£200K for holiday lunches and fun Heritage trust project gets welcome boost
£175,000 award
West Lothian Council’s Executive Committee has agreed the planned expansion of the Holiday Lunch and Activity Clubs using additional funding of £200,000 which was granted in the 2017/ 18 Revenue Budget.
Using the additional funding, the programme will provide meals and fun activities during the school holidays. Provision for spring 2017 is planned at Armadale, Knightsridge, Murrayfield, Polkemmet, Riverside, St Mary’s Polbeth and St Ninian’s primary schools.
The schools will be open from 11am to 1pm. Activities will include football, athletics, dance, games and basketball. Following the activity session a hot lunch will be provided. Partnership provision is also planned at Boghall Primary School, with Boghall Sunshine Club providing activities, followed by a hot lunch.
A new model of provision will be delivered at Livingston St ation Commu n i t y Education Centre ( CEC). For details of the programme, please contact the Education Customer Services Team on 01506 281952.
Almond Valley Heritage Trust has been awarded a cash boost.
West Lothian LEADER has awarded £175,000 to the group to help fund a new Oil Shale Discovery Space. The scheme is administered via West Lothian Council and a decision making body called the West Lothian Local Action Group (LAG). This group is made up of representatives from public and private organisations as well as community minded individuals. West Lothian LEADER has over £ 2 million of funding for the 2014/ 20 programme, to deliver support for rural communities in West Lothian. Its aim is to increase community capacity, to build knowledge and skills, encourage innovation and promote co- operation in rural areas via the delivery of a Local Development Strategy ( LDS). When it is completed the space at Almond Valley Heritage Centre will be a new and unique addition to the attractions and will allow young people to learn more about West Lothian’s unique shale oil heritage. The design has been shaped by users and supporters of the centre. The Oil Shale Discovery Space will create an innovative outdoor play space that will immerse children in a lost industrial world of stills, tanks and fiery retorts that accurately reflect the buildings and structures of West Lothian’s historic shale oil industry. Alongside their families, children will explore the passageways and pipelines of a traditional oil works and, through active and imaginative forms of play, gain insight into an industry that once shaped life in most rural parts of the county. West Lothian LEADER is keen to hear from organisations looking for grant assistance for projects that fit with its Local Development Strategy. West Lothian LEADER is also looking for volunteers to join its Local Action Group. See www. westlothian.gov.uk/LEADER.