Boost to community-led regeneration projects
1 Apr 2014 03:33 PM
Around 50 community-led organisations have been
identified to receive investment of up to £3 million which will support
the regeneration of areas throughout Scotland.
Housing and Welfare Minister Margaret Burgess announced
the funding, which will be delivered through the Scottish Government’s
Strengthening Communities Programme, during a visit to GNH Life Centre in
Glenboig yesterday (Tuesday).
The
funding will support emerging community groups and provide direct investment to
community organisations to increase their capacity in order to make them more
sustainable while empowering local people through community
ownership.
Initiatives will respond to local community needs by
developing activities such as advocacy projects, community windfarms,
environmental action and transferring assets into community
ownership.
Some of the funds have already been allocated, with GNH
Life Centre – a community run facility offering services for local
residents – receiving £88,000 to employ a development manager to
help transfer the centre into community ownership and to develop activities and
services for the local community. This will include managing the re-location of
local post office facilities into the community centre by May
2014.
During her visit Mrs Burgess met with project staff and
parents and children attending the centre’s toddlers
group.
Mrs
Burgess said:
“Investing in community organisations is
absolutely key for creating change at a local level within
communities.
"The aim of the Strengthening Communities
Programme, which will benefit up to 50 local initiatives, is to help build
capacity in local communities and inject new life into some of Scotland’s
most disadvantaged areas. This new investment will support the aims of our
forthcoming Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill.
“This government puts community-led change at the
heart of our regeneration strategy, recognising that community involvement is
integral to the success of the design and delivery of local economic and social
regeneration initiatives.
“Through the Strengthening Communities Programme
we will test the impact of targeted investment within communities. It is only
by improving on community-based initiatives and empowering local people that we
will see real, sustainable change.”
Fiona Garvin, Director of the Scottish Community
Development Centre, said:
“Scottish Community Development Centre welcomes
the Scottish Government’s investment in the Strengthening Communities
Programme. We believe that strong communities and strong community
organisations are vital elements of community-led regeneration. Our support to
these organisations is designed to help them develop their strengths, increase
local activity and work with others to take the next steps in regenerating
their communities.”
Ian
Cook, Director of the Development Trusts Association Scotland,
said:
“Our members across Scotland have consistently
raised the issue of the need for core funding to build capacity in community
anchor organisations. Development Trusts Association Scotland therefore
welcomes the Strengthening Communities programme and is delighted to be invited
to be a key delivery partner.”
Rachael McCormack, Director of Strengthening Communities
with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), said:
"We are delighted to be working so closely with the
Scottish Government and partners on this Scotland wide initiative. HIE and its
predecessor have played a leading role in community development across half of
Scotland for almost 50 years, and we welcome the new opportunities which this
programme will extend across Scotland.
“The new Scottish Government Strengthening
Communities programme is very well aligned with the development needs of the
communities it is seeking to enable, and is designed to bring about a
significant step change in the resilience of the community groups which take
part."
Notes to editors
The Strengthening Communities Programme
is a partnership approach between The Scottish Government, Scottish Community
Development Centre, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Carnegie UK Trust and the
Development Trust Association Scotland will assist community organisations to
achieve greater sustainability and longer term resilience. The impact of the
programme will include more resilient and sustainable community organisations
committed to community regeneration objectives. It will also deliver a pipeline
of organisations with their capacity enhanced and ready to advance into more
ambitious initiatives.