Local treasures in Scotland saved through UK Government funding
Scottish Secretary Ian Murray welcomes Community Ownership Fund investment in 11 projects in Scotland including hubs for the arts, sports and music
The Pipe Factory, Glasgow
- UK Government funding will protect local amenities that keep communities thriving, helping fix the foundations of our communities as part of the Plan for Change
- Money will boost opportunities and help grow local economies, supporting the government’s drive for national renewal
- This will help kickstart economic growth and rebuild Britain in a decade of renewal
£5 million has been awarded to 11 much-loved local places in Scotland so they can stay open, helping to fix the foundations of our communities.
As set out in its Plan for Change, the UK Government is committed to kickstarting economic growth and raising living standards. Thriving communities lie at the heart of a thriving economy, and the support provided by the Community Ownership Fund will inject funding where it is most needed, making change happen and bringing people together in the process.
The funding includes over £4 million to save seven community centres across Scotland, including: over £200,000 revamping The Barbour Memorial Hall in Dumfries and Galloway to ensure it can keep hosting social events for the community, from weddings to games nights and fitness classes; £230,000 to refurbishing St Rollox House in Glasgow which provides vital physical and mental health services; and over £540,000 to restoring the richly historic Balmacara Old Mill Hall in the Highlands which now provides a kitchen, event space and youth club for the community.
The highest single award in Scotland – over £1.7 million - will transform the Edinburgh community arts centre into the revived MacMillan Hub. This hub will promote culture, learning and training opportunities as well as creative and wellbeing spaces to the community at the heart of the town centre.
Minister for Local Growth Alex Norris said:
These are all multi-functional spaces that do so much for local people and most of us will have fond memories in treasured places like these.
We’ve prioritised these grants to help preserve and upgrade what these vital places offer to their communities – whether that’s improving access to sport, education, tackling loneliness or boosting family services for parents and children.
This is just the start of our work to support communities and give them greater control of their assets and we’ll be setting out our full strategy next year.
Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray, said:
Our Plan for Change is about boosting the pride and potential of every part of the United Kingdom and this new £5 million UK Government funding for 11 community assets across Scotland will help play an important part in that.
We thrive when we work together and I congratulate all of the groups behind these projects for their vision and aspiration to save and enhance facilities that will make such a positive difference to people’s lives. Whether it be for promotion of the arts, education, youth clubs, sports, leisure, music, health services, women’s support, childcare or office space, this funding rewards hard work going on in communities across Scotland.
It also supports the UK Government on our path to national renewal by breaking down barriers to opportunity, kickstarting economic growth and creating safer streets by restoring community pride. Long-term growth remains our top priority and investment is key to that. That’s why we’re ploughing £1.4 billion into local growth projects in Scotland over the next ten years.
Felix Wright, Chair of Friends of The Pipe Factory CIC, a project receiving more than £380,000 to transform it into a creative and educational hub for the people of Glasgow, said:
It feels like Christmas has come early in Glasgow’s East End with the amazing news of funding for The Pipe Factory!
Our project has been inspired by the community ownership movement and the magic that can happen when loved but neglected buildings become new hubs of activity and connection.
This funding will help transform our beautiful Pipe Factory into a warm, welcoming and sustainable space that we hope will be a creative home for many generations of young people as well as a landmark for the proud history of Calton and The Barras. Look out for our doors opening again in 2026!
This UK-wide funding prioritised by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will help protect these cherished places from closure and disrepair, preserving popular spots for local people and visitors.
Altogether £36 million has been awarded to 85 projects across the UK.
The projects will support the UK government on its path to national renewal through its missions in the Plan for Change - from breaking down barriers to opportunity to kickstarting economic growth and creating safer streets by restoring community pride.
These projects were applicants to the now closed Community Ownership Fund.
The government remains committed to the communities’ sector and community empowerment.
Projects also set to receive money in Scotland include:
- More than £380,000 to reviving the Pipe Factory to transform it into a creative and educational hub, supporting access to the arts and providing skills development for the people of Glasgow.
- Over £120,000 to fund vital repairs, improvement and growth to the Corstorphine Rugby Club in Edinburgh to foster the next generation athletes – including the creation of a physiotherapy service and reintroducing cricket.
- Over £650,000 to renovate grade-listed Norton Park in Edinburgh which provides an affordable place of work for local charities.
- £300,000 will go to keeping music alive at the historic St Margaret’s Church Braemar in Aberdeenshire, which hosts a range of creative concerts, exhibitions, markets and weddings.
- The Weigh Ahead Shops in Stirling will be kept alive through over £80,000 funding enabling small independent artisan products to have a marketplace.
- Nearly £500,000 will go to Bellfield Celebration Hall in Edinburgh which provides a community space for products, markets and music – including the world renowned Edinburgh Fringe.
- Ulva House, a Grade B listed building, will receive over £200,000 for essential repairs to transform it into an updated accommodation and office space for the community in Argyll and Bute.