Plans lodged for new LGBT+ community hub in Kirkcaldy to serve whole of Fife
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender charity Pink Saltire is working on opening The Hive inside the former K2 Texstyles store on the town's Whytescauseway.
Acting first and foremost as the Scottish-wide organisation's headquarters, The Hive will also be a community space, a recording studio, a shop and a "hot-desking" working area.
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Hide AdThe building, which has been empty for some time, occupies a prominent site in the heart of the town centre.
A planning statement submitted by the charity said: "From here, we will coordinate our key projects and community development work, including leading the fight for equality in Fife the delivery of multi-media training, our recovery and resilience activity, as well as our capacity building support for LGBT+ groups around Scotland."
Fife is bereft of LGBT-friendly services, according to the charity. A survey it conducted in 2019 found more than half of LGBT Fifers say services need to be more visible in their local area.
Pink Saltire says The Hive will become a "safe haven" for the gay community, with long-term ambitions including an LGBT archive and offices for let.
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Hide AdIts statement concluded: "More than just a base for Pink Saltire, this will be a new inclusive community hub for Fife – a place to be who you are, without prejudice or fear of discrimination; a place for enterprise, for ideas, for support and for creativity.
"The Hive will be one of only a handful of public-use spaces run by LGBT+ people in Scotland, building community wealth and developing the resilience of our vibrant community."
Pink Saltire has been working to improve representation for gay, bi and trans people in the Kingdom for several years. It co-founded the Fife Pride festival in 2017 and runs the Connexons social group in Cowdenbeath.
To date, it has raised nearly £10,000 to get the centre off the ground, including more than £8,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund, but the plan to open was set back after flooding late last year.
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Hide AdA decision on the proposals is expected sometime in mid-May.
The information in this story came from a public notice published in this newspaper. You can read more public notices in our classified section today.