Jan Martinez and friends at the opening
Now that Burntisland has been officially named as the Fife's First Fair Trade Town, what about going for another title? Burntisland could soon become the 'Healthiest town in Fife!' All down to the newly opened Social Resource Centre based at 96 High Street.
The centre is managed by Just Rural Development Trust (JRD Trust), which was set up by Jan Martinez in 2000, receiving charitable status in 2004, and strongly focuses on community health, wealth and happiness. Open to the entire community, the centre provides positive education, radical intervention, health and environmental awareness.
JRD Trust has run many successful events, with a lasting message to promote health awareness and equal opportunity. In the last five years JRD Trust has served up an organic platter to over 1000 people in the Fife area.
Now that the Social Resource Centre is open thanks to the support of the 2020 Development Trust, the Common Good Committee and Fife Council, a move into longer term educational support has been programmed. JRD workshops include employability skills for long term unemployed and networking support facilities for individuals and groups wishing to set up their own social enterprise.
Additionally, for those more interested in recreational and life skills such as cookery, nutrition, hygiene, budgeting, recycling information, traditional arts and crafts, aromatherapy and confidence building, the Social Resource centre is definitely the place to visit for free friendly workshops, support and advice.
The community garden at the rear of the Social Resource Centre also offers great opportunities for you to learn gardening skills and how to grow your own organic fruit and vegetables. The garden is presently in some disrepair, although work has already started to turn it into a sensory oasis for visitors to get involved in or simply to collect their thoughts in our very own 'Tranquil Cranny'.
To sustain the excellent community work being undertaken by the JRD trust, a recently agreed long lease of the old Macari's café in the High Street was entered into. Wendy Edie an active volunteer for the Trust said everyone was over the moon with the generous terms and conditions afforded by the owners Jinty & Andy Wight-Boycott, who are both big supporters of healthy eating programmes. Tremendous support for the autumn opening of "La Smart Kookie" a Bistro with a twist, sourcing locally grown natural produce has been forthcoming from a variety of sources including the Scottish Community Diet Project, Development Trusts Association Scotland and Senscot.
With your help the Social Resource Centre will grow to become a thriving hub for the community, acting as an information point for community events/committees, and a general drop in centre for people looking for assistance.
The centre is open 10-1 on Mondays and Fridays, and 10 - 4 on Wednesdays. For more information on workshops or on how to get involved in volunteering within the community please pop in for a chat. Alternatively you can contact the JRD Trust on 01592 873875 or email: jrdbiorganic@yahoo.com