Minister hails efforts at new community enterprise hub

A centre set up to improve health and employment prospects in Kincardine has been praised for bringing about positive change.

Aileen Campbell, minister for communities and local government, visited the town’s training and enterprise hub to help the Coalfields Regeneration Trust launch its new programme.

The initiative was established by the trust from its £750,000 budget provided by the Scottish Government.

As part of the 2018-19 programme, community engagement officers will be working to support locals in projects designed to regenerate the area around Longannet power station.

The aim of the group’s work is to encourage people to identify challenges and opportunities in their area, decide what to do about them and provide the actions that will make a difference.

Ms Campbell was joined on her visit by employees, trustees and community members.

She said: “It is local communities who are best placed to identify what matters to them and the actions needed to help them grow.

“The Scottish Government is backing organisations like Coalfields Regeneration Trust, who support these communities to thrive by building capacity, developing assets and engaging in local decision making.”

She said the £750,000 budget would allow the trust to continue working in some of the most fragile places in Scotland and deliver positive change.

“It has been a pleasure to join them at their fantastic new training and enterprise hub, which I’m sure will make a huge difference to people in Kincardine,” she added.