Venchie is open for use

Run-down pitch transformed into sport and activity area

The school holidays have been made much more enjoyable for children in Westburn as the upgraded Venchie is open for use.

The run-down pitch has been transformed into an outdoor sport and activity area after young people in the area led a campaign for the Venchie to be refurbished.

Their dedication saw South Lanarkshire Council dish out £ 2,000 from its participatory budget to returf the pitch, line it for sports and install new goalposts.

Liz Jamieson from Community Links, who supported the young people to carry out community surveys and create a proposal for the upgrade, said she was delighted to see their ambitions realised.

“When it was finished the kids were up there straight away,” she said. “It’s good to see it coming together and all the hard work put in by children paying off.

“The kids don’t realise how valuable their input is. They will see the space being utilised and played on in the coming weeks. I’m dead proud of them all.”

A formal open day has been organised for the Venchie on Wednesday, August 3.

Kicking off at 1pm, the event will see Utd Sports coaches leading soccer sessions for children aged five and above and a second tots session for pre-school footballers.

Fun contests such as beat the goalie will be played, as well as a parents versus children match.

The event is free and open to the whole community.

The open day is a special occasion for Wes t b u r n community as the Venchie is among the first projects to be completed using participatory budget funding.

Offered up by the council and its partner agencies, the £72,000 fund encourages residents to think how that money can best be used to make their community a better and safer place for children and young people.

Placing decision making powers in the hands of the community, residents have had the opportunity to vote for projects they feel will best achieve these aims.

Explaining community involvement is “the best thing about” the participatory budget, Liz added: “It was so good to see the local community come together with the kids to go around the doors [to complete the community survey] and to see the community working to get their own area upgraded.

“To see the Venchie taking shape may encourage more people to come out and fight for things in their community.”