B listed church has been transformed into a vibrant space for local people
Community ownership in Scotland has celebrated an important milestone.
The Pyramid in Glasgow’s Anderston became the 100th project to receive cash from the Scottish Land Fund – which helps buy grounds and buildings for communities.
It has turned B listed Anderston Parish Church into a vibrant space for local people.
And as The Pyramid charity took legal took ownership of the site, cabinet secretary Roseanna Cunningham went along to see for herself the impact that the project is having on the local community.
She met with Tom Moffat and Margaret Smith, local residents and trustees, together with some of the many people who take part in lunch clubs, dance classes, choirs, book clubs, knitting groups and the wide range of other activities that are held in The Pyramid every week.
The Scottish Land Fund (SLF) was set up in 2016 to support community ownership of land and assets and by the time it had made its 100th award of £324,000 to The Pyramid it had already provided £18,591,217 worth of funding.
Cash has been spent on rescuing village shops from closure, obtaining land for the creation of affordable homes, opening up woodland for recreation, establishing local recycling facilities and creating meeting spaces where whole communities can gather together.
The funding has enabled groups to find positive solutions for a whole range of local issues that matter most to them.
A map has been produce showing the geographical spread of awards, from Unst on the Shetland Islands to Glenluce in Dumfries and Galloway as well as throughout some of Scotland’s most densely-populated urban areas.
Among the projects which have received support since the Scottish Land Fund was launched are Bonnymuir Green Community Trust in Aberdeen, which received £164,750 to buy a former bowling green and pavilion in order to create a market garden and green space in the city along with a community building and café and Morebattle Village Shop in the Scottish Borders, which received £143,000 to buy the village shop and post office.
Tom Moffat, chair of the Pyramid at Anderston, said: “What could be better for Anderston and Finnieston than to have their very own community-owned space?
“There are very limited social spaces in the area and it’s the kind of informal relationships, neighbour to neighbour, which are at the heart of our vision and hopes for the Pyramid.
“We are delighted that this award from the Scottish Land Fund will help to ensure that the Pyramid at Anderston has a long-term future. But it’s not just about the building, it’s really about the people who use the building. This is now their place, a place for them to connect, create and celebrate - a place to work together, a place to support others for whom life is tough and a place to share skills, hobbies and talents with each other to continue you make our community a brilliant place to live.”
Roseanna Cunningham said: “It’s great to see more and more urban projects like this one coming forward for support from the Scottish Land Fund.
“As well as helping secure the future of the building, I hope that community ownership will open up opportunities for further development and modernisation that will give The Pyramid a new lease of life.”
John Watt, SLF committee chair, added: “It is so rewarding to see a project such as the Pyramid at Anderston flourishing and knowing that the Scottish Land Fund has been able to assist them in the vital work they do in giving people within the local area a place that they can come together.”
