Work begins on new community centre in Kirkcaldy

Members from the community gathered last week as Kirkcaldy YMCA started work to construct a brand new community centre in the Gallatown.

The £722,000 project will be built at the former Gallatown Park Bowling Club which was handed over to the YM after a community asset transfer from Fife Council last year.

The new centre will be located next to the busy Gallatown Bike Hub with its popular, newly installed pump track and aims to add to the projects that it runs for children and adults in one of Scotland’s most deprived areas.

Liz Easton, Kirkcaldy YMCA general secretary said: “We were originally told that the build would cost around £500,000, but as there have been delays with issues such as drainage, rising cost of materials and the inclusion of a commercial kitchen into the build the overall cost has risen.

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"We enhanced the plans to include the kitchen because we want to make the new building sustainable, self sufficient and to have the building generate income through lunches, tea and coffee, functions and weddings – all of these will pay for the running costs.

"We will still be supporting our food based programmes as well as providing commercial food and we have secured funding from the Tudor Trust to employ a lead kitchen person to oversee the operation of the kitchen and to lead our community food initiatives.

“There will also be opportunities in the kitchen to train people from the community in food provision."

The new community hub will also have multiple classrooms, changing rooms, a terrace and landscaped gardens, and it should be open by January 2021.

Liz added: "The hub will benefit everyone in the community, whether it be emotionally, mentally, providing education and support services. It will have a learning centre and a safe space where anyone will be welcome.”

Funding was secured from the Lottery which provided £518,000, The Robertson Trust £130,000 and Fife Environment Trust £28,000 as well as Forbo Nairn, Velux, Scottish Power and Scottish Gas providing in kind support.

Liz said: “It’s great that all of these funds and companies are supporting us – it really helps a lot to finally make it all happen.

"A lot of thought has gone into the planning of the new building. We wanted it to be a dedicated learning centre and for it to be a nice environment to be in – we asked ourselves, if we were out somewhere, what would we like?

"The community deserves a fit for purpose safe space, where people can come and let their kids play while they enjoy a tea or coffee and relax knowing that their kids are safe.

"The community have been included in the process of the new construction right from the outset – they have really made it happen.”

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