- Area:
- Scotland
- Programme:
- Community Spaces Scotland
- Release date:
- 28 2 2012
Scottish groups with big plans for shaping their local neighbourhoods are today sharing the first grants worth £2.8 million from the Big Lottery Fund’s Community Spaces programme.
The funding will help 
24 Scottish communities
- 86KB to make the most of their local areas by bringing people together to improve and enjoy a range of community spaces including community halls and centres, allotments, gardens and community woodlands.
Announcing the first awards, Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, Maureen McGinn, said: "When we launched Community Spaces we knew that it had the potential to have a lasting impact in many local communities across Scotland. Whether it’s transforming an underused building into a bustling community centre, improving access to a local woodland or creating a community garden, these projects will bring together local people to enjoy and improve the places that matter to them. Each successful group will develop a community space that is unique their local area which in many cases will provide a renewed focus for community cohesion.”
Plans to upgrade and reinstate the McMaster Sports Centre in Johnstone have received a welcome cash boost of £157,361. The centre, which was closed three years ago and has succumbed to graffiti, will be brought back to its former glory by the Johnstone West Sport and Fitness for Everyone (SAFE).There is currently a lack of sporting facilities in the area and this project will upgrade the exterior and interior of the centre to enable local people to enjoy a range of physical activites such as football, athletics, tae kwondo and dance, as well as providing a venue for community meetings and local events. The grant will also fund a new part-time centre manager and a new part-time janitor. (PICTURES AVAILABLE)
Mark McGee, Treasurer, Johnstone West SAFE said: “This is fantastic news for the Johnstone West area and the wider Johnstone community as a whole. We are delighted that the Big Lottery Fund has recognised that our project is a worthwhile one and that it will have direct benefits for localgroups and organisations. The fundingwill ensure the project finally goes ahead and everyone is over the moon that we are now in a position to save the building and re-open it.
He continued: “Although this is a major step forward, we realise that the hard work of carrying our plans forward is just beginning. We would appeal to the local community to get behind our project, help us to take care of the facility and make use of it when it finally re-opens."
Councillor Eileen McCartin, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Community and Family Care Policy Board, added: “The council fully supports the efforts of Johnstone West SAFE in their drive to operate a community hub facility that promotes sports activities from McMaster Sports Centre. This Big Lottery Fund announcement is fantastic news for Johnstone and the surrounding area and we look forward to the centre being revived as we work with all our partners towards achieving an Active Renfrewshire.”
Another of today’s successful groups is the Broughty Ferry Environmental Project which receives £100,700 to organise activities and events to encourage better use of the under-used green space alongside the Dighty Burn which runs through a number of communities in East Dundee. The project will deliver weekly practical conservation/green gym sessions and projects linked to biodiversity management, as well as improvements to the green space and training and support for volunteers.
Ann Lolley of the Broughty Ferry Environmental Project, said: “This funding will enable us to continue to work with communities along the Dighty Burn tohelp them improve the area for both people and wildlife, as well as encouraging more people to use the area in a wide variety of ways. We already have several ideas from volunteers whichinclude practical conservation activities, more mosaic seats and local history storiesabout the burn.”
The Girvan Community Garden receives a Community Spaces award of £92,936. This project will improve facilities for the community, giving wider access to the garden and improved volunteering support and opportunities for the people of South Carrick and the surrounding villages of Dailly, Barr, Barrhill, Colmonell, Ballantrae, Lendalfoot, Pinwherry and Pinmore.
Julie Campbell, Girvan Community Garden, said: "The volunteers of Girvan Community Garden are absolutelydelighted to accept this award from the Big Lottery Fund. This financial support will enable us to further develop our projectover the next two years and involve many more local people who will benefit from this wonderful community asset."
Further Information
For more details contact the Big Lottery Fund Press Scotland Office
0141 242 1458 or 07789 033457
BIG advice line: 0300 123 7110 Textphone: 0845 6021 659
Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Notes to Editors
- The Big Lottery Fund (BIG), the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out 46% of the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.
- BIG 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 June 2004. BIG was formally established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
- Since the National Lottery began in 1994, 28p from every pound spent by the public has gone to good causes. As a result, over £26 billion has now been raised and more than 330,000 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.
- The Scotland Committee, led by Chair Maureen McGinn, has been making Big Lottery Fund decisions on Scottish projects since March 2007. As well as taking devolved decisions on Lottery spending, the Committee has and will continue to play a strategic role in the future direction of BIG in Scotland.
- The Big Lottery Fund is investing in Scotland’s communities through its Investing in Communities portfolio as well as the small grants schemes Awards for All and 2014 Communities.
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