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Scottish Land Fund boost for four projects
Thursday 19 January 2017 - 19:20
Four projects have recently been awarded funding from the Scottish Land Fund.
The Pairc Trust in the South Lochs area of the Western Isles, Kirkliston Village Hall Association on the outskirts of Edinburgh, Crossroads Community Hub in East Ayrshire and Cairndow Community Childcare Ltd in Argyll and Bute share in £174,638 from the Scottish Land Fund.
The Pairc Trust receives £50,621 to purchase the former Elderly Care Unit at Gravir which it will renovate to provide an affordable family home for rent.
The Pairc Trust is already a Scottish Land Fund success story having previously received £230,000 to complete the purchase of the 26,775 acre Pairc Estate on behalf of the local community.
Welcoming today’s award of £50,621, Angus McDowall, Chair of Pairc Trust, said:
"We are delighted that our application to the Scottish Land Fund has been successful. This funding will enable us to purchase an empty property and bring it back to life as an affordable family home. We are convinced that the first step in tackling the population decline in Pairc is to provide affordable housing, and this is a priority for Pairc Trust."
Announcing today’s Scottish Land Fund awards, John Watt, Scottish Land Fund Committee, said:
"The Pairc Trust is one of 62 community initiatives across Scotland to have received Scottish Land Fund money since it reopened in April 2016. This takes its spend to over £1.9 million this financial year, and with more than 200 groups from across Scotland working up ideas for applications, we know that there is a great demand for this funding. From affordable housing in the Western Isles to a new build community hub near Edinburgh, today’s successful initiatives show just what can be achieved when local people are encouraged and supported to purse their ambitions of community ownership."
Other Scottish Land Fund grants announced today are:
Kirkliston Village Hall Association
Award: £56,500
This group will purchase an area of land in the centre of the village of Kirkliston, on the outskirts of Edinburgh to develop the site for a new community facility.
Cairndow Community Childcare Ltd
Award: £37,000
This group will purchase 0.7 acres of a former coniferous plantation near Loch Fyne, Clachan, Argyll. They plan to develop the site for a new-build childcare facility and community resource centre.
Crossroads Community Hub Ltd
Award: £30,517
This group will purchase the vacant site of the former Primary School at Crossroads, East Ayrshire, to develop a new community hub. This will incorporate a community-led farm shop, coffee shop with teaching kitchen meeting/workshop space and a social/learning hub.
The Scottish Land Fund is keen to support more applications from across Scotland. Groups considering applying should contact the Big Lottery Fund to discuss their idea at advicescotland@biglotteryfund.org.uk or by phoning 0300 123 7110.