Joy as work begins on new community hub

Residents living in one of Scotland’s most deprived areas are looking to the future as work on a new community hub finally gets under way.

Kirkcaldy YMCA took over the Gallatown Park Bowling Club at the end of 2018 with the intention of refurbishing facilities and building a new community centre.

The £500,000 project has been in the pipeline ever since and community members gathered together yesterday to celebrate the start of building work on site.

National figures suggest the Gallatown area of Kirkcaldy is among the top 2% of deprived areas of Scotland, with 38.9% of its children living in poverty.

However, Kirkcaldy YMCA hopes the new and refurbished premises will allow it to add to the projects it already runs for children and adults, including feeding families during school holidays, a mental health café, bike scheme and cooking classes.

A pump track for cyclists has already been created in the area and has proved hugely popular with youths, and those involved with the initiative are eager to see the benefits of the new centre, positioned in the heart of the Gallatown community.

Kirkcaldy YMCA general secretary Liz Easton said: “We are doing the right thing in the right place for the right people at the right time.”

The funding has come from a variety of sources including the Big Lottery Fund, and Fife Council supported the move by approving a community asset transfer almost two years ago.

It wished Kirkcaldy YMCA well in its aim to provide learning opportunities for children and adults, offer green spaces and employment and volunteering opportunities.

Picture: Steve Brown. From left: Violinist Jennifer Kerr, volunteer Brian Murray, Billy Smith, 5, Keira Smith, 6, and Kirkcaldy YMCA general secretary Liz Easton plant a tree at the site.