Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP Jeremy Balfour for Lothian has urged local community groups to submit bids to the UK Government’s Community Ownership Fund.
Jeremy Balfour’s call comes after the UK Government opened up the second round of the fund which is worth £150 million.
The fund can allow community groups to take control of pubs, music venues, sports facilities, historic buildings and other facilities for the benefit of the public, which could otherwise be lost forever.
The first round of the UK Government’s fund saw six groups in Scotland share over £1.2 million in funding.
Now Jeremy Balfour has called on community groups to come together to bid for funding to help support the buildings that mean the most to them in the Lothians.
The eligibility criteria for the fund has also been extended meaning more groups in the Lothians can apply.
Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP Jeremy Balfour said: “It is welcome to see this fund from the UK Government open up once again.
“The first round of funding delivered significant funding delivered to help save much loved assets across Scotland and I would encourage community groups in the Lothians to bid to this fund.
“If there is a local asset at risk in the Lothians that you do not wish to lose from your community, then the UK Government’s Community Ownership Fund can help to safeguard it.
“Successful bids can enable community assets to thrive once again as well as helping accelerate the economic recovery in the Lothians
“The Community Ownership Fund is just one example of how the UK Government is directly investing and supporting communities in the Lothians.”
Notes: The release from the UK Government is here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/communities-across-the-uk-can-bid-for-levelling-up-funds-to-save-pubs-clubs-and-historic-buildings
The fund has been updated to widen eligibility criteria, including removing the requirement that assets have had a use within the last 5 years and will now consider any asset which has had a previous community use, massively expanding the projects eligible to apply.
Applicants who have a minimum of a 15-year lease on an asset would now also be considered for funding. Previously, leases were restricted to a minimum of 25 years.
