Former Kirkcaldy YM stalwart to lead Methil’s £20m ‘Pride In Place’ funding plans
A former Kirkcaldy charity boss has been announced as chair of the Pride in Place Board for Methil and Buckhaven.
Liz Easton, who grew up in Methil and was latterly chief executive of Kirkcaldy YMCA, will direct and oversee spending of the £20m community-led UK Government fund.
It has been hailed as once-in-a-lifetime funding with the potential to transform the area over the next 10 years.
She was appointed following an interview led by Richard Baker MP for Glenrothes and Mid Fife, Dave Paterson, Fife Council community manager and Sharron Redpath, head of community development at Fife Voluntary Action.
The immediate focus now for the new Pride in Place chair is to form a neighbourhood board, for which applications are invited until the deadline on May 22.
She said: “I’m delighted to have been selected to lead such a fantastic fund. I grew up, was educated, raised my children and worked a range of roles in Methil and Buckhaven. My grandchildren still live in the area, alongside wider extended family - safe to say I know these communities back to front, they’re my roots.”
Following 10 years working in community learning and development, social work and housing services, including in Buckhaven and Methil, Liz spent 23 years at the helm of Kirkcaldy YMCA and as chair of the association.
Extensive consultations are planned locally over the coming months, and findings from these will inform a ten-year spending plan for the area. This board will be expected to submit the plan to the Scottish Office for approval by the end of 2026.
Liz said: “As a team, the board will work to identify and deliver activities and projects with the PiP funds which meet local needs. Key to this will be constant community connection, ensuring the community remains at the heart of programme developments.
“I look forward to working with local people on the board, where collectively and in partnership with the community, local groups, partner agencies and other services we can deliver over the next 10 years a programme that is fit-for-purpose, secures further funding for the local area and genuinely reflects and meets local needs.”
Mr Bake welcomed Liz’s appointment, and added: “Securing the £20m Pride in Place fund for Methil and Buckhaven was a proud moment for me, but it was just the start.
“It was vitally important we attracted a chair who had the experience and expertise to handle a project of this scope. In Liz, we’ve found it.
“She’s had many years’ experience in being heavily involved with communities on the ground, understanding what support and opportunities they really need – not what authorities think they need – and how to deliver solutions.
“Liz also knows how to handle multi-million-pound projects and that’s crucial to the success of Pride in Place. This fund presents fantastic opportunities for the area, and under Liz’s leadership I have confidence that ambition can be realised.
“I’m genuinely excited to see what Pride in Place will achieve and I would strongly urge others to apply to join Liz on the board. This is a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to deliver much-needed community improvements, so don’t miss out on the chance to be involved.”
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.
Anyone interested in joining the board should submit an expression of interest by May 22, a form can be accessed at the following link Pride in Place - Methil and Buckhaven | Our Fife - Creating a successful, confident and fairer Fife
Expressions should be emailed to Dave Paterson at [email protected]