£1 million Lottery boost for Forgewood centre plans

19 Aug 2014 02:59 PM

Plans to build a new community centre in Forgewood, Motherwell have received a £1 million Big Lottery Fund boost announced today. 

Forgewood Housing Co-operative is one of 11 projects across Scotland sharing in a total of £5,919,895 from Big Lottery Fund Scotland’s Investing in Communities programme.

Forgewood Housing Co-operative plan to demolish the existing Forgewood Community Centre and build a new double storey centre in its place.  The group have been liaising with key partners and local groups to ensure that the new centre will deliver vital services including skills development, welfare and money advice and health services. A wide range of social and recreational activities will also be run from the hub including a parent and toddlers group and an older people’s lunch club.

Welcoming the awards of £1,085,000, John Mulholland, Director of the Forgewood Housing Co-operative, said, “The award from the Big Lottery Fund will have a significant impact on the residents of Forgewood. This project is about bringing the community together to enjoy recreational and social activity in a building and environment which they can be proud of. The new centre will also be a hub for service provision to the local community. Services provided from the new building will include housing advice, health advice and assistance, money and welfare advice and wider social benefits. This building will bring about real positive change for the community of Forgewood.”

Announcing the award, Big Lottery Fund, Scotland Chair, Maureen McGinn, said: “Our Growing Community Assets fund enables local communities to have more control and influence over their future.  In Forgewood this community hub will help to inject new life into the area, benefiting people of all ages and providing new services based around local needs.”

For details of the other ten Investing in Communities grants made today go to
http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/news-and-events

Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 0141 242 1451
Website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Twitter: @BIGScotland #biglf 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BigLotteryFundScotland

Notes to editors

• The Big Lottery Fund is responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised by the National Lottery.
• The Fund is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK. Since its inception in 2004 it has awarded close to £6bn.
• In the year ending 31 March 2013, 28% of total National Lottery revenue was awarded to projects. Since the National Lottery began in 1994, £31 billion has been raised and more than 400,000 grants awarded