Cash Boost For Green Community Projects In Edinburgh

Community projects working to improve their local greenspace in Edinburgh could be given a cash boost following the launch of this year’s grant funding from the Central Scotland Green Network’s (CSGN) Community Projects Fund.

Supported by Forestry Commission Scotland, the £60,000 CSGN Community Projects Fund provides one-off grants of up to £3,000 to support small-scale work at a grass-roots level and to foster community engagement in delivering green network enhancements on the ground.

The Fund also aims to increase community use of local greenspaces and is focussed on ventures which will benefit children and young people under 16 years old, or which will involve this age group in the project.

Keith Geddes, Chair of the Central Scotland Green Network Partnership Board, said: “Now in its third year, the CSGN Community Projects Fund continues to go from strength to strength and we’re pleased to be able to provide further support to delivering green network improvements on the ground.

“The available grants can be used for a wide range of activities including tree planting, the maintenance or enhancement of existing greenspaces, the organisation of events or activities to promote and increase community use of local woods and greenspaces, or improvements to path networks which will enhance access to the local environment.”

Last year, 34 environmental community projects across the CSGN area received a share of over £60,000. Three projects in the Edinburgh area were awarded a total of £5,826. The Granton Community Gardeners group was awarded £2,000 to support North Edinburgh Harvest by purchasing a range of tools and make access improvements to the garden for older or disabled people.

This year’s Community Projects Fund is being administered by the CSGN Support Unit and an application form can be downloaded from its website.

Groups can apply for grants of between £1,500 and £3,000. All projects must be carried out within the CSGN boundaries, with work being completed by 31 March 2014. The deadline for applications is 28 October 2013.

For further information or to discuss a potential application, please contact Alison Chisholm at Lothians & Fife Green Network Partnership on 0131 445 4025 / alison@lfgnp.org.uk

As one of the Scottish Government’s ‘National Developments’ in the National Planning Framework, the CSGN will change the face of Central Scotland, by restoring, transforming and greening the landscape of an area stretching from Ayrshire and Inverclyde in the west, to Fife and the Lothians in the east.

The CSGN encompasses 19 local authorities across 10,000 sq km and has the potential to benefit 3.5million people, equating to 70 per cent of Scotland’s population. The network’s overarching vision is that by 2050, Central Scotland will be transformed into a place where the environment adds value to the economy and where people’s lives are enriched by its quality.

Submitted by Central Scotland Green Network