Falkirk district groups share a slice of National Lottery cash

The Ettrick Dochart Community Hall committee have been busy helping the local community during the Covid-19 pandemic including taking part in the Veg Your Ledge initiative. From left, Sylvia Kay, chairperson Ettrick Dochart Community Hall and Foodbank; Claire Aitken, committee member, and Richard Chatfield, Forth Environment Link wood reuse officer. (Pic: Michael Gillen)

Four community organisations from across the district are sharing a piece of the latest funding awarded by the National Lottery.

The welcome cash boost comes as the National Lottery Community Fund announced a bumper package of grants worth £5.5m to be split across community projects in Scotland.

Denny Community Support Group, the Ettrick Dochart Community Hall management committee, SAHELIS and The Braveheart Association will each receive some of the money.

The £9450 granted to the Denny Community Support Group will enable them to install a new kitchen in their town centre premises to enhance their community food provision work.

While the management committee of the Ettrick Dochart Community Hall in Hallglen will use their £8473 to continue providing food deliveries within the community as well as to help them establish a food larder at the hall.

SAHELIS provide a range of support and social services for women primarily from minority communities within the Falkirk area.

A grant of £7422 from the Community Fund will allow the group to cover soem running costs and provide various care packages for members.

The £4970 award for The Braveheart Association, based at Falkirk Community Hospital, will be used to deliver a range of community-based health activities, wellbeing activities and support for people with long term conditions looking to improve their health.

The funding will allow a weight management and health maintenance support service to be developed that can be delivered remotely.

Across Scotland many of the organisations receiving grants from the fund will help people to support each other through the Covid-19 crisis and beyond.