Tag: community ownership

A sporting chance: £1 million support for social enterprises

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A £1 million fund to help communities own and run their own sport facilities was announced by the Minister for Commonwealth Games yesterday. 

The Legacy 2014 Sustainable Sport for Communities Fund will distribute up to £1 million to support the sustainability and capacity of aspiring and existing social enterprises delivering sport and physical activity in communities across Scotland.

The Sustainable Sport for Communities Fund is made up of an investment of £500,000 from the Scottish Government and £500,000 from The Robertson Trust.

The announcement of the fund, the 51st national Legacy 2014 programme, was made in the middle of a Legacy Week, a national celebration of the long term benefits of the Commonwealth Games.

Speaking at the 2014 Games Legacy: Scotland’s Sporting Future at our Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh, Minister Shona Robison said:

“A legacy from the Games has to be long term improvements in levels of physical activity. Already, Scotland’s 126 Community Sports Hubs are proving a powerful and effective way to give people more opportunities to be active.

“There are an increasing number of social enterprises providing a wide range of community and social benefits and we are committed to empowering local groups and enabling them to operate facilities and deliver services

“Where groups are looking to take on the running or ownership of facilities, these ambitions must be supported by the local community backed up by a robust, sustainable business case. These are crucial to whether a social enterprise can succeed and the Fund will help with this, building on existing support available and utilising the sector’s expertise.”

Kenneth Ferguson, Director, The Robertson Trust said: “The Robertson Trust have been working in the field of community sport for a number of years and we are delighted to be able to make this investment which we believe will make a significant contribution to enhancing the capacity and sustainability of the sector.”

Alastair Davis, CEO of Social Investment Scotland, said “Social Investment Scotland has supported a number of sports related social enterprises access the finance they need to realise their ambitions. A project like this is essential for the grassroots development of sport social enterprises, providing the opportunity not only to access essential funds, but also to tap into the knowledge and expertise from likeminded social entrepreneurs within the sector.”

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College ploughs ahead with support for community farm

Edinburgh College - Whitmuir Farm

Edinburgh College has shown its support for a community-owned farm in the Borders by becoming the first College to become a shareholder. As part of Edinburgh College’s commitment to sustainability, the College has invested in Whitmuir Farm’s new share scheme, which allows local people and organisations to get actively involved in the running of a modern day farm in Scotland. 

Whitmuir Farm, one of Scotland’s most innovative organic farms, will use the support from the College and other shareholders to help to establish the farm as a national resource on sustainable food and farming, which will include a “green classroom” for students to learn about local and ethical food.

The farm also hopes to establish discovery trails, exhibitions, educational opportunities and citizen science projects, whilst also looking out for the next generation of farmers to train and nurture.

Harriet Cross, Sustainability Projects Co-ordinator at Edinburgh College, said: “We are delighted to be supporting such a fantastic farming initiative. The College really supports the values of Whitmuir Farm and believe in its vision for local, ethical and sustainable food. We have a strong relationship with Whitmuir Farm through our veggie bag scheme. Each week, a group of our Bridging Course students visit the farm to sort, weigh and bag organic vegetables which they then deliver to staff and student customers at the College. The students not only gain practical work experience at the farm and improve their enterprise and numeracy skills but they also gain an understanding of where their food comes from.”

Harriet added:“We are constantly looking for innovative ways to engage students and staff with sustainability across the College, and we arereally pleased to continue to strengthen our relationship with Whitmuir Farm through the farm share initiative.”

Heather Anderson, member of the Steering Group for the Community Farm said: “We are so delighted to receive this kind of support.  It’s good to know we are selling the farm to people who really care about the land and what we do here.  This ensures we continue to enjoy a real, long term relationship with the College and the young people who go there into the future.”

The farm has also launched a ground breaking bio-char project, which Edinburgh College students will be undertaking as an offshoot project at the Milton Road Community Garden. By carrying out a growing trial, the students will be able to monitor the effects of burnt woody waste on plant life in the garden, which may have a significant bearing on how the organic food is grown.

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