Public have their say on grants

People in Cupar have voted for seven local projects to benefit from a council bid to build a fairer Fife.

The groups, which have the aim of improving mental health and wellbeing, will share in £15,000 of council funding.

Over the past few months community groups were asked to come up with ideas to make Cupar a more thriving place and tackle inequalities.

People voted for their favourites at an event in the Corn Exchange on Saturday.

The winners were the Lighthouse Project, which will receive £2,000, Castle Furniture Motovators (£2,000), Include Me (£1,236), Fife Folk Museum (£800), Fife Clan-Howe of Fife Rugby Club (£794), Ceres Community Café (£4,000) and Sustainable Cupar (£4,168).

Applicants were invited to give a presentation at the participatory budgeting event and almost 100 votes were cast.

Team manager Sheena Watson said: “It was really inspiring to hear about the projects and to see local people getting a chance to have their say and vote on projects.

“This is something we want to build on and certainly we want to increase the opportunities for people to say how funding is spent in their local areas.

“They have the local knowledge to say what will make a difference.

“We are working to reduce inequalities and create a fairer Fife for everyone.”

The next event will be in the East Neuk next year.