Community board formed to spend £20m ‘once in a generation’ funding in Fife community
The board which will oversee the spending of a £20million pot of funding in a Fife community has been unveiled.
The neighbourhood group, comprising 14 local residents, led by chair Liz Easton, will drive decisions on how the UK Government’s Pride In Place fund will be directed over the next ten years in Methil and Buckhaven.
Many members of the group already represent organisations and groups in the area, including community councils.
Richard Baker, MP for Glenrothes and Mid Fife, who secured the funding for the area, said members were selected because they “all care very deeply about the area and want to improve it”.
In advance of submitting a major 10-year spending plan to the Scottish Office in November, the group is launching a small funding pot, named ‘Dip Into Pip’ to help local causes.
Liz Easton said: “We’ve got major ideas forming already in terms of what this fund can achieve, not least in terms of the possibilities it opens up for match-funding. This £20m could become a much bigger fund still.
“But we also wanted people to start feeling the benefit of Pride in Place right now, in the short-term, and that’s what ‘Dip into Pip’ is all about.
“People locally are already doing great work or have new ideas that could really benefit their communities, whether that’s hosting an event, giving a venue a fresh lick of paint, or needing to fix a boiler that’s gone on the blink.
‘Dip into Pip’ can make the difference between something happening – or not – and is squarely aimed at organisations and groups with small incomes who may be locked out of other funding streams. Stay tuned for more information soon.”
The board – assisted by Levenmouth community manager David Paterson - plans to meet monthly and carry out major consultation exercises across the community over the coming months.
They will also draw on existing studies, plans, statistics and reports before drafting a ten-year plan for short, medium and long term projects.
A similar process in Arbroath has led to the publication of a number of priority plans. Those include a £1.1m sea pool with saunas, £1.5m of High Street improvements, a campervan and camping site and a pump track.
A website for Pride in Place Methil and Buckhaven has gone live - www.pipmethilandbuckhaven.org.uk/ - and the group is aiming to host a major community launch event in the autumn.
Richard Baker MP said: “It was a proud moment for me to secure the £20m Pride in Place Fund for Methil and Buckhaven, but I’m prouder still it’s now in the hands of the board.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity and it’ll be the board - no one else - in the driving seat. They’re an amazing group, brimful of ideas, and while the members bring many different, valued skills to the table, one thing absolutely unites them: they all care very deeply about the area and want to improve it.
“The possibilities are wide open and now the real work begins: listening to local communities, exploring ideas, considering options and developing a plan.
“It’s a remarkable opportunity to help shape lasting change and I have every confidence the Pride in Place board will be a huge success.”