This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Rural community projects share cash
07/03/2003
A skills training project in Ayrshire and a scheme to
covert an old community hall in Aberdeenshire are among 46
community projects sharing £1.5 million, it was announced
today
Another project is the creation of a Scottish Islands
Network to promote, publicise and advance the interests of
the Scottish islands by bringing together key public,
private and community organisations.
The money is being made available through the Scottish
Rural Partnership Fund (SRPF) which comprises three
component grant schemes:
Rural Challenge Fund (RCF) offers grants to rural
projects, which propose innovative ways of tackling
particular rural problems, or create a wider range of
opportunities in rural areas -
£1,024,004
Rural Strategic Support Fund (RSSF) offers grants to
support Local Rural Partnerships or community-led
partnershipsand -
£60,367
Local Capital Grants Scheme (LCGS) offers grants for the
building or upgrading of community facilities -
£470,250
Deputy Environment and Rural Development Minister
Allan Wilson said:
"The funding announced today shows the Scottish
Executive's commitment to Scotland's rural communities.
Access to high quality services is essential to enhancing
quality of life and we are investing heavily in services
across Scotland. We recognise, however, the particular
circumstances in rural communities.
"Issues such as social justice, service provision and
economic development are real priorities for rural
communities in driving change and ensuring we have the
highest levels of service delivery.
"I am delighted to announce the award of funding
totalling over £1.5m for 46 projects across rural Scotland.
I congratulate the successful projects which will help to
make a real difference to the lives of people in their
local communities."
Fifty one Rural Challenge Fund and Rural Strategic
Support Fund projects have been offered a conditional award
of funding and officials will be working closely with these
projects to help them provide the information needed to
secure a firm funding award.
A further 41 Local Capital Grants Scheme projects will
be subject to the provision of further information from
Local Authorities before a final decision on funding is
made. A further announcement on these projects is likely to
be made later in the year.
Awards are made following a process of annual
competitive bidding within each scheme.
In total there were 195 applications to the SRPF - 130
applications to the RCF, 54 applications to the LCGS and 11
to the RSSF.
Forty six projects - 37 from the RCF, seven from the
LCGS and two from the RSSF - will benefit from awards
totalling £1,554,521.
Following the receipt of comments from local interests,
a sub-group of the Scottish National Rural Partnership
considered applications, and advised Ministers on awards
from the RCF and RSSF. Local authorities administer the
LCGS within their area before submitting a prioritised list
to the Executive.
Aberdeenshire
A LCGS award of £100,000 to Kinellar Community
Association to replace the old, dilapidated building with a
modern, larger facility which will meet the needs and
requirements of an expanding community.
Angus
A RCF grant of £24,759 to Newtyle Footpath Network for
the creation of a footpath network to provide access in and
around the village of Newtyle. This will also create
extensive links with the cultural heritage of the site, and
surrounding communities.
Argyll and Bute
A RCF grant of £36,786 to Argyll and Bute Youth Forum
Partnership to employ a development worker to involve young
people in decision making and consultation with elected
members, community leaders and officials in order to make
services responsive to their needs.
Borders
A RCF grant of £14,316 for Supporting Voluntary Youth
Work. The appointment of a part-time worker to support
volunteer youth workers by providing support, information,
advice andtraining will increase the capacity of volunteers
to enable them to provide development opportunities for
young people in the local area.
Dumfries and Galloway
A RCF grant of £13,000 to Beattock Children's Play Area
to provide new children's' play equipment with an impact
absorbing surface and picnic seats.
Edinburgh
A LCGS award of £22,000 to Colinton Mains Community
Centre to create a new meeting hall and provide new storage
areas in the centre.
East Ayrshire
A RCF grant of £29,385 to Training The Towns Initiative
to allow existing project staff to participate in Scottish
Vocational Qualification training. They will then
facilitate training in childcare, early years, catering,
administration, ICT and youth work to socially excluded
people.
East Lothian
A RCF grant of £1,500 to Spott Parish Community
Association to build a playground in grounds of old
school.
Falkirk
A LCGS award of £65,000 to Reddingmuirhead Community
Management Committee for the addition to the hall of an
entrance vestibule, two general purpose meeting rooms,
multi use kitchen complying with modern standards, a new
disabled toilet and safe play area.
Fife
A LCGS award of £100,000 to Carnock Community Trust to
build a community centre complete with multi-purpose hall,
kitchen and meeting room.
Highland
A RCF grant of £26,000 to Two Lochs Radio to establish a
community-based local radio station broadcasting to the
Gairloch ward of Wester Ross. The station will aim to
inform the public about the area's social, cultural and
natural heritage strengths.
Moray
A RCF grant of £39,002, to Moray Wood Recycling Workshop
to provide an integrated training and support package for
people who are socially excluded, whether through
disabilities or literacy and numeracy difficulties, lack of
self-confidence, vocational qualifications or work
experiences.
Orkney
A RCF grant of £42,500 to Orkney Skate Park to establish
Orkney's first skate park. This will provide a safe
activity zone as an alternative to the street, thereby
enabling young people from eight to 25 years old to
increase physical activity in this growing sport.
Perth and Kinross
A RCF grant of £6,536 to Meadow Lane Access Link to
upgrade a local footpath making it suitable for all of the
community, including wheelchair users and the less able
walker.
Shetland
A RCF grant of £45,500 to Shetland Community Scrapstore
to establish a community scrap-store. The project will make
a wide range of recycled materials available for use by
schools, playgroups, childminders and community groups and
establish a furniture repair and storage facility for use
by the elderly and disadvantaged.
South Ayrshire
A RCF grant of £34,535 to the Volunteer Centre South
Ayrshire to offer employment opportunities and train over
40 volunteers in transferable work skills. This will
increase employability for those living within an area with
higher than average unemployment rates and reduce social
isolation, improve health and increase the quality of life
for those aged 60 plus, in Girvan and the surrounding
area.
South Lanarkshire
A RCF grant of £36,812 to the Upper Clyde Activity
Programme targeting the residents of Crawford, Abington,
Leadhills and surrounding areas. The project will provide
activities locally for all age groups, with a particular
emphasis on older people, aiming to reduce isolation and
encourage participation.
Stirling
A RSSF grant of £39,787 to the Strathfillan Community
Development Trust, which includes the villages of
Crianlarich and Tyndrum. The project will build on existing
partnerships to progress projects involving woodlands,
access, heritage interpretation, housing, local service
provision, community activities, and community
learning.
West Lothian
A LCGS award of £100,000 to develop a 'One Stop Shop'
located in the rural village of Addiewell. The main aim is
to create a welcoming place, which will host a number of
community initiatives and services under one roof. The
project will provide a meeting room, small interview room,
activity room, children's soft play area and a modest
fitness suite as well as an open reception area for
exhibitions.