Library hub project nets £900k

A Fife community charity has been given a £900,000 boost to promote healthy living.

Greener Kirkcaldy has received the award from the Big Lottery Fund to renovate the unused former library in the town’s East Fergus Place.

The building will be transformed into a community hub for the charity to promote its work, offering workshops, community events and even a small kitchen garden.

Lauren Parry, senior development worker, said: “It needs a lot of maintenance work done on it and we need to make it energy efficient to fit in with the Greener Kirkcaldy ethos.

“It will be a place for people to come together to grow, cook, eat and learn. It will offer training, volunteer and work experience opportunities, and lifelong learning around food production and preparation.

“We aim to educate people on how they can eat healthily and easily whilst on a budget.”

There are hopes that the new hub could be ready and operational by next summer.

The charity plans to offer a wide range of events, courses and workshops on all aspects of food and drink, with plans including beginners’ bread-making, Indian vegetarian cooking and eating well on a budget.

The food hub will also include a base for a food co-op promoting local seasonal produce, a pop-up community café, and it is hoped it could act as a distribution point for Kirkcaldy Foodbank.