An ambitious Perthshire community project is celebrating a funding windfall which will allow its dream to become a reality.
The Strathmore Community Hub Steering Group is among eight projects sharing £1.2 million of Scottish Land Fund cash and will receive £113,000.
The award will enable the community group to purchase the former Trades Lane health centre in Coupar Angus and fulfil its vision of creating a “vibrant hub” for the town and surrounding area.
Central to the project is reducing isolation and loneliness and the building will be remodelled to include a café and a “men’s shed”.
Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser welcomed the funding boost saying: “Transforming the former health centre into a worthwhile community resource will be a difficult and challenging project and today’s funding is an important step in this journey.
“Ultimately, it’s important that local residents have a place where they can meet people, socialise and learn new skills.
“Loneliness is an emerging public health problem and establishing viable community hubs will be important in combating this.”
Keith Langelaan, vice-chair of the Strathmore Community Hub Steering Group, said the importance of the award could not be under-estimated.
“This Scottish Land Fund award will enable the Strathmore Community Hub SCIO to secure a building that will bring huge benefits to the communities surrounding Coupar Angus,” he said.
“We plan to turn this disused NHS surgery into an adaptable hub providing much needed safe and comfortable spaces for smaller groups to establish themselves, and to provide community activities that are aimed at improving quality of life, well being and combat that most insidious problem of social isolation.
“We are now waiting in anticipation of the acceptance of our offer and proposal by the NHS which will be the final step towards the launch of this most worthwhile and beneficial project.”
The Scottish Land Fund is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by the Big Lottery Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
