Over £2.2 million in Scottish Land Fund awards for Community Enterprise-supported groups

Pictured: St George's Community Centre SCIO, one of the groups celebrating funding today

The Scottish Land Fund has today announced more than £3 million in funding awards to 24 communities across Scotland in its largest ever funding round.

Among them are 11 community groups supported by Community Enterprise, which have collectively secured £2,239,768 to acquire the land and assets that matter to them.

The groups have worked with our team at different stages of their Scottish Land Fund journey, accessing a range of support tailored to their needs. This has included initial project exploration, community engagement and consultation, business planning and financial advice, as well as additional practical guidance to help strengthen their applications.

We’re delighted to see these communities reach this important milestone and look forward to seeing how they use this investment to deliver lasting benefits for the people and places they represent.

Douglas Westwater, Chief Executive, commented:

“It’s fantastic to see so many of the groups we’ve supported achieve funding success through the Scottish Land Fund today, marking another important step towards their ambitions for community ownership.

Behind every successful application is a community with a vision, the determination to make it happen and a real understanding of what matters to local people. It’s a privilege for our team to play a part in that journey. Whether that’s helping groups develop their plans, engage with their communities, navigate the process or simply providing a sounding board along the way, our role is to offer the practical support, advice and expertise that helps turn their ambitions into reality.

The Scottish Land Fund has created life-changing opportunities for communities across Scotland over the past 25 years, empowering local people to take ownership of their future and create lasting social and economic benefits. It’s an incredible legacy, and we look forward to seeing what the next chapter holds for Scotland’s communities.”

Read the full Scottish Land Fund announcement. 

List of awarded groups supported by Community Enterprise

Coulter Community Trust 

Award: £14,777 

Coulter Community Trust will purchase Coulter Hall in Coulter, South Lanarkshire. They will continue to run the asset as a community hall offering a space for community activities and hall hire. 

Friends of New Aberdour Church Pilgrimage and Heritage Initiative 

Award: £70,054 

Friends of New Aberdour Church Pilgrimage and Heritage Initiative will purchase New Aberdour Church in New Aberdour, Aberdeenshire. They will continue to run the asset as a community hub, creating a new cafe and developing heritage and pilgrimage activities for tourists to subsidise community activities. 

Muckle Roe Community Enterprise  

Award: £293,340 

Muckle Roe Community Enterprise will purchase the Muckle Roe Estate, Shetland, consisting of 1,578 hectares.

One Dalkeith 

Award: £516,469 

One Dalkeith will purchase the One Dalkeith Community Hub which they have operated from since 2019. The group will continue to use the asset as a community hub, with a performance space, shop, community shed, kitchen, co-working space, and space rented to local community groups. 

Sustaining Dunbar  

Award: £65,094 

Sustaining Dunbar will purchase Belhaven Community Garden, an area they have been leasing since 2012. The site is used as a hub for learning, social connection and developing locally grown food for the community in Dunbar, East Lothian. 

The Haven Community Inn Limited 

Award: £358,860 

The Haven Community Inn Limited will purchase The Haven Public House, in Cellardyke, Fife. The group will create an inclusive community space with events for the community, operating the Inn as a community owned pub and developing community space with a café to better meet the needs of the community. 

Saline and Steelend Community Development Trust 

Award: £97,044 

Saline & Steelend Community Development Trust will purchase Saline Kirk, its adjoining church hall and surrounding grounds. The group will use the asset to host events, concerts and community gatherings. The hall is currently used by several community groups. 

St George's Community Centre SCIO 

Award: £160,250 

St George's Community Centre will purchase the community centre and car park it currently operates in Tillydrone, Aberdeen. Community ownership will secure the future of this well-used local hub, which hosts classes, events, meetings, conferences and activities for people of all ages. 

Jedburgh & District Community News Group 

Award: £51,140 

Jedburgh and District News Group CIC will purchase the former VisitScotland iCentre, which they currently rent. The group will continue to use the site as a base for their monthly volunteer-led community magazine. The hub will also continue to provide community information, visitor information, volunteering opportunities, community meeting space, workshops, events and practical support services for the community. 

 Blairgowrie & Rattray Development Trust Limited 

Award: £22,990 

Blairgowrie & Rattray Development Trust Limited will purchase a neighbouring walled garden to extend the current Rattray Community Garden. They will expand volunteer-led activities, primarily community food sovereignty, and offer a venue for local community groups. 

Leith St Andrews Trust

Award: £589,750 

Leith St Andrew’s Trust will purchase St Andrew’s church in Leith, Edinburgh and operate the building as a community hub.