CDG Community Fund Awards Over £340,000 to Local Groups
The Coalburn, Douglas & Glespin (CDG) Community Fund has awarded over £340,000 to local groups and projects in the last year.
It has been a busy year so far for the Coalburn, Douglas & Glespin (CDG) Community Fund, with more than £340,000 awarded to local groups and projects. Many of the awards are paid over two or three years so the benefits will be felt in communities until 2029.
The Coalburn, Douglas & Glespin (CDG) Community Fund supports community projects benefiting those living in the Coalburn Community Council area and Douglas Community Council area (incorporating Glespin and surrounding areas).
The Fund is administered by Foundation Scotland, with Funds from Nadara, the owner and operator of the Galawhistle Wind Farm and Greencoat UK Wind, the owner of the Douglas West Wind Farm. The funding is distributed by the fund panel, which is made up of local community members. So far, three panel meetings have been held this year, with one more meeting in the diary.
One of the biggest steps this year was the launch of three-year core funding for "Community Anchor Organisations". These are the well-established groups at the heart of village life. Instead of applying project by project, these groups now have guaranteed support towards their everyday running costs. With this secured funding, they can now forward plan with some confidence.
In March, six groups received this funding: Coalburn IOR Pipe Band, Coalburn Brass Band Family and Coalburn Miners Welfare Bowling Club; The Jim Hamilton Heritage Society of Coalburn, Douglas Heritage Museum Trust and Coalburn Men’s Shed. In September, the panel gave similar multi-year support to Douglas Victoria Bowling Club and Glenbuck and Douglas Valley Football Academy.
To give a flavour of some other awards made this year, some have been made to fund paid roles that keep local services and facilities running, whilst others are for improving wellbeing and bringing people together.
The Fund is also investing in young people with Coalburn Primary PTA receiving funding to contribute to confidence-building trips for P7 pupils, to help them prepare for the move to high school and Glenbuck and Douglas Valley Football Academy receiving funding to support outdoor activity experiences that build confidence and teamwork.
The fund is also helping local people grow together with local gardening groups, such as the Douglas Horticultural Society, receiving a multi-year award towards its activities and much-loved annual show. Watch and Grow Coalburn was also awarded multi-year funding to provide free growing kits, seeds, compost and support for community gardening. Both projects bring people together outdoors while promoting fitness, mental wellbeing and care for the environment.
The fund is also celebrating local heritage with the Douglasdale Real Group receiving a contribution of funding towards a bronze statue of Sir James Douglas, one of the area's best-known historical figures.
Smaller grants have made a real difference too, providing items of equipment such as an indoor carpet bowls set for Douglas Victoria Bowling Club and desktop computers for a new "cyber centre" at St Bride's Centre, giving residents access to IT and a chance to build digital skills.
If you don’t already know, a dedicated Development Officer is in place to support local community groups and projects across Douglas and Glespin, thanks to funding from the Coalburn, Douglas & Glespin (CDG) Community Fund, so do contact Katrina if you require help or assistance, or have an idea that you would like to discuss. Katrina can be contacted on 07525 687964 or by email: katrina@healthyvalleys.org.uk.
If your group has an idea that would benefit Coalburn, Douglas or Glespin visit the fund page for details of the Fund's priorities and upcoming deadlines. You can also find information on previously funded projects. The 2027 funding deadlines will be announced soon.
Read more about the Coalburn, Douglas & Glespin (CDG) Community Fund.