Scottish Land Fund award helps secure Glasgow community centre's future
A community centre in a deprived area of Glasgow will be saved from demolition thanks an £85,000 grant in the first allocation from the new Scottish Land Fund.
A community centre in a deprived area of Glasgow will be saved from demolition thanks an £85,000 grant in the first allocation from the new Scottish Land Fund.
The Barmulloch Community Development Company (BCDC) will buy the former All Saints Church and associated church house, known locally as the Broomfield Road Centre, after the fund was opened for urban and rural projects.
BCDC currently leases the property - which houses a boxing gym, rooms for training and meetings plus a money advice centre - but ownership will allow it to modify and refurbish the buildings.
The company also intends to build adjacent industrial units to provide new employment opportunities and an additional income, and the award will also enable BCDC to employ a new part-time development officer for two years.
Jim Hope, development officer of BCDC, said: "The award, to acquire a former church scheduled for demolition, will have a major impact on an area of multiple deprivation.
"It will create much-needed space for community activities, will preserve a much-loved local landmark and will help to create a greater pride in the community.
"It also represents a huge boost to BCDC's efforts to increase its services to local people and to ensure the sustainability of its operations."
Scottish Land Fund Committee chair John Watt said: "Community ownership is a viable option for many local communities across Scotland, giving them more control over the management and development of locally important land and buildings."
Land Reform Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: "The Barmulloch Community Development Company is the first community group to receive an urban grant award to purchase community space in Broomfield Road.
"This funding will allow the local community to drive forward regeneration and renewal in the area and secure the future use of this facility."
The Scottish Land Fund was relaunched in March 2016 and the programme was expanded to apply to both urban and rural projects.
A second Scottish Land Fund award was also announced for Moffat Community Woodlands, which receives £171,622 to purchase 33.4 hectares of local woodland on Gallow Hill in Dumfries and Galloway.