KSB Network

Route 489 – It’s Your Neighbourhood

Assessed in 2018 as being OUTSTANDING! Where is Cowal? Stunningly Beautiful peninsula Population Circa 12,000 Largest & best known town George Anderson - “should be re-named The Gold Coast” Forming Cowal KSB Network Groups throughout Cowal have been offering mutual support to a variety of KSB projects over a number of years

Including, One Planet Pocket Picnics IYN & Beautiful Campaign.

Collectively we attended the 2017 conference - a conscious decision was made to strengthen collaboration.

February 2018 a ‘soup & sandwich’ session was held and Cowal KSB Network was ‘formed’. Cowal KSB Network – who? A growing list... The network is informal and most activity is connected to other core activities of each group:-

Inspiring EnviroKirn Blairmore Village Trust The Shore Sweepers Sailing Club Conservation & Heritage Group Community Council Benmore & Kilmun Com DevTrust Route 489 West Coast Motors operates throughout the Cowal peninsula.

‘Route 489’ travels the 30 mile coast between Ardentinny to Toward.

Connects all of the KSB communities

Creative and physical connection of KSB activity, without detracting from The individual identities of each community. Launching Route 489 - It’s Your Neighbourhood

January BS & IYN Newsletter featured Zerowaste Scotland annual ‘Pass it On Week – Musical Instrument Amnesty’ aimed at re cycling unused instruments - 10th-18th March 2018.

Cowal is an area blessed with a strong culture of music and this seemed an excellent activity to launch the ‘Route 489 IYN’ project.

Reaching out beyond our existing cluster of KSB groups, we approached local community musicians to ask if they could do some busking on the route to raise the profile of the event

West Coast Motors agreed we could use the Route 489 service

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Helen Brown – Depute Head

“We wanted to raise awareness in our community and further afield, of Cowal as a food tourism destination, inspiring our children to see potential for future careers within their own locality and beyond and grow ambition based on a practical, real life context for learning. Cowal Food Trail In this Year of Young People - Kirn Primary School developed the ‘Cowal Food Trail’ using Route 489 as the connector.

Pupils from P5 to P7 led the project linked to the national ‘Food for Thought’ which explores food and drink through Curriculum for Excellence.

They used Route 489 to promote hospitality outlets along the route and had a major launch event at Benmore Gardens .

Pre 5’s ❖Opportunities to grow simple vegetables and herbs ❖Cooking simple recipes in class

Dunoon Grammar School provided classrooms with cooking facilities enabling pupils and parents/grandparents to cook together as part of Cowal Family Learning

Our whole school then created a calendar of recipes for the whole school community. Little Bags of Appreciation Little Bags of Appreciation Route 489 is a vital service in supporting independence and keeps people connected with services, friends and families.

We created ‘A Little Bag of Appreciation’ and distributed to local schools, businesses and groups connected to the route.

The distribution was randomly timed to avoid a ‘glut’ of activity and keep the element of surprise to recipient drivers.

Distribution continues throughout the year – Christmas is Looming – perhaps a special edition!

Let them Eat Cake! Backroom workers in the bus garage were also recognised for their efforts –keeping buses on the road in good condition.

A ‘tray bake’ was made to nurture the crew working at the central depot in Dunoon.

Bus Stops & Shelters Each of the groups opted to brighten up some of the bus stops and bus shelters along the route as part of their own IYN project or BS Campaign.

Local residents and businesses started to enhance bus stops near to their home or premises with their own flower Planters and efforts. Participants Engaging...so far.. Cowal Community Orchestra The Shore Hub Coast Coffee Kirn Primary School Benmore Gardens Toward Primary School Riverbank Surgery Elected Councillors Morrison’s Strone Primary School Blairmore Gallery Innellan Primary School The Ardentinny ...... The Jingle Bus .....

There is no end of possible links to make .... build on our success and continue to enrich and enhance our local area!