TACKLING POVERTY

Angela Constance MSP for Almond Valley, in her capacity as Cabinet Secretary for Communities, announced, during a visit to West Calder, that community and third sector projects will be allocated a share of £29 million to find new ways to tackle poverty and improve people’s lives.

The West Calder and Harburn Community Development Trust has led the Aspiring West Lothian project which will receive £247,000 of funding from the Aspiring Communities Fund. This funding means five development workers will be employed to work in some of the most deprived communities in West Lothian to identify and address barriers to participation and accessing community facilities. This collaboration involves communityled projects in Whitburn, Armadale, Blackburn, Polbeth and Livingston.

Angela Constance MSP said: “For West Lothian, that means new jobs, working with some of the most deprived communities to make positive changes, with those most in need having a say in the design and provision of initiatives. It will also support existing community organisations in the work that they are doing to tackle poverty and improve people’s lives.”