Communities in cash hopes

£200,000 funds will be distributed

Halfway and the Caledonian Circuit have been identified as two communities which could benefit from around £200,000 in government funding.

The Aspiring Communities Fund aims to empower people to tackle poverty and social isolation in their areas.

The scheme has already dished out £43,000 to Healthy n Happy Community Development Trust to help it identify possible projects for the potential £200,000 investment.

The social enterprise is currently conducting a survey in both communities in a bid to learn more about the wants and needs of residents.

This information, together with meetings with community groups, will help the organisation develop proposals setting out how additional investment from the fund could make the neighbourhoods better places to live, work and play.

Jan Taylor, senior team leader for the transforming communities team, told Halfway Community Council the consultation was the first phase of the project. “It’s a very short-term project, about six months,” she said.

“We are looking to speak to community groups, residents, shops, anybody who wants to speak to us, to find out what they see as priorities for their area across the board. Anything from the services, activities, events or any problems.

“When we’re finished with this door knocking stage of the consultation, we’ll pull together a report which informs we’re at a stage to bid to the funder.

“And if successful the money will come to Healthy n Happy but only for us to distribute it to the community groups who apply for it.

“We will enter partnership agreements with groups, any group who wants to work with us to get the money spent on their area.”

Healthy ‘n’ Happy aims to speak with 100 to 200 people and encourages all residents to complete a consultation questionnaire.

For more information visit www. camglencommunities.org.uk or contact Jan Taylor on 0141 646 0123.