​Lottery announces grants from its Awards for All programme

Organisations from Edinburgh to Inverness are to share a £1.1 million windfall from the National Lottery’s Awards for All programme.

Some 150 organisations are to receive cash to help bring together communities the length and breadth of the country with a diverse range of groups winning grants from between £500 to £10,000.

Two of Scotland’s canals were amongst the awards.

The Fountainbridge Canalside Initiative will use its £3,540 award to provide a meeting place for community workshops, markets and gatherings.

Local residents will be encouraged to come together and learn through creative workshops about the local areas layout and history. The community will use their new found skills to build and decorate the hub.

And in Falkirk, Friends of the Charlotte Dundas will use their £5,550 award to develop architect drawings for a potential two kilometre canal heritage trail.

All of these grants are a great way to show the variety of projects that can be funded

The trail is intended to start at the Forth and Clyde canal from the Big Lottery funded Helix Park to where the Forth and Clyde Canal meets the River Carron. The architect drawings will ensure the trail is accessible to all people with different needs.

Meanwhile Merkinch Community Centre will use a £6,720 award to offer a range of activities to adults with learning disabilities, including drama, line dancing and outings.

In Ayrshire a cash boost of £4,941 will enable Heal The Earth to attract more local interest in the garden by upgrading garden equipment and marketing the results.

An Awards for All spokesperson, said: “We have announced over £1 million to help communities across Scotland set up and develop projects run for and by local people.

“All of these grants are a great way to show the variety of projects that can be funded through Awards for All for people of all ages.”