The National Lottery Community Fund has announced over £12 million of grants to 311 Scottish groups with the majority going to community hub projects
Community hubs are set to be developed across Scotland thanks to new lottery funding.
The National Lottery Community Fund has announced over £12 million of grants to 311 Scottish groups with the lion’s share going to projects that will transform existing buildings into vibrant community hubs.
Amongst 11 new community assets that will be built or developed thanks to £7.4m of this National Lottery funding, is The Pyramid at Anderston. The group, behind the renovation of this iconic B-listed building in Glasgow, will receive £1,100,000 to renovate the space so that it can continue hosting a wide range of community groups and welcome many more.
Welcoming the news, Tom Moffat, chair of the group, said: “I am delighted to accept this award on behalf of The Pyramid at Anderston. My thanks to The National Lottery Community Fund for their support. The award will enable us to make our iconic building more inclusive and accessible and to continue to be a place for the communities of Anderston and Finnieston to connect, create and celebrate.”
An island community which famously took ownership of its own destiny back in 1997 is today celebrating an award of £1,045,000. The Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust will use the funding to extend and develop An Laimhrig, a vital community hub.
Rebecca Long, business development manager for the Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust, said: "We are absolutely delighted to have received this award from the National Lottery Community Fund. Eigg was one of the first community buyouts in Scotland and the original build of An Laimhrig completed in 1998 was the very first flagship project undertaken by Eigg’s community. It is now 23 years later and with a 70% positive population increase the building is fit to bursting, with Eigg’s only shop, café, visitor-facing businesses and community offices unable to keep up with all the demands put upon them.
"This vital expansion will aid the island’s economic, social and cultural development and secure Eigg's future for the next generation of residents and visitors alike. Without National Lottery players this award and project would not have been possible.”
Plans to create a Community Health and Wellbeing Hub in Letham, Perthshire have received a welcome £750,000 boost. Letham4All will use the funding to refurbish the former Letham Recreation Centre creating an accessible community space which will include multipurpose activity areas, café, soft play, a community gym and meeting rooms.
Jon Kidd, chair of Letham4All, said: “We are delighted with this award from the National Lottery Community Fund. The difference this will make to our community cannot be adequately put into words. This funding will breathe life into the community hub through total refurbishment and allow us to engage with so many more people in a meaningful and productive way to tackle the inequalities faced by our communities.”
Announcing today’s funding to 311 projects in Scotland, The National Lottery Community Fund’s Scotland chair, Kate Still, said: “These awards, made possible by National Lottery players, recognise the incredible work happening across Scotland to create stronger, more connected communities.
“I am delighted that some of this funding will be used to transform existing buildings into vibrant community hubs that will carry on the strong community spirit that has been so evident in recent times.
"National Lottery players can be proud to know that money they raise by buying tickets is continuing to make such a difference.”
National Lottery players raise £30 million every week for good causes in the UK. The National Lottery Community Fund in Scotland is currently focusing its funding on those projects that supporting organisations and communities to respond to the challenge of Covid-19.
To find out more visit the fund’s website.
