by Lucy Ashton
Community groups are celebrating after receiving a share of £600,000 from the Pride in Place Impact Fund community grant scheme.
Community groups and voluntary organisations across West Dunbartonshire were invited to make applications for between £10,000 and £100,000 to fund capital projects which align with the Fund’s core objectives.
These include improving existing community facilities and enabling community organisations to take control of underused buildings; enhancing the physical environment in public spaces; and making town centres more attractive and welcoming.
The full list of successful groups is:
- Alexandria BID
- Balloch Country Park Regeneration Group
- Ben View Resource Centre
- Dalmuir Barclay Church
- Flourishing Faifley
- Antonine Sports Centre (for their Glenhead Community Centre project)
- Lomond Radio Ltd
- Melfort Community Gardens
- Men’s Shed Clydebank
- PALS – Clydebank Special Needs Forum
- Rock Community Church (for the Phoenix Centre project)
- St Patrick’s FPFC
- West Dunbartonshire Community Foodshare
- Whitecrook Community Action Group
Councillors visited PALS in Clydebank earlier this week to hear how the £48,000 award would help their organisation, including supporting the installation of a new sensory room for children with additional needs, as well as improvements to the bathroom and garden.
Convener of Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development, Councillor David McBride, said: “There are some fantastic community groups in West Dunbartonshire and I am pleased that they can take advantage of this funding.
“These grants are most welcome, and I am delighted they will be used for projects which benefit communities right across the West Dunbartonshire area.”
Vice Convener of Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development, Councillor Lawrence O’Neill added: “A wide variety of groups have been successful in securing the funding, and I look forward to seeing how the communities prosper as a result of the completed projects.”
The Pride in Place funding has been provided by the UK Government with a panel of Council Officers reviewing the applications for the Impact Fund and notifying the successful candidates earlier this month.
The community grants are in addition to a £600,000 investment in creating new destination playparks in Christie Park, Alexandria, and at Dumbarton Common. The facilities, which will include modern, attractive and bespoke play equipment, will cater for both younger and older children as well as those with additional needs.
A further £240,000 was awarded to Clydebank Football Club and Yoker Athletic for improvements, including a pitch upgrade, installation of floodlights, and a stand-alone referee facility, while £60,000 was allocated to Western Titans BMX Club for improvements to their track in Clydebank.
Top of page picture: Balloch Country Park Regeneration Group was one of the organisations that received a grant.