Decision day brings windfalls for groups

A host of groups received cash boosts for new projects thanks to votes from the public and a £40,000 war chest for the community.
Kinneil Band received £1500 from the fundKinneil Band received £1500 from the fund
Kinneil Band received £1500 from the fund

It was ‘decision day’ last Saturday at Bo’ness Town Hall where residents voted for which projects would receive money from Falkirk Council’s new Community Changes Fund.

The fund made available £40,000 for Bo’ness and Blackness, £27,000 for Maddiston and £11,000 for Grangemouth and were to go to projects that would contribute to improving the lives of people in those areas.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The council said it had 19 applications totalling £96,000 from the £40,000 fund, which meant that some lost out.

The successful Bo’ness projects were – school/youth: Deanburn Primary School Fundraising Group – for an outdoor trim track, £8000; Bo’ness Academy – the Chillax Community Partnership Hub, £3400; Bo’ness Rugby Club – youth expansion, £1500; St Mary’s Primary School – breakfast club, £2000; Bo’ness Playaway Play Group – Fun to Play, £1350; Blackness Area Community Council – Blackness playpark improvement, £3000.

Social: Bo’ness and Area Community Bus Association – Community Bus Service, £7000; The Barony Players – Barony Players in their Community, £5250; Newton Park Association – Newton Park Community Hub, £4000; Carriden Community Volunteer Group – IT for all Ages, £1500; Kinnneil Band – instrument replacement project, £1500; White Lady Mountain Biking CIC – Kinneil Trails Skills Loop, £1500.

Robert Snedden from the Newton Park Community Hub said the group would use £4000 it received for conceptual drawings for the hub.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said: “We would really like to thank Falkirk Council for this generosity and thank everyone who voted for us.

A council spokesperson said: “All three of our events had a fantastic response with more than 800 residents taking part in deciding which projects would receive funding locally.”

“We have been able to offer £78,000 of funding through participatory budgeting that will make a real difference to the 27 projects that were successful, with at least 10 projects funded through our small grants fund.”