WIREDGOV

Community groups in Glasgow, North Lanarkshire and Stirling are celebrating a £800,000 funding boost from the Scottish Land Fund that will allow them to take greater control of their own futures through the ownership of local land and buildings.

In Glasgow, the Kinning Park Complex, a community hub popular with local groups, artists and musicians, will transfer into the hands of local people, thanks an award of £197,650.  Kinning Park Complex SCIO will use the funding to purchase the building, which they currently lease, as well as an adjacent former nursery building, allowing them to renovate and extend the space available for future activities and services.

Martin Avila, Development Director, Kinning Park Complex SCIO, said: “This grant is huge for our community, it means that we can start planning for our future and the next 100 years of our building as a centre of community and education. We hope this is the first step on a path that will see us secure the funds to renovate and expand our building to make it more accessible, welcoming, practical and sustainable!"

A busy Shotts community centre, once at risk of closure, will be brought into community ownership after Getting Better Together Ltd (GBT) received £42,965 to buy the Springhill Community Centre and nearby land.

June Vallance, Executive Manager, Getting Better Together Ltd, said: We are delighted to receive the news that our Scottish Land Fund application had been successful.  This means so much to the local community who are so enthusiastic about making new plans for the future of the area. Having ownership of the hall and the surrounding land will give them lots of opportunities for planning new services in the area. This is fabulous news.”

In and around Stirling, two separate community woodland projects will create new employment, volunteering and recreational opportunities for local people.

An area of historical significance, The Gillies Hill played a significant part in Robert the Bruce’s descent onto the field of the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.  Thanks to an award of £425,750, the Cambusbarron Community Development Trust (CCDT) will purchase the woodland areas of The Gillies Hill to develop it for people now, and future generations, to enjoy.

Richard Norman, trustee of CCDT, yesterday said “This award is greatly appreciated – It offers us the prospect of establishing and maintaining a great resource on the doorstep of Cambusbarron and Stirling.  Land that is much loved and used by the community will be secured as a sustainable social and environmental space under the management of people with local interests at heart.”

Valley Renewables Group (VRG), the Development Trust for the Carron Valley and District Community, with an award of £130,000, will purchase 53 acres of woodland in the Carron Valley Forest.

Margaret Porter of VRG yesterday said: “This will create a much needed focal point for our community, facilitating a range of outdoor events and activities. It will be our first community owned asset, creating volunteer, up-skilling and employment opportunities. We’ll be working to provide improved access to the forest, a sustainable supply of community wood fuel, and an increased range of habitats for local people and visitors to enjoy. For the future, the land includes a site for a permanent community facility. Exciting times!”

Announcing the awards, John Watt, Scottish Land Fund Committee Chair, yesterday said: ‘Today’s funding will help four community groups in Scotland’s central belt to take control of locally important land and buildings. As a committee, we were impressed by the drive, enthusiasm and dedication of the people behind these projects who are taking innovative steps to ensure that their community assets are safeguarded for the future. I wish each group every success as they take forward their community ownership plans.”

Minister, Cabinet Secretary for Land Reform Roseanna Cunningham yesterday said: “It’s great to see these community groups taking the initiative and putting together some terrific projects, which will see local buildings and areas repurposed to create lasting and tangible improvements to their local communities. Through the Scottish Land Fund, the Scottish Government is again enabling communities throughout Scotland to unlock the potential of their land and buildings.”

Sandra Holmes, head of community assets at HIE, yesterday said: “The latest round of awards from the Scottish Land Fund will help these groups bring important land, buildings and services into community ownership. Acquiring these will give communities the resources and control they need to deliver exciting projects for the benefit of people living and visiting their areas. We wish them all the very best in their new ventures.”

The Scottish Land Fund, funded by the Scottish Government is keen to support more applications from across Scotland and particularly within urban areas. Groups considering applying should contact the Big Lottery Fund to discuss their idea at advicescotland@biglotteryfund.org.uk or by phoning 0300 123 7110.

For more information on this release please contact

Big Lottery Fund Scotland press office
Landa.sullivan@biglotteryfund.org.uk
0141 242 1458/1524

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.uk