Creetown Initiative was formed in 2002 by local residents who wanted to improve services and quality of life for people living in the Kirkmabreck Parish of Dumfries & Galloway. We have carried out many projects within our village and surrounding area.
Since then the organisation has gone from strength to strength, now employing 10 staff and expanding the scope of their work to include a consultancy service to other communities and organisations around Dumfries and Galloway and further afield in Scotland. Since 2006, we have secured £6.7 million for clients’ projects across Scotland and over £4.3 million for our own home-based projects.
Andrew Ward was the founder of the Creetown Initiative and the Barholm Enterprise consultancy that we see today.
For well over over two decades Andrew dedicated his time to providing his support, knowledge and expertise to community development projects in Creetown, Dumfries and Galloway and across Scotland. His passion for the third sector was evident in his work and reputation. 
Andrew had extensive knowledge and experience regarding Business Planning, Feasibility Studies, Consultation, Financial Management, Marketing, Heritage, Arts, Youth, Community Regeneration Training/Skills Gap Assessment and Charity Governance. A skilled and experienced community development worker and fundraiser of 25 years experience, he managed the fundraising for the Theatre Royal Dumfries securing £1.1m including £322,000 from HLF. Andrew managed the successful Growing Community Assets project securing £730,000 for the Creetown Enterprise Centre which involved creating a 26-bed luxury bunkhouse, Arts and Crafts Cooperative, Charity Shop, Bike Hire and Repair and Electric Car Hire. He led the Johnston School project in Kirkcudbright and successfully secured the £2.6m funding target. This work included developing the Business Plan and working closely with the design team. He helped to reorganise a number of organisations in order to give them the capacity to develop, grow and manage successful projects. These included credit unions, sports clubs, community groups, children’s health charities and social enterprises.
It is hard turn a corner in Creetown and not see something that Andrew had a positive impact on. Locally, Andrew’s work included the redevelopment of community buildings (Waverley Hall, Barholm Enterprise Centre, St Joseph’s Church, Creetown FC pavilion, Creetown Heritage Museum), improvements to community facilities (Creetown park, MUGA), community arts projects and sculptures, overseeing the management of youth and senior citizens projects and the instigation of Creetown’s bee conservation project, carbon energy improvements and many others. He was also a key volunteer for Creetown’s renowned ‘Country Weekend’ music festival.
Previously to his role at Creetown Initiative, Andrew was the project worker and fundraiser for the CatStrand in New Galloway and was an active member of the Development Trust Association Scotland. Andrew supported projects across Scotland including Braemar Castle, Theatre Royal Dumfries, CAOS Arts project in Clydebank, the Millennium Centre Muirhouse, the Moffat Town Hall Project to name just a few.
Helping communities move forward!
