The Splash Project: Empowering Women in East Berwickshire

About the Organisation

The purpose of Eyemouth and District Community Trust  (EDT) is to create a sustainable Eyemouth through community partnerships, volunteer development, and local projects.  EDT runs several initiatives including the Eyemouth Larder/Community Fridge, Splash Hub, and Eyemouth Living magazine.  EDT is located in one of the main service centres for the communities in the Drone Hill Fund area.  

The Need for the Project

Women in the area faced challenges including social isolation, limited development opportunities, and restricted social networks. Many encountered barriers to participation, such as childcare responsibilities, financial constraints, social anxiety, and health issues. The Splash Project was launched in July 2023 as a pilot project after community consultations identified a lack of dedicated and accessible women's groups in East Berwickshire. Following the pilot’s success and positive feedback from the participants, EDT wanted to continue the sessions and started to source funding to develop the project.

About the Project

The aim of The Splash Project was to provide weekly support sessions and standalone trips for women in East Berwickshire, creating a safe environment to share experiences and build skills. Sessions would be participant-led, ensuring relevance and impact. The group was designed to foster intergenerational connections for women aged over 21 years and from a range of backgrounds .

Funding 

To support the continuation of this project, EDT applied for £5,200 from the Drone Hill Wind Farm Community Fund to contribute to overall project costs. A Community Panel made up of people who live, work or volunteer in the fund benefit area, makes recommendations on grant awards from the fund.

Approximately 40% of participants were from the Drone Hill Fund area and so, following careful consideration, the Community Panel agreed to award £2,300, which represented 40% of the overall project costs.

Project Delivery

The project ran from April 2024 to April 2025, with 46 sessions delivered weekly on a Tuesday from 1-3 pm at EDT's Eyemouth office. 
Activities included:

• Wellbeing sessions: Gong baths, chair yoga, aqua aerobics
• Skill development: CPR training, herbal remedy making
• Creative workshops: Wreath-making, flower arranging, resin jewellery
• Community engagement: Cooking workshops, Women's Aid discussions

The project also included four annual trips, which included visits to garden centres, craft workshops, and cookery courses. All activities were free to participants, removing financial barriers to participation.

Benefits to Participants

The project delivered significant benefits:

• Growth in confidence: Women have progressed from hesitant participants to activity leaders
• Strong social connections: Diverse participants have formed supportive friendships
• Sharing in a safe space: The trusting environment has enabled women to discuss personal challenges, including domestic violence
• Reduced isolation: Attendance has increased from 8-12 to 14-20 regular participants
• Volunteer pathways: Three women now volunteer at Splash and other EDT projects

The Project Leaders noted:  

“When the group first started, many of the women arrived feeling unsure, anxious, and reluctant to speak up. A number had never taken part in community activities before, and the idea of contributing to a group felt overwhelming. Over time, this began to change. Through consistent support, gentle encouragement, and a warm, welcoming environment, the women began to relax, engage and form connections. Their confidence grew visibly week by week. Now, several women help lead activities, contribute ideas for future sessions, and take real pride in what the group has become. Three women have gone a step further and now volunteer at Splash events and their mother projects, helping to support others in the wider community. Their journey is a powerful reminder of what can happen when women feel seen, heard and part of something that matters.”

Long-term Impacts

The project has created lasting change:

• Individual transformation: Participants have developed from service users to community contributors
• Enhanced employability: Women have gained transferable skills including leadership and communication
• Community resilience: By building individual capacity, the project strengthens the wider community
• Support networks: Sustainable connections extend beyond the weekly sessions

The Project Lead noted important yet unanticipated outcomes: 

“One of the most powerful outcomes has been the strong bonds that have formed between group members. Despite coming from very different backgrounds, the women have created a genuinely welcoming and supportive environment. This sense of safety has enabled some to open up about deeply personal experiences. During one session with Women’s Aid, three women felt confident enough to share their own histories of domestic violence. As a result, two of them are now attending awareness training with Women’s Aid and have spoken about how much this group has helped them feel less isolated.”

Future Sustainability

The funding from Drone Hill has supported the long-term success of this project. It has helped leverage additional funding to continue the work and is now being embedded within EDT's core delivery. 
The project has become an essential support for many women, who describe it as "something they really rely on" and "look forward to every week."

Conclusion 

The Splash Project stands as an important initiative for women in East Berwickshire, addressing gaps in community support services. What began as a pilot in July 2023 has evolved into a weekly gathering that successfully combats social isolation, builds skills, and fosters meaningful connections among women from diverse backgrounds.

The funding provided by the Drone Hill Fund has been instrumental in ensuring the project's sustainability. By contributing £2,300—representing 40% of overall project costs and proportionate to participant demographics—Drone Hill's support has enabled EDT to leverage additional funding streams and integrate Splash into their core delivery. 

This strategic investment has transformed a promising pilot into a sustainable community asset.

Beyond the immediate benefits of reduced isolation and increased confidence, the project has yielded long-term impacts, with participants progressing from hesitant attendees to activity leaders and volunteers. This transformation from service users to community contributors exemplifies how targeted funding can catalyse lasting positive change in rural communities like East Berwickshire.

You can find out more about the Drone Hill Wind Farm Community Fund here.