Environment Trust grants benefit communities
Since 2008 Clackmannanshire and Stirling Environment Trust has awarded environmental grants to community groups to help implement local projects to improve the environment and benefit both the local community and visitors to the local area.
In the Stirling Council area alone the Trust has distributed nearly £170,000 to 44 different groups to complete 47 projects valued at over £12 million in the local area. A further 10 groups have been awarded £38,000 for ongoing projects.
Many different types of groups across the Stirling Council area have benefited from the funding and carried out a wide range of projects, which includes:
Rural Communities
In 2009 Strathblane Community Development Trust applied for Five Thousand, as a contribution towards the improvement of the local play area, the group were able to have
multi-activity piece of play equipment, an embankment slide and picnic benches put in place
Linda Barclay from the Strathblanefield Community Development Trust said: "I would like to thank you on behalf of Greenheart (a working group of the Strathblanefield Community Development Trust) for the
Grant that we received from the Clackmannanshire and Stirling Environment Trust in 2010 to help refurbish the local play park. The application process was well designed and the assistance and advice you provided was excellent. Once we received the award, the financial administration was prompt and professional.
Our
experience with the trust has been very positive and we are extremely grateful for the contribution they have made to our community. What was once a poorly equipped and little used play park is now a vibrant community hub that is greatly appreciated by the local residents, and our children in particular"
In
2008 the Menzies Hall Committee, received the sum of £2000, as a contribution towards the upgrading of the kitchen facilities within the hall. The project aimed to help ensure that the hall met the needs of locals particularly as this is an isolated rural community.
Eastern Villages
In 2010 the Throsk Community Centre group applied to the Trust for funds to help them replace their community hall which although much used was no longer suitable for the communities needs. The hall was a much need community facility in the village that had no other amenities. The Trust were happy
to grant the group two awards, £3000 towards the construction of a new community hall and a further £3830 to install specialised flooring suitable for a number of community activities. Bernie Owen from the group says the hall is a real boon to the village and well use and the
funds awarded by the Trust helped ensure the much need project went ahead” 
In 2008 the Cowie War Memorial Research Group applied to the Trust for funding to help them
complete their project to construct a Memorial Garden within Cowie. The group were awarded £2013 for the provision of two metal seating benches, thus providing the community with a dedicated space for rest and reflection and to help the community remember and honour their war dead. William
Stevenson from the group said: “The application process to get funds was smooth and straight forward and the end outcome has been much praised by both locals and visitors to the area as they provide a safe resting point with lovely views across to the Ochil hills.”
Allan area
In 2010 Royal British Legion (Scotland) Dunblane Branch, were awarded £3000, as a contribution towards a project to clean and repair the war monument, in Dunblane works included re-pointing and the repair of eroded stones, Re-patination of bronze sword and wreath and the re-pointing
of slabs around memorial to ensure ease of access for all users.
Tony Ford Vice Chair RBLS Dunblane Branch said: “The recent restoration of the Dunblane War Memorial was only made possible after a very generous grant from CSET. The appeal by the Dunblane Branch of The Royal British Legion
Scotland was made when the memorial was in very bad condition and delay would have incurred a much greater cost. This was negated by excellent support in applying for funding via CSET and the work was completed in good time for the memorial to remain a focus for the community of Dunblane and one to be
proud of. I am personally most grateful for the help from Mrs Audrey Morrison for her help in the project”.
In 2008 the Trust awarded the Stirling Woods in and around towns project £15,678 to carry out a range of environmental enhancements and in particular to upgrade the footpath
in the Mine woods in Bridge of Allan. These works have greatly improved the value of the woods and public access.
In 2010 the Trust awarded the River Forth and Teith Anglers Association and Stirling Council £12,000 as a contribution to the River Forth Footpath Project which run along the
Forth from CastleVale to the Cornton Road. The works included the creation and upgrading of approximately 1800m of footpath, with two new fishing platforms, seating and new disabled access to the riverbank. This important project has greatly improved public access, David Jones, Fisheries Officer for
Stirling Council said: “This has been a major improvement to the area and has opened up an extensive river walk with unrestricted views of the river for a wide variety of users without the continued support of the Trust these projects would not be possible and we are grateful for their assistance.”
Stirling City area
In 2009 Bannockburn Community Council wished to honour two local people that had had a positive impact on the community as well as provide much needed seating in the Ladywell Park and the memorial garden thus they applied to the Trust and received the sum of £1440, for the provision of memorial
benches.
The Braehead and District Community Council applied to the Trust in 2009 for a small grant of £750 to provide two community notice boards. The aim of this project was to provide an effective method to ensure that the whole of the community could be easily made aware of local interests
and activities. In their application the group emphasized that as a large community council area they needed an effective way of engaging with the whole of the area covered these notice boards have helped to go a long way to achieve that.
Given the positive impacts so far The Trust chairperson
Terry Barlow, wants to encourage more groups to seek funding from the Trust. He said: “The community are at the heart of the Clackmannanshire and Stirling Environment Trust and as such the Trust has used the Landfill Community Fund monies it receives, to support projects that the local people want
and need.”
Applying for funding is straight forward as any not for profit organisation that wants to carry out a project that benefits the local community, improves the local environment and can demonstrate public access can apply. Groups can apply at any time for a small grant of up to
£2000 to implement a project costing no more than £4,000 or if considering a larger project need to apply by the following deadlines Friday 2nd March, Friday 11 May or Friday 12 October, 2012.
For further details or to discuss a project proposal please contact from the Trust’s
Manager Audrey Morrison on 01786 484611 or by email on morrisona@stirling.gov.uk
Photos of some of the community projects the Trust has awarded grants for across the Stirling Council area
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