Welcome funding for Carse of Gowrie community project

Almost £42,000 has been awarded by communities trust

An ambitious £1.5 million community project for the Carse of Gowrie has received thousands of pounds in funding.

St Madoes and Kinfauns Parish Church is celebrating the news that it is to be awarded nearly £42,000 of funding from SUEZ Communities Trust – formerly SITA Trust – for the Madoch Centre Community Facilities for All Project.

Work started on the year-long build by Perthshire company Algo in September.

The aim of the project is to provide high quality, purpose-built recreational facilities for the community of St Madoes and the wider Carse of Gowrie.

As well as improving the quality of life for local residents by providing recreational facilities the idea is to increase physical activity across all ages through provision of a games hall, sports activities and local clubs.

The centre will also combat social isolation by acting as a social hub, community cafe and a place for community groups to meet.

All build costs have been met through volunteer fundraising efforts and the SUEZ Communities Trust funding will provide much-needed furniture for the centre.

Anthea Bircham, the Madoch Centre development group co-ordinator, said: “The grant from Suez Communities is really encouraging for everyone involved in the project.

“Their funding will help us make the new centre a high quality and multipurpose facility for our community.”

The community fundraising for the project hit the news last year when the Rev Marc Bircham, minister of St Madoes and Kinfauns Parish Church, threw himself at the mercy of the public.

He travelled around Scotland for five days visiting various locations and landmarks, carrying out a series of bizarre tasks, physical challenges and “random acts of kindness” along the way.

Mirroring the Yes Man film starring Jim Carrey, Mr Bircham had absolutely no idea where he would end up or what he would be doing as the Facebook audience decided, with the highest bidder choosing the next day’s random task.

Their funding will help us make the new centre a high quality and multipurpose facility for our community. ANTHEA BIRCHAM

Picture: Andrew O’Brien. Some of the congregation of St Madoes and Kinfauns Church get a first look at the new Madoch Centre, shown round by Sandy Farmer, director of Algo, second from left.