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Scottish Land Fund puts three enterprising communities in control

Three enterprising Scottish communities will take ownership of local land and buildings that matters most to them, thanks to funding announced yesterday (Wednesday 6 July) from the Scottish Land Fund.

Over £150,000 is being awarded to groups in Glasgow, Highlands and Moray that will enable local people to purchase and develop land for economic, social and environmental benefit.

The site of a former medical practice destroyed by a fire is to be purchased by a local community organisation in the Highlands. Fort Augustus & Glenmoriston Community Company (FAGCC) receives £98,724 to acquire the site before going onto develop a new, larger medical centre that will house the local General Practitioners and a range of complementary medical and health based services for local people.

Linda Whiteside Chairperson FAGCC, said: “The difference the award from the Scottish Land Fund will make to our project is immense. It will allow us to have a better medical centre within the community and enable us and the doctors to bring in a better range of medical services both through the NHS and complementary medicine. Most importantly though it will secure medical services in our rural community for the foreseeable future.”

A project that will contribute towards the regeneration of Royston in Glasgow yesterday receives£40,000. Community led Spire View Housing Association will use their Scottish Land Fund award to purchase the Rainbow Hall building in Royston which will be part demolished and then rebuilt to create a new 21st century community facility for local people.

Fiona Murphy, Director, Spire View Housing Association, said: “‘We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded funding to purchase the Rainbow Hall. This will allow us to create a fit for purpose community facility that meets the needs and demands of local Royston residents. As well as accommodating existing groups we will be able to create space for new services and activities, which will be a massive boost for the entire community’.

Also receiving funding yesterday was Enzie Crossroads Community Woodland Association, which will purchase the Longhill Wood near Portgordon through the National Forest Land Scheme, thanks to an award of £17,480.

Carole Holmes, Secretary, said: “We at Enzie Crossroads Community Woodland Association are delighted to receive this grant as we can now move forward acquiring the woodland we wish to own and improve it for our community. It has taken four long years for us to achieve this. Thanks to trustees past and present and the committee and special thanks to Claire Munro from Highlands & Islands Enterprise and Jon Hollingdale from the Scottish Woodland Association who helped finalise the grant.”

Announcing yesterday’s awards, John Watt, Scottish Land Fund Committee Chair, said: “These three enterprising communities remind us of what can be achieved when local people are supported and encouraged to own and manage their own land and assets. The Scottish Land Fund aims to empower communities from across Scotland, giving them the tools and resources they need so they can achieve their plans of local sustainability. I wish each of today’s successful groups the very best as they go on to develop their projects over the coming months.”

Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, Roseanna Cunningham, said: “I am delighted to see a variety of projects successfully gaining support from the Scottish Land Fund. The drive of the communities involved, to improve the local facilities and services, reinforces the Scottish Government’s commitment to support Scotland to become more resilient and sustainable through the community ownership and management of land and land assets.”

Ailsa Raeburn, Head of Community Assets at Highlands and Islands Enterprise, said: “It’s great to see funds being awarded to communities across the country. The Scottish Land Fund is making a real difference to many local communities across Scotland helping groups purchase land and buildings that are important to them. HIE has over 50 years of experience in working with communities to help them become more successful. We would encourage any groups looking to acquire land and buildings in their area to get in touch to see how we can help.”

The Scottish Land Fund was relaunched in March 2016. As part of this refresh, the programme was expanded to apply to both urban and rural projects.

For more information on this release please contact

Big Lottery Fund Scotland press office

landa.sullivan @biglotteryfund.org.uk

0141 242 1458

Highland and Islands Enterprise Press Office

calum.macfarlane@hient.co.uk

01463 244244

Notes to Editors

  • The Scottish Land Fund reopened to applications in April 2016. The programme is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by the Big Lottery Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, both of which have extensive experience of helping communities to acquire and develop their assets for over a decade.
  • The SLF Committee was appointed following the normal procedures for public appointments.
  • The BIG Lottery Fund distributes lottery funding to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK. It also uses its expertise in grant-giving to distribute non-Lottery funding. Full details of the BIG Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website:http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk. BIG Lottery Fund Public Enquiries Line call: 0300 123 7110.
  • Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) delivers the Scottish Government Economic Strategy across more than half of Scotland - from Shetland to Argyll and from the Hebrides to Moray. It aims to support businesses and social enterprises; strengthen communities and fragile areas; develop key sectors, and create the conditions for a competitive and low carbon region. HIE has an annual budget of more than £75m and employs around 250 people in locations around the Highlands and Islands. See more at www.hie.co.ukGoes to different website

 

Channel website: https://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/

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