COMMUNITY PROJECTS RECEIVE £1,975,563 FROM SCOTTISH LAND FUND
A community group in the Scottish Borders has been given £595,500 by the Scottish Land Fund to buy an area of land in their village. Broughtonknowe Community Woodland Ltd will purchase 55.85 ha of woodland in Broughton in order to continue using it as an amenity green space and to increase biodiversity on the site.
The grant is amongst 10 totaling £1,975,563, that have been announced in the most recent awards from the Scottish Land Fund
Other groups receiving funding to pursue their community ownership ambitions include Annexe Communities, which has been given £248,000 to acquire the building in Partick, Glasgow which they have tenanted for the last 37 years and which they will continue to operate as a community-led health and wellbeing hub, benefiting the local community by securing, maintaining and improving the hub; and Balmacara Community Trust, which has received £162,130 to acquire the former Balmacara Campsite in Lochalsh from Forestry and Land Scotland.
The site will remain natural woodland with paths and gathering spaces for recreation and community events. The group will also upgrade the derelict office building and will potentially reinstate the campsite.
The Scottish Land Fund reopened to applications in April 2021. The programme is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by the National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, both of which have extensive experience of helping communities to acquire and develop their assets for over a decade.
Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary, Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, said:
“I think what is so incredible about those receiving Scottish Land Fund awards is that each is an example of people coming together to take really positive, practical action to create a place for others to come together and benefit the community - often securing the future of a beloved local landmark. I want to congratulate all of those who will be able to drive their projects forward with this support and wish them the very best.”
Cara Gillespie, Scottish Land Fund Committee Chair said: “By providing funding that is targeted directly at local needs, the Scottish Land Fund is helping both urban and rural communities to flourish. The groups involved have developed strategic goals and clear ambitions about how these assets will help their localities to thrive.”
Sandra Holmes, head of community assets at HIE, said: "The successful projects announced today across Scotland are all fantastic examples of people taking control of local resources for the long-term benefit of their communities. These initiatives will not only enhance local amenities and services but also give local people a sense of ownership and pride. It will give communities greater control over important assets that will reap rewards for people now and for generations to come. We are excited to see the positive impacts these projects will bring and wish every group the very best in developing these excellent projects.”
Ian Brooke, Chair, Broughtonknowe Community Woodland Ltd , said: “We are absolutely delighted to be awarded such a substantial grant towards the purchase of the Broughtonknowe Woodland. The woodland has been used by local people for many years for recreation and wellbeing, and is a haven for wildlife, having been sympathetically managed by the current owner. The local community have come together to support a community buyout and this investment will mean we will have more than three quarters of the cost of the purchase price and we will continue to appeal for the remaining balance leading to a spring 2025 purchase. Thank you to the Scottish Land Fund for its confidence in our plans and for recognising that this is a well used special place and with a community purchase, it will be protected for ever more.”
Peter Taylor, Chair, Annexe Communities, said: “We are delighted to receive the support of the Scottish Land Fund which will allow us to secure the future of our building as an asset for the people of Partick and Thornwood. It will help to ensure the continuing success of our work,which shows that opportunities to take part in community activity are a powerful way to protect and improve people’s health and wellbeing. As community members have already shown in our wide local consultations, the feeling that we are a place that is for local people will be strengthened by the knowledge that it also belongs to them”.
And Mike Shucksmith, Chair, Balmacara Community Trust, said: “Balmacara Community Trust is thrilled to be awarded a grant from the Scottish Land Fund to purchase Balmacara Campsite from Forestry and Land Scotland for the local community.
“This award through the Community Asset Transfer programme will enable the Trust to preserve and protect the site for generations to come. The land is regularly used for walking with linking trails to further afield, dog walking and other recreational pursuits - even sledging at this time of year. The award will also allow the Trust to have its first Development Officer too.
“Within the award is funding for further surveys of the woodland and of the building involved in the sale of the site, these surveys also have funding support from HIE.
We are very grateful for the support and encouragement we have received for this project from the Scottish Land Fund, Forestry and Land Scotland, HIE, but also from the community that this woodland site means so much to.”
Other groups receiving funding are:
Aberfeldy Development Trust
£125,500
Aberfeldy Development Trust will purchase two adjoining parcels of land on the site of the old slaughterhouse in Aberfeldy, Perth and Kinross. Acquisition will allow for the development of six houses, four for affordable rent and two for low-cost ownership.
Lamlash Community Hub
£121,500
Lamlash Community Hub will seek to acquire Lamlash (Kilbride) Parish Church and Hall. The group will continue offering a space for community activities. Future plans include refurbishing the buildings to create meeting rooms, exhibition and performance spaces, a community lounge, café and commercial kitchen.
Morebattle Community Pub
£149,500
Morebattle Community Hub and Pub will acquire the Templehall Inn in the rural village of Morebattle in the Scottish Borders. The group will run it as a community owned hub and pub with visitor accommodation, protecting its important role as an informal social space and economic asset for the area.
The Oakbank Community Inn Sandbank
£147,411
Oakbank Community Inn Sandbank will purchase the Oakbank Inn in Sandbank, Dunoon. The group will reopen the pub and restaurant to create a warm, safe and inclusive community space.
Straiton Village Co-operative
£228,950
Straiton Village Co-operative will purchase the Buck Café and House in the rural village of Straiton, South Ayrshire. The group intends to install a tenant who will extend its opening hours and offering, retaining an important meeting space for the community.
Stromness Community Development Trust
£138,054
Stromness Community Development Trust will purchase the Stromness Community Centre (including play park) from Orkney Islands Council. They will further develop the asset as a community facility, offering a wide range of services and space for hire.
Foggie Neuk
£59,017
The Foggie Neuk will purchase the ground floor of the building it has occupied since 2020 within the main town square of Aberchirder, Aberdeenshire. They will continue to run the asset as a venue for hire and offering a range of community events and activities.
