The funds come from The Place Based Investment Programme which is a Scottish Government capital fund for local authorities to allocate to projects and initiatives which look to improve and enhance local communities.
A Community Choices exercise was organised to encourage local groups and residents to get involved in the funding process and ultimately decide how the funds should be allocated for the benefit of the local community. (West Lothian Council is required to spend 1% of its annual budget via Community Choices voting processes).
West Lothian Council invited community organisations to submit applications of between £5000 and £25,000 that supported community led capital projects. 17 eligible applications were received from projects across West Lothian and 4405 people cast their votes to help determine how the funds would be allocated.
The winning projects are detailed below:
- The Larder: Changing Lives through food - £25,000
- ReConnect SCIO: Howden Park Centre Old Stables Entrance - £23,500
- Spark: Community Hub Security - £16,500
- Murieston Tennis & Sports Clubs: Livingston South Community Sports & Wellbeing Hub New Facilities -£25,000
- Livingston Shed: Expansion of Mosswood Community Workshop & Garden Services - £8,000
- Play Works: Pirate Ship - £25,000
- Bathgate Community Education Centre Association: Upgrading Kirkton Pavilion - £25,000
- Stoneyburn & Bents Future Vision Group: Outdoor Play Improvement at Foulshiels Park - £13,507
- Artlink Edinburgh & Lothians: Boghall Community Cooking & Growing - £22,400
- Whitburn & District Community Development Trust: Community Garden Workshop - £5,093 (part award)
Executive councillor for economy, community empowerment & wealth building, Kirsteen Sullivan said: " Thank you to everyone who engaged in this process. It is of vital importance that we work in partnership with communities and businesses to build a strong local economy which supports fair work, encourages local spend and uses the land and property we own for the common good.
"Congratulations to all the groups who have successfully received funding and I look forward to seeing how they positively impact their respective communities."
A full breakdown of the results can be found on the West Lothian Council website - https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/article/79625/Place-Based-Investment-Fund-Community-Choices
