Tag: Scottish Land Fund

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.“

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.” 

Broomhouse foodbank doing vital work during Coronavirus crisis

An Edinburgh food bank is providing a lifeline for some of the Capital’s most vulnerable residents during the Covid-19 crisis.

Community One-Stop Shop in the Broomhouse area, which operates a non-referral food bank service, has seen the demand rise sharply during the outbreak.

Carol Swan, project manager, Community One-Stop Shop, says: “In March we saw around 300 food bank clients, which was an increase of 43% on the same period last year.

“We are delivering to people who are self-isolating or who are just too anxious to step outside and in place of our holidays support programme for families with school-age children, we have been distributing food packs instead and in some cases we have also been delivering cooked lunches.

‘People are feeling very lonely and isolated and that’s particularly the case for people who are already dealing with mental health issues and with so many support workers now having to work from home, we are filling in the gaps that this has created.”

The project, which also includes advice and employment services, is run by staff and volunteers, and since the lockdown began Carol says they have been inundated with offers of help.

Last year the project received £73,000 from the Scottish Land Fund to expand its operations into two shop units and now the group has received a further £4,512 which it is using to help meet the extra demand for its services.

Carol says: “Without our larger premises we would have been unable to continue operating during this period in a way that was safe for staff and volunteers so we would have had to shut up shop at a time when the need for our service has never been greater.”

The extra money that Community One-Stop shop  has now received  from the Scottish Land Fund is part of a package of £70,000 that has been allocated to a total of 12 shops, food banks and other SLF-funded enterprises across Scotland to allow them to respond to additional demand for their services during the Covid-19 outbreak.

Cabinet Secretary for Land Reform Roseanna Cunningham said: “Through the Scottish Land Fund,  the Scottish Government has supported a number of communities, particularly in rural areas, who have wanted to save their local shop.

“Some of these shops are now playing an important role in distributing food and other essentials to people in need who are not eligible for other support measures

“This volunteer-led activity is especially valuable at this point in time. I’m delighted that the Scottish Land Fund has responded quickly to help communities help themselves and them step up their efforts at this difficult time.”

John Watt, Scottish Land Fund Committee Chair said: “This crisis has highlighted the need for strong communities and the response of local groups has been outstanding.

“Some of these shops and enterprises would not exist if it wasn’t for the support of the Scottish Land Fund yet during this time they have become a lifeline for many people who would otherwise struggle to access the food and other services that they need.”

This land is your land

The Scottish Land Fund reopens for business – and now includes urban areas

greenspace

Wednesday 13 April, 2 – 4pm

EDINBURGH Social Enterprise Network (ESEN) is hosting an event at the Grassmarket Community Project next week to highlight and disseminate information about the Scottish Land Fund as urban areas will be able to apply for funding for the very first time. Continue reading This land is your land