Brian Whittle MSP is encouraging local community groups to make a bid for support from the UK Government’s Community Ownership Fund, which has just opened up for a second round of funding worth £150 million.
The fund can be used to support community groups looking to take control of pubs, music venues, sports facilities, historic buildings and other facilities that benefit the public which are at risk of being closed down or sold off.
In the first round of funding, the UK Government distributed over £1.2 million in funding to six groups across Scotland.
Now Brian is encouraging local groups across South Scotland to consider bidding for funding to help rescue facilities at risk in their communities.
With the new round of funding having wider eligibility criteria, more groups are able to apple.
Brian Whittle MSP said:
“The first round of the UK Government’s Community Ownership Fund helped rescue important community facilities across Scotland and I’m pleased that this second round will be able to help even more.
I hope community groups in East Ayrshire and across South Scotland will consider applying for funding to protect the local assets that make a big difference to towns and villages across the region.
There are already great examples in the area of local communities coming together to save a local facility, giving it a new future and making life better for the area. Look at what Dunlop has done with Merito or Ochiltree with their community hub.
This funding can help other communities make a big difference to their area and I’m pleased the UK Government is offering the support to help them do that.”
