learning and Development Device Fund managed by SCVO, we have created a field recording lending resource featuring 12 professional digital field recording kits. This allows communities to record memories, nature soundscapes, songs, and sonic postcards. Four pilot projects are currently underway with the Youth Ambassadors from Balmerino, Gauldry, Kilmany, and Logie Community Council, as well as volunteers from St Andrews Heritage Museum and Garden, Kilmany Parish Hall in Rathillet, and the Hamlet of Collessie.

Recently, we enhanced our initiative by loaning a complete audio production station to Fife Writes, a peer support group for writers. This collaboration will enable members to record spoken word, short stories, poems, and podcast plays celebrating Fife's rich landscapes, history, and heritage.

Ian Harrower, Chair of Heids and Herts Scotland shared, “The Sonic Museum will be a digital collection that highlights the cultural and natural wealth of North East Fife, fostering collaboration with community groups and encouraging creativity through new skills in podcasting, writing, and performance.”

Marianne Berghuis, Chair of Fife Writes, added, “The professional production equipment provides an exciting platform for our members to explore and share their narratives while also allowing us to record and stream live events that encourage writers of all experiences.”

Access The Sonic Museum on Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/nZWMjJfGb5UNz89F6

A Successful Gathering for Community Building - Wed, 26 April 2023 Falkland Estate

We were thrilled to host our first-ever collaboration day, featuring Professor (Emerita) Karen McArdle, FRSA, from the University of Aberdeen, alongside our facilitator, Peter McCaughey from Waveparticle. This event brought together dedicated colleagues working to build stronger communities across North East Fife.

The day was filled with bonding experiences and insightful discussions focused on enhancing social cohesion and resilience. The inspiration we drew from each other was truly remarkable.

Subject to funding, we hope to include follow-up events soon and will keep everyone updated on the dates.

Our heartfelt thanks to the Arnold Clark Community Fund for their generous support in making this initiative possible.

Hearth in the Howe

Hearth in the Howe was a vibrant series of community story-catching events centred on the belief that sharing stories fosters common values, combats loneliness, and inspires compassionate actions.

We collaborated with local communities and the talented professional storyteller Sheila Kinninmonth to celebrate the diverse narratives and reminiscences reflecting rural living.

Hearth in the Howe Sponsors

Hearth in the Howe was part of the Year of Stories 2022 Community Stories programme, made possible with funding support from EventScotland, Museums Galleries Scotland, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Scotland's Year of Stories 2022 celebrated tales inspired by, written in, or connected to Scotland. Stories are a vital part of our cultural landscape, with each community offering a unique narrative. Throughout the year, numerous events organized by community groups, museums, cultural and heritage organizations, and visitor attractions showcased our rich storytelling and literary heritage.