WE would like to thank everyone who supported us in 2018, including the Central Fife Times, and we would like to stress that without the support of the community and volunteers we would not be able to do what we do.

The success of 2018 is a combination of a hard-working dedicated committee of 12 people. YES TWELVE (we could be doing with a few more volunteers!) and the ongoing support of the Cowden community.

Our Civic week post on Facebook summarises the key events we organised in 2018 but people don't realise the blood, sweat, and yes tears, that goes on behind the scenes.

We are 12 people with jobs, families and commitments and we need support. We love our wee toon and when you see our calls for help please don't assume LOADS of folk come forward. This isn't the case. We need help and we would never turn anyone's offer of help away. There's a job for everyone and every volunteer has something to offer!

We are particularly chuffed with our partnership working with Cowdenbeath Community Council, Beath High School, Beath P.E. dept, Cowdenbeath Horticultural Society, Fife Active Schools, Beath Community Use and our local scout group, the 46th Fife, based on Wemyss Street and are excited about what we will be working with them on in 2019.

It's always a time of reflection when you approach the end of the year. We celebrated our 40th birthday in 2018 and the 12 months saw some old favourites as well as some new ventures that might make a return in 2019. So, what did the Civic Week Team get up to in 2018……….

We started the year with a loony dook at Pathhead Sands, in Kirkcaldy, to raise much needed funds for our annual programme of events.

We held our first ever concert at Beath High Community Use where the UK's No 1 tribute band in 2017, Little Fix, put on a 1st class show. Little Fix were also responsible for picking our Royal Party Names out the hat that day!

We had a wheelbarrow race! The Mary Maxwell Golf Tournament took place at Cowdenbeath Golf Club during Civic Week.

We sponsored the Civic Week bowls tournament with all the local rinks taking part

We put up miles of bunting for Civic Week from The Silver Birch to Leuchatsbeath Drive………and took it all back down again!

We arranged some inflatable fun at the pool for everyone during Civic Week at Cowdenbeath Leisure Centre We ran the Primary School "Jackie Allan 5s tournament" in Civic Week

We held our annual pet show, sponsored by Inglis Vets, at the new Maxwell Centre and we saw our best ever attendance! We held our first ever tea dance “An Afternoon At The Palais” at Beath High Community use

We organised a free information event for older people in the community and those that support them. Here we were joined by Wilson & Herbie the therapy ponies – the stars of the day!

Despite the weather our gala day parade and park activities went ahead. The poor weather saw our FIRST EVER initiation of “plan B” with activities moving further up the playing fields towards Beath High to avoid cancellation.

We awarded prizes to the best shop windows and floats on gala day. We sponsored the Beath High School Primary School Cluster Relay Race. We joined forces with Cowdenbeath Community Council and Beath High School to introduce and sponsor Junior and Senior Citizenship Awards and were delighted to be invited to enjoy the ceremonies. We sponsored the secondary school section of the Cowdenbeath Horticultural Society’s annual flower show – who’s theme was Cowdenbeath Gala in honour of our 40th birthday! We held our postponed gala day children's races and every child who took part received a medal.

We were presented with an award from Cowdenbeath Horticultural Society in recognition of our partnership working with them and the work we do in the community.

Carboot sales were organised and held on our behalf (weather permitting!) by Linda Calder, from March through to October We sponsored the Ministox Cup at Racewall

We held a sell-out Scottish Night at Broad Street Bowling Club where guests enjoyed live music, highland dancing and some traditional Scottish food!

Some of our committee joined the Coalfields Regeneration Trust steering group to help develop a 5 year action plan for Cowdenbeath – this will be ongoing into 2019.

We organised for Santa to Come to Town. We organised the Christmas Lights Switch-On which saw Little Fix return to entertain us and who also joined our royal party to turn on the Christmas lights! We held a Christmas party for 200+ children at Beath High Community Use. We organised a Christmas Fair at Beath High Community Use

Our Cowdenbeath Community Choir ran weekly rehearsals from September – December and were on tour in December 😉 at Costa/The ODEON to entertain their Customers.

Another sell out Christmas Concert with the choir held at the Beath & Cowdenbeath North Church.

And finally………we teamed up with Cowdenbeath Community Council and ran our first ever “Best Christmas Shop Window” competition. Something we will be repeating in 2019! WOW. What. A. Year.

So, if you’re contemplating your new year’s resolutions why not drop us a line - we are ALWAYS on the look out for volunteers.

Message us on Facebook, Twitter or Email us on civicweekenquiries@outlook.com

Thank you all for your support over the year. All the very best for 2019 and “lang may yer lums reek”.

THE CIVIC WEEK TEAM,

Cowdenbeath.