Tag: community ownership

Scottish Land Fund boost for capital community groups

Three projects in Edinburgh and Midlothian are set to share in £392,611 funding from the Scottish Land Fund. The money enables the groups to take ownership of local assets and put them to use for the benefit of their local communities. 

Amongst the groups receiving funding is Bruntsfield St Oswald’s Ltd, which has received £214,713 with which to purchase St Oswald’s Church and Hall (above) in order to develop them into a community facility providing wraparound childcare and to serve as a meeting place for local groups. 

Penicuik Community Development Trust has been given £130,000 to purchase the Pen-y-Coe Press building (above), which they have developed into Scotland’s only Papermaking Museum, complete with working vintage printing presses, which are operated by volunteers to provide printing services that create income for Trust activities. 

And Colinton Village Enterprise SCIO has been given £47,898 to purchase a former coach house in Colinton in order to operate a community hub from the building. 

These awards are among 29, totalling £3.6 million, shared by groups across Scotland in the latest round of grants from the Scottish Land Fund. 

David Urch, Chair of Bruntsfield St.Oswald’s, said: “We are absolutely delighted to hear that our application for funds to purchase St. Oswald’s Church and Hall has been approved by the Scottish Land Fund.

“This money, together with additional funds for refurbishment, as well as the continuing hard work and dedication of our team, will breathe life into an historic building and bring it into local ownership. Its development as a vibrant community hub to provide genuine public and affordable space for childcare, youth clubs and services, learning and development opportunities for local primary school children, as well space for community groups and services for the elderly, will be well received and of great benefit to all in the Bruntsfield area.” 

Lorraine O’Shea, Trustee, Colinton Village Enterprise SCIO, said: “It was wonderful to receive the very positive news of our successful Scottish Land Fund application.

“This important funding will allow us to purchase an asset for the community, a great way to end an otherwise difficult year and allow us to develop our plans into 2021 and beyond.” 

And Revd. Nick Bowry, Chairman, Penicuik Community Development Trust, said: “The PCDT is grateful for the award of this grant from the Scottish Land Fund. This crucial funding will not only ensure the survival of our community hub in the Pen-y-Coe Press at the heart of Penicuik, but enable us to further develop our activities.

“We aim to preserve the memories and honour the heritage of old Penicuik through our Paper Making Heritage Museum and to support the nurturing of a new caring community for Penicuik in the 21st century. The events of 2020 have reminded us of the importance of a caring and resilient community.” 

Land Reform Secretary, Roseanna Cunningham said:“The coronavirus pandemic has continued to set us all unprecedented challenges throughout 2020, acutely affecting local communities right across Scotland, and beyond. 

“But despite these challenges – in fact, because of them – communities up and down the country are playing an increasingly vital role in maintaining and building our resilience, our spirit and local support networks. 

“I commend the latest recipients of Scottish Land Fund grants for driving forward plans to support and enhance their local areas as part of our Green recovery, in what are clearly difficult circumstances.

“I am particularly pleased that, through what is the final round of funding for this year, the Scottish Land Fund is supporting such a high number of unique and diverse projects, and I look forward to these projects delivering on their ambitions in the new year.” 

Sandra Holmes, Head of Community Assets at HIE, said: “These successful projects announced today are all great examples of people taking control of local resources for the long-term benefit of their communities. We wish all the successful groups the very best in their new ventures.” 

And John Watt, Chair, Scottish Land Fund Committee said: “The groups across Edinburgh and the Lothians that are sharing in £392,611 of funding are now in a unique position to take control of land and property assets that will reap rewards for people now and for generations to come.“

Heart of Newhaven: Now what?

NOW WHAT?

Both words are important in answering that question.

This 20 day Update is always about where we are now. It is not about where we hope to be one day when the keys are delivered and, like any prospective purchaser, we move in to see what state the previous owner has left us to clear up before we can move our own things in.

Don’t worry: that is not being neglected, but it would be boring to describe all the steps that are being taken to get us to that point. You can safely leave the tedious things to the SCIO board, who will make sure all the necessary tasks are done in the right way.
There are much more exciting things to share now, not least because we know that moving-in day could be around a year away.

So what? What about now? What can you be expected to do other than to wait patiently? Is there a child in your house – or can you imagine a child after being cooped up with nothing to do – saying, “I’m bored! I don’t know what to do.” Well be bored no longer: There is something to do. It really will make a difference to the future and it will make it better.

There are two things that fit together:
What troubles you as you cope with Covid 19?
What ideas do you have that are worth sharing in order to help others cope?

As simple as that. Here is how we propose to match the need with the thought. It’s about sharing, which is the hallmark of community.

This Community, as you know by now, has a HEART. ❤️

Not merely a lot of boxes called houses or flats, in which we all keep ourselves to ourselves and suffer in silence.

We are about to launch an interactive programme of questions and suggestions, ideas and activities, encouraging you to become involved NOW with other people like you, helping each other create a better normal around our three themes you may know by heart:

Well-Being
Learning & Enterprise
Culture & Heritage

Health Business Leisure Sport Puzzles Gardening Entertainment Advice

You can add to the list which is as long as you want to make it, because above all it is about YOU – which is US, ALL TOGETHER, helping each other.

Invite your friends to join in as well. Look out for details about to appear on our website and social media channels.

And don’t forget:   if you have not already responded to the invitation to become a member of our Charity Heart of Newhaven Community SCIO making all this possible, do that NOW too, using the link here and following instructions.

Also keep checking the website and socials!
In another 20 days we’ll tell you more precisely what we are going to do next.
 
Rodney Matthews
Chair and Vision Facilitator
The Heart of Newhaven Community

Be sure to sign up to our newsletters at www.heartofnewhaven.co.uk

There’s so many ways you can get involved with the project and we’d love to have as many of you on board as possible!

Dreams to Reality: Heart of Newhaven latest

Where have the past two years gone? On 4th October 2018 in Victory Primary School there were lots of ideas on what the Community could do here once the children moved to their new school, then still in the planning stages.

We were warned that our dreams would take time and effort and there were delays. The new school building, first scheduled to be opened last August, will be completed one day despite, like so much else, being affected by Covid 19. We are working steadily on ways to promote a better normal as soon as we can. More on that next time.

Meanwhile the Heart of Newhaven Community with our iconic logo is steadily growing with people like you keen to support our programme of ideas.

This update comes hard on the heels of one you may have just received about Membership of our SCIO – Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. It’s a bit technical, so I’ll try to explain.

We registered the Heart of Newhaven Community SCIO SC049919, as the first step to qualify for the Community Asset Transfer of Victoria Primary School.

Our SCIO constitution allows different categories of membership and the letter sent recently showed which one we think fits you as you register, as I hope you will.

Depending on which category you fall into, membership will give you a vote at meetings and so enable you to have your say in deciding what happens.

The “Asset” (the whole of the current school site) to be “Transferred” will belong to the Charity on behalf of the whole community: so the name Heart of Newhaven Community is apt.

But it’s not just a place. The beating pulse of the whole community already exists in people – YOU! – living human beings. A really good way to help create what the name shows is to register on the form you’ve hopefully been sent.

If you have any questions about membership, haven’t had a letter, or think you received the wrong one, then you can find out more HERE on the website. If you’re still in doubt, please feel free to contact me directly at  chair@heartofnewhaven.co.uk and I’ll try to help.

But you will also continue to receive this more general Mailchimp email at least every month unless you unsubscribe if you no longer want to be bothered. Surely not! This is how you can keep up to date.

I hope the next one will be more exciting but we are definitely not just dreaming the time away and the next two years should be very impressive.

Rodney Matthews
Chair and Vision Facilitator, The Heart of Newhaven Community

City projects receive backing from Scottish Land Fund

£156,000 for North Edinburgh Arts 

North Edinburgh’s flagship arts centre in Muirhouse and land for a new community hub in Juniper Green are amongst 21 groups that are set to share in £1,667,987 from the Scottish Land Fund. 

North Edinburgh Arts (NEA) has received £156,000 in order to take ownership of its current building, which it intends to extend and upgrade to create more space for additional enterprise units and a larger cafe. 

And Pentlands Community Space has been given £33,000 to buy a disused public toilet in Lanark Road, Juniper Green in order to demolish it and build a community hub and flat for affordable rent. 

Lesley Hinds, Chair, North Edinburgh Arts, said: “NEA has won five national awards in the last six years for place making and creative projects. This new capital project will allow the organisation to flourish, alongside Council provision, and bring a first-class facility to Macmillan Square.  

“NEA is a special place for the community of North Edinburgh and has been a trusted community anchor providing emergency food, support, materials and online creative activities throughout the lockdown. 

“Alongside our COVID activity of the last five months we have been working closely with partners to share and establish our vision of a world class creative hub for the next generation of North Edinburgh residents.  This award from the Scottish Land Fund is an important and welcome next step on this exciting journey.” 

NEA’s Director Kate Wimpress added: “The bright blue NEA building has been a beacon of hope for many throughout the lockdown, and an important part of the North Edinburgh landscape over the last decade.

“Today’s endorsement from the Scottish Land Fund, following on from the Council’s agreement for this much loved and used asset to come fully into community ownership, takes NEA , and our community, another step closer to our vision becoming a reality. We are looking forward to building a first class facility fit for purpose for today, and for the years to come”

Professor Cliff Beevers OBE, Chairman, Pentlands Community Space, said: “The Pentlands Community Space project is planning to demolish an abandoned public toilet block and replace it with a two-storey building providing a much-needed Community Hub downstairs with an affordable flat above.  

“Rental from the flat will be used to sustain activities in the Hub.  This project, several years in the making, is a genuine collaborative effort which is using the talents and time of many residents in this part of South-West Edinburgh.” 

Minister, Cabinet Secretary for Land Reform, Roseanna Cunningham, said: “Communities across the country are playing a pivotal role in helping create a fairer and greener Scotland as we respond to the coronavirus pandemic. 

“The latest round of Scottish Land Fund grants – provided to 21 different community groups – will go towards projects that will provide locals with better access to green space, encourage wildlife and support community business. With this funding being awarded during Climate Week, I look forward to these projects seizing the opportunity to help our green recovery.” 

 John Watt, Scottish Land Fund Committee Chair said: “Groups from all across Scotland are making a real impact to their communities with a wide range of ambitious projects that deliver tangible benefits to the people who live there, and the Scottish Land Fund is delighted to be able to support them.” 

Sandra Holmes, Head of Community Assets at HIE, said: “These successful projects announced today are all fantastic examples of people taking control of local resources for the long-term benefit of their communities.

“Applecross Community Company for example, will be able to purchase, restock and improve the local woods to provide access to the community as well as buy land to build affordable homes.  

“Ownership will give these communities greater control over important assets and will help ensure their long-term future. We wish all the successful groups the very best in their new ventures.” 

Don’t stop the music: Temporary reprieve for Leith Depot

Leith Depot has been given a temporary reprieve as the battle to Save Leith Walk continues.

In a statement on their Facebook page, the popular music venue said: ‘Folks, on the back of a positive meeting with our landlord, we are pleased to say that we have agreed a lease extension until 31st of October.

For the time being, we continue business as usual and we will update you all when we know more.

Due to the circumstances we have nothing booked in our venue; please get in touch for any gig or event dates; depotvenue@gmail.com

Thank you all for your continued support!

LD

A spokesman for the Save Leith Walk campaign said: “While we welcome news that Leith Depot is being allowed to stay open for a month beyond its current lease, we are disappointed that the landlord didn’t allow the other business, which were successfully trading in the red sandstone building, to remain open too.

“Nevertheless, we hope that today’s announcement is a sign of the developer’s willingness to now work with the community and secure the long-term future of this building so it can continue to be a home for locally-owned, independent shops and businesses.”

The campaigners are looking into the possibility of a community buyout and a public meeting has been organised for 9th October.

Porty shares in Land Fund Awards

Communities the length and breadth of Scotland have been given the green light to realise their ambitions to take ownership of and redevelop local land. The Scottish Government’s Scottish Land Fund has awarded 11 projects a total of £2.1 million to allow local groups to purchase land for community ownership.  Continue reading Porty shares in Land Fund Awards