This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Funding for rural communities
04/04/2005
Over £3 million is to be shared amongst community
projects throughout rural Scotland.
A visitor centre, tea room and heritage garden in the
Highlands, a basketball arena in Falkirk and a venue for
arts and crafts in Dumfries and Galloway are among 70
community projects to be offered funding through the
Executive's Scottish Rural Partnership Fund (SRPF).
Deputy Environment and Rural Development Minister Lewis
Macdonald said:
"Ensuring access to services and opportunities is
essential to a sustainable rural way of life.
"Local people need to be at the heart of the
regeneration of their areas.
"This funding underlines our commitment to build strong
rural communities."
The fund is made up of 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.
- Rural Strategic Support Fund (RSSF) offers grants
to support Local Rural partnerships or community-led
organisations to promote capacity building.
- Local Capital Grants Scheme (LCGS) offers grants
for the building or upgrading of community
facilities.
This is the final annual round of the Scottish Rural
Partnership Fund in its current form. The Fund has been
operational for seven years and recent public consultation
has highlighted that some updating and improvements to the
existing structure and operation of the Fund are required
to ensure that it continues to meets the needs of
communities. Scottish Ministers are currently considering
the delivery and operation of a revised Fund and will
announce their conclusions soon.
The Scottish Rural Partnership Fund (SRPF) is made up of
three component grant schemes. The total projects announced
for the 2005/06 round comprise:
- £1.4 million from the Rural Challenge Fund (RCF)
for community based projects to tackle particular rural
problems and widen opportunities in rural areas;
- £1.5 million from the Local Capital Grants Scheme
(LCGS) for the building and upgrading of community
facilities; and
- £100,000 from the Rural Strategic Support Fund
(RSSF) for the establishment of Local Rural
Partnerships and other community capacity building
activities.
Awards are made following a process of annual
competitive bidding within each scheme.
Examples of projects by Local Authority Area:
Aberdeenshire - £31,000 for Deveron Arts in Huntly /
Strathbogie to engage a town artist for the local
community.
Aberdeenshire - £49, 920 for Grampian Housing
Association to create a wholesale nursery and employ people
recovering from mental illness.
Angus - £47,642 for BTCV Westmuir Community to improve
the existing walkways and create new paths.
Argyll and Bute - £33,856 for Comann Eachdraich Lios Mor
to build the Isle of Lismore Gaelic Heritage Museum.
Dumfries and Galloway - £36,954 for Upper Nithsdale Art
and Craft Community Initiative to create a centre for
training and arts and crafts to promote regeneration.
Edinburgh - £42,000 for Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre to
renovate a hall.
Falkirk - £35,000 for Airth Parish Community Council to
create a basketball arena.
Fife - £50,000 for Castle Furniture East Neuk Project to
extend its current work and establish a new base in the
East Neuk. The project offers socially excluded individuals
meaningful employment and an opportunity to learn new
skills through upgrading and selling surplus furniture
.
Highland - £49, 975 for Castletown Heritage Society to
create a visitor centre, tea room and heritage garden.
Highland - £22,000 for Cromarty Victoria Hall Ltd to
provide enhanced community facilities within a 19th Century
drill hall.
Perth and Kinross - £25,000 for Coupar Angus Skaters
Association to design and construct a facility for
skateboarding, bmx cycling and roller-skating.
Shetland - £60,000 for Cope Ltd to erect a building for
recycling unwanted furniture and household items.
Shetland - £50,000 for EID Development Association to
bring back a disused building into use for the rural
community of Aith.
Shetland - £40,000 for Shetland Skate Park Association
to construct a high quality, purpose-built skate park.
South Lanarkshire - £70,000 for Glespin Community Group
to build a new multi-purpose play area.
Western Isles - £100,000 for Barvas and Brue community
centre for renovation of their community centre.