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Fancy getting Tesco cash?

Community groups in the Bo’ness area – working with children and young people – are being encouraged to apply for funding from Tesco. Shoppers vote for eligible groups and projects using blue tokens in Tesco stores. The most votes gets the most cash, up to £1500. Sharon Stoddart, a community enabler with Greenspace Scotland -…

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Bo’net secretary highlights Kinneil on new podcast

Bo’net Secretary Adrian Mahoney appears on the latest edition of the Edinburgh Outdoors podcast, talking about Kinneil Estate in Bo’ness. You can listen on Spotify – or anywhere you get your podcasts. Get more information on the main Kinneil website. You can also get information on wider tourist attractions in Bo’ness – and Roman Antonine…

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How artificial intelligence can help local groups

Artificial intelligence (AI) might sound like something out of a sci-fi movie, but it’s rapidly becoming an incredibly useful and accessible tool for everyone – even community groups and charities. And that’s even if you have limited budgets and technical expertise. Far from being complex and expensive, many AI tools are now free or very…

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New season of history talks

Bo’ness Town Trust Association has unveiled its new programme of talks. The first event of the new season takes place on Thursday, 18 September 2025. Local historian Christine Simm will speak on the Whaling Industry of Bo’ness. The subject had been scheduled previously, but was postponed. Organisers say they hope for a strong turnout to…

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New Antonine Wall trail welcomed

Bo’net has welcomed the creation of a new walking trail along the Roman Antonine Wall – which runs from Bo’ness to Old Kilpatrick. Bo’net Secretary Adrian Mahoney said: “Anything that encourages people to visit our area, and spend money in our local economy, has to be a good thing. “Although the Antonine Wall was built…

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Give views on bandstand – to help secure potential funding

Falkirk Council is asking local groups in Bo’ness to fill in a short questionnaire about the bandstand in the town’s Glebe Park. It hopes responses will help it secure funding for improvements. Planning officer Ruth Simpson said: “The Glebe Bandstand Restoration Project has been progressing positively. We were informed in August this year that our funding…

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Bo’net appeals for help

A charity which works to “make Bo’ness better” is appealing for help. Bo’net – the Bo’ness Networking Group – is looking for new committee members (trustees) plus event volunteers. The organisation – which supports community groups and has organised projects like a revamp at Bo’ness Hospital Garden – says it needs fresh faces to keep…

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Join us!

Become a charity trustee with Bo’net – and help support Bo’ness Bo’net, the Bo’ness Networking Group, is looking for new volunteers to join our committee of trustees. This is group that helps run and guide our local charity. If you live in Bo’ness and want to make a positive difference in the community, we’d love…

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May newsletter

The May 2025 newsletter from Bo’net is now available. The update includes information on the new Bo’ness banking hub, Volunteers’ Week, the town centre consultation and our own AGM.

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Bo’ness Banking Hub now open

A Banking Hub has opened in South Street in Bo’ness town centre. It’s located in the old Ivy Tearoom premises and will be open Mondays to Fridays, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can make withdrawals, deposits and pay bills. You can also access specialist help from “community bankers” representing five different banks: You’ll…

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Council consults on Bo’ness town centre

Falkirk Council is consulting with local people on how to develop Bo’ness town centre. It has organised a series of drop-in events on Monday, June 9, and is also running a survey on its website. Find out more about the project on the Council website.

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Bo’net AGM on 10 June

The Bo’ness Networking Group (Bo’net) AGM will be held on Tuesday 10 June 2025. The venue will be the Food @34A cafe in South Street, Bo’ness, starting at 7 p.m. (Agenda and paperwork below). We’ll be reporting on our work in the last year, as well as hearing your ideas for future activity. No need…

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Free inclusive Volunteering Toolkit

Make your organisation more inclusive with some good advice and actions. The free Inclusive Volunteering Toolkit can help. It covers issues such as: Check out the Inclusive Volunteering Toolkit online.

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Explore the Roman Antonine Wall

What is the Antonine Wall? The Antonine Wall is the northernmost frontier barrier of the Roman Empire in Britain, stretching across central Scotland. It was built around 142 AD during the reign of Emperor Antoninus Pius. The Wall marked the Roman Empire’s furthest incursion into Caledonia (modern-day Scotland). It was constructed primarily from turf on…

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Remembering La Fabrique nightclub: staff share memories

Staff who worked at La Fabrique nightclub in Bo’ness have been reliving their memories. Former workers Lorna Raeburn and Ann Mcmeechan attended a reminiscence session at Bo’ness Library today (28 March). They talked about the big names – such as Shirley Bassey, Tommy Cooper, Lulu and Des O’Connor – who appeared at the Bo’ness nightspot.…

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March newsletter

The Bo’net newsletter for March 2025 is now live, with news on free events and funding for local community groups. Read the newsletter here.

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Drop in and find out about Bo’ness banking hub

Residents are being urged to drop into a local cafe and find out about plans for a banking hub in Bo’ness. The hub is expected to open in the town this May. Cash Access UK is setting up the facility on behalf of a consortium of high street banks. Banking hubs allow people to make…

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Can you help Academy pupils?

Bo’ness Academy is looking for community groups and employers to offer volunteering or work experience roles to pupils. If you’d like to know more, please contact Depute Headteacher Donna Millar – donna.millar@education.falkirk.sch.uk She said: “We have a number of young people who require bespoke parts to their school week. We are keen to engage the…

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Free wellbeing event

Residents are being invited to a free wellbeing event in Bonnybridge Community Hub (the former community centre in Bridge Street). The event is taking place this Friday 28 March 2025 from 12.30 p.m. to 6 p.m. It’s been organised by CVS Falkirk and District. Kerrie Hoggan from CVS said: “This is a free community event,…

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From Lulu to Lidl – remembering La Fabrique

IT was the factory turned nightclub that attracted a galaxy of stars. La Fabrique in Bo’ness secured big names like the Bay City Rollers, Lulu, and Des O’Connor. It was one of the places to go in the 1970s. Today the nightclub is long gone, replaced by a branch of Lidl. But the memories of…

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Get set for Volunteers’ Week

The annual Volunteers’ Week – at the start of June each year – is a great opportunity to celebrate local volunteers. You could: The Volunteers’ Week website has lots of great resources to help. The 2025 Volunteers’ Week runs from 2-8 June and ends with another community celebration, The Big Lunch. This initiative encourages communities…

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Media training podcast

Artificial intelligence (AI) was on the agenda when Bo’net co-hosted a media training day in association with Bo’ness Car 4U. We asked the Google NotebookLM tool to create a podcast about the day, using our slide notes. The life-like discussion has been entirely created by AI. It gives a good impression of what was raised…

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All set for Funders’ Fayre

A free event for local community groups and charities to meet potential funders is being held next month. The Falkirk Funders’ Fayre is being held on Tuesday 11 March 2025 in the Dobbie Hall in Larbert. It will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Laura Jamieson from organisers CVS Falkirk and District said: “Each…

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Free media training

Community groups in Bo’ness and Blackness are being invited to a FREE media training day. The event will take place upstairs in Bo’ness Library on Saturday 8 March 2025 from 10.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. Attendees will get top tips to raise their profile in the local media and online. This will include information on using free…

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Helping local people get online

Falkirk Council is helping residents stay connected by offering free mobile data to those struggling with internet costs. Through its Digital Inclusion Project, the council is providing free Vodafone SIM cards with a six-month contract at no cost to eligible individuals and families. Each SIM card includes unlimited calls and texts, along with 40 GB…

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Twenty five tools for 2025

Check out some online tools and resources that could help your charity or community group. Most offer free plans for charities or non-profits. These can help you raise your profile, improve the services you offer and attract new supporters. Marketing and Outreach Fundraising Tools Volunteer and Community Engagement Project Management Design and Video Creation Analytics…

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