THIRTY-FIVE community projects across Dumfries and Galloway are sharing almost £500,000 in the latest round of a Scottish Government funding programme.
The organisations successfully applied to Round Four of the Community Led Local Development (CLLD) Fund.
A total investment of £414,409 in capital and £83,537 in revenue was provided by the fund.
Newstart Recycle in Annan was awarded £5,000 for a Free Baby and Toddler Project to provide essential baby items at no cost, supporting families with dignity.
A further £1,550 will go to the organisation’s Free Mobility Equipment project offering free mobility equipment to older and vulnerable people, supporting independence and confidence.
Tony Nesbit and Frankie McGowan, Newstart Recycle co-founders, said: “The funding awarded will make a real difference to families and individuals across our region.
“These services are a lifeline, providing essential baby items with dignity, and mobility equipment that restores independence and confidence. In today’s financially challenging climate, this support is not just welcome, it’s essential to sustaining the provision of these services that our communities deeply value and rely on. We’re proud to continue standing alongside those who need us most.”
Denise Malone, Chief Executive Officer of YMCA Dumfries welcomed the £30,000 going towards its community kitchen to help tackle food and fuel poverty in North West Dumfries.
The project aims to upgrade the kitchen and café with new equipment and accessibility improvements to increase free and subsidised meals, promote wider volunteer participation, and reduce food waste.
“The café has been in a reset period allowing us to take stock and plan effectively for the next phase,” she said.
“The new funding provides a vital fresh start enabling us to create a more accessible and functional kitchen space that enhances efficiency in serving the community, while also ensuring a safe, inclusive, and practical training environment for young people, staff, and volunteers.”
An award of £5000 went to SHAX for its Making a House into a Home project.
This will support 250 individuals transitioning to independent living by providing essential starter packs tailored for male and female clients, helping meet demand despite rising costs.
Manager Colin Callander-Bone said: “This grant will ensure that individuals in need receive essential items that support independent living at home, rather than merely surviving.
“As we approach the colder months, the importance of this support grows significantly. Many will be facing concerns around heating, food, clothing, and the upcoming holiday season. This funding will help alleviate financial pressures, enabling people to prioritise their wellbeing and enjoy a better quality of life.”
Harry Harbottle, Chair of the Local Action Group which awards the grants, said: “As ongoing austerity and high fuel costs make life difficult for many members of our communities, allocating grants that are reducing year-on-year against increasing demands becomes more and more difficult.
“Knowing that even a small amount of resources can make a big difference for some voluntary groups, we hope that we have been able, through prioritization around key issues, to find a balance between large capital projects and smaller revenue ones.”
The priorities for the Dumfries and Galloway CLLD grant funding for 2025-2026 were:
• Supporting community facilities and eligible organisations to help achieve net zero.
• Sustaining, improving and adding initiatives in rural communities that are most isolated, disconnected, in need of investment or most likely to experience inequalities.
• Helping communities address the cost-of-living crisis and eradicate poverty for individuals and families.
• Enabling communities to carry out research, needs assessments, and feasibility studies for local place plan development
The fund is administered by Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway. More on the fund and the remaining grant recipients is available here: www.tsdg.org.uk/clld/
Caption for main picture: The team at SHAX with one of their starter packs as part of the Making a House into a Home project.