You can help us spend £1.87m makeover fund
Council will welcome applications to boost communities
21.09.2018 Communities are being encouraged to bring their ideas to life after plans for a £ 1.87 million fund to support projects for green spaces, parks, play areas and villages were approved by councillors.
Groups and volunteers can apply for funding and support to improve neglected green spaces and take forward projects that will strengthen the character, identity and heritage of their community.
This could include upgrading or developing play areas or equipment, opening up underused open spaces to create leisure or recreation opportunities, or creating heritage trails or walks which highlight local points of interest.
The fund will provide investment where the community can demonstrate a sustainable plan to improve and maintain the condition and use of a green space or community asset that they have a vision for.
Following approval at Wednesday’s Leadership Board, Renfrewshire Council leader Iain Nicolson said: “We want to make sure we’re helping local communities take forward projects they believe will make a difference to their local area.
“It’s a real chance for residents to make a difference to where they live, including the opportunity to create or develop free to play facilities for local young people, so I would encourage everyone to discuss their ideas with us, no matter how big or small they may be.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the ideas and projects which are brought forward and we’ll work with every group and resident to strengthen and develop their applications as much as possible.”
The council will provide support through grant funding with projects considered under three levels.
These are: small scale projects of under £5,000; medium scale projects between £ 5,000 and £10,000 and large scale projects requesting over £ 10,000, with a maximum of £ 50,000 per application.
There will be support for communities to carry out condition and development surveys of green spaces as well as providing officer support to assist in preparing applications for external funding.
Two dedicated officers will be recruited to work directly with local communities and provide practical support to develop, and then implement their plans, as well as engaging with the wider community to ensure access to the fund is available for all.
Alan McNiven, chief executive of Engage Renfrewshire said: “Many community groups in Renfrewshire will be excited by the potential of this funding opportunity.
“The officers at Engage regularly help our member organisations with initiatives that consider how best to produce community benefits from local assets like green space and I’m sure the support now available from Renfrewshire Council will help accelerate a range of local plans.”
A £ 370,000 chunk of the investment has been allocated to develop a Villages Investment Fund, which will encourage applications from smaller communities and will deliver projects that strengthen the identity, heritage, uniqueness and integrity of village life.
A further £ 110,000 has been allocated to support the provision of a multi-use games area or alternative facility in the Bargarran area of Erskine.
The recent multi- million investment in Renfrewshire’s parks and green spaces set aside £250,000 for five neighbourhood parks and councillors agreed to support local communities to access these funds alongside the new fund.
The new fund will be open on October 1.
For more information on how to access the fund, visit www. renfrewshire. gov. uk/ fundingandgrants or you can call Engage Renfrewshire on 0141 887 7707.