Funding boost
Route toWork cash
Routes to Work will set aside £250,000 for improved services in Craigneuk.
At last week’s Craigneuk Community Council meeting Danielle Jarvie, from Routes to Work, laid out plans for how the group want to give those in the community a chance to find employment.
Routes to Work are an employability service and are currently finding ways to use the funding for the area.
Last year, we revealed that Routes to Work will be moving into the Craigneuk Library after its closure in October.
After £40,000 of refurbishments are made – which includes nine windows and external shutters - Routes to Work will move in and spend a quarter of a million pounds on Craigneuk.
Danielle Jarvie, from Routes to Work, said: “We are spending all the money within Craigneuk and we hope to start our first programme in June this year.
“We’re currently preparing our bid for the start of April where we will find out if we receive all of the funding.
“It was important for us to discuss with members of the community to see what areas they would want to work in and how we could help.
“The fund will enable communities to design and establish new or enhanced services which can address poverty and inequalities as well as supporting staff post within community organisations.
“The main areas for us to tackle are health, education and employability after the SIMD figures last year showed a clear inequality within the area.
“We hope to be able to involve between 20- 30 people in the project which will run between June 2017 and December 2018.”
At l a s t Monday ’ s community council meeting some of the ideas touted by residents included giving people their own gardening area to look after and develop.
Councillor Alan Valentine also stressed the importance of the bid being submitted so Craigneuk would receive the highest amount possible.
He said: “In order to get the maximum figure for this project it’s important the bid is very specific to the area and how it can help.
“I think something like this is good news for the area.”
To get the maximum figure for this project it’s important the bid is specific to the area