THEY say it's better to give than to receive and the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust have done just that throughout 2023.
And to celebrate the 12 days of Christmas they posted on Facebook each day about the lucky recipients they've given grants to and how the money was spent to spread some "sweetness and light" in the city.
That was the direction from Andrew Carnegie himself, he famously set up the trust with a handwritten letter in 1903, charging those who followed with adding value to the lives of the people of Dunfermline, the place of his birth.
The steel king and philanthropist also said "the happiness of giving is far sweeter than the pleasure direct” and left a legacy, which has given the trustees around £150,000 a year to give to good causes.
In their own words, this is how they've spread joy and helped others over the past year.
Day 1: This year we gave £8,097 to Heart for Art. This money was put towards a pilot art project for people living with dementia at Abbey Church of Dunfermline.
It allowed for an inclusive space for creativity to be offered to all adults living with dementia and their unpaid carers.
Each session had around 12 participants who were supported by a team of volunteers. Their individual artworks were exhibited in the Abbey Church in May.
Day 2: This year we gave £20,000 towards the Outwith Festival. This five day event was a celebration of arts, culture, creativity and community in the city centre of Dunfermline.
This annual event is run solely by a team of volunteers and brings together artists, performers and creative minds from various fields to showcase their talents.
The festival had more than 80 events across the five days in September which more than 4,000 people attended - a record breaking number for Outwith!
Day 3: Duloch Primary School were granted £10,000 towards a project to redevelop the playground.
It included the installation of a trim trail, basketball hoops, toadstool seats and a storytelling chair, making the outdoor space a more enjoyable and interesting learning experience for all 500 pupils.
Not only will the play equipment be utilised at break and lunchtime but it will also be used during specific health and wellbeing lessons.
Day 4: This year we granted £1,500 towards the Fife Festival of Music event.
The money was used to allow all local participants free entry to the 2023 show - the event had been cancelled for three years prior due to the pandemic.
The festival lasted for two weeks and there was competitive and non-competitive sessions, allowing singers and musicians to display their talents in a range of instrumental, vocal, solo, duet, ensemble and large group classes.
Day 5: The 40th Fife (Touch) Scouts were granted £2,500 towards the replacement of old kitchen appliances and units within the scout hall.
The 170 young people who attend Scouts, Cubs and Beavers will be able to enjoy a bright, safe and modern environment to improve their cooking skills.
The new layout has created a much larger floorspace, allowing more people into the kitchen at the same time.
Day 6: This year the Dunfermline Choral Union was granted £1,500 towards their Come and Sing event in the Vine Church in August.
People were invited to come along for the day to sing with the choir, before an informal concert for family and friends in the evening.
More than 100 people signed up and the concert was enjoyed by an audience of 80.
Day 7: This year Bright Green Hydrogen were granted £8,100 towards renewable energy workshops in local primary schools.
They deliver a wide range of engaging STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities and are visiting 17 schools around Dunfermline and Rosyth, providing P3-6 pupils with solar energy workshops using solar K'nex cars.
On sunnier days pupils have been able to take learning outdoors to see the impact light, shade and the position of the sun has on the solar cells.
Day 8: The 19th A Dunfermline Brownies and 19th Dunfermline Guides were granted £350 towards cowboy hats and neckers for their Wild West holiday and camp.
This was the first camp that they had taken part in since the pandemic.
As well as adding to the Wild West theme, the cowboy hats and neckers protected the girl’s heads and backs of their necks from the sun!
Day 9: The Peacocks in Pittencrieff Park volunteers were awarded a grant of £500 towards the production of a calendar.
It was then sold to raise funds for the upkeep of the iconic birds - recently awarded freedom of the city - which live in the Glen.
The peacocks are looked after by a dedicated group of volunteers who attend the park every day to ensure the bird’s welfare, and the group raise money for food, vet’s bills and aviary maintenance.
Day 10: A grant of £4,560 was awarded to Police Scotland Young Volunteers to be used for the purchase of professional film equipment for a community safety film project.
It was a partnership with Fife College which provides accredited learning opportunities and technical assistance.
The volunteers have produced videos to highlight issues in our local communities such as the danger of speeding outside primary schools and adults purchasing alcohol for under 18’s.
Day 11: This year Touch Trust were awarded a grant of £1,500 towards the purchase of IT equipment to be used by various groups using the community hub in St Margaret’s Church.
The trust is open and available throughout the week and hosts a range of community organisations from youth clubs, mental health and addiction services to toddlers and homework clubs.
The computer suite with full internet access is well used to help with benefit support, college classes and adult education.
Day 12: The trustees awarded a £5,000 grant to Viewfield Baptist Church to be used for a softplay and sensory room in Zac’s café, a new community café within the church hall.
Preparatory work of installing low surface temperature radiators, new lighting and decoration took place earlier in the year.
The new soft play facility in the cafe was able to open in May for families, especially for those who have children with additional needs to enjoy, and has proved very popular.
If you know of a group or project that might be eligible for a grant in 2024 you can get more information and contact the trust via their website.
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