Big Lottery Fund Scotland visits Maryhill Burgh Halls
MARYHILL'S historic Burgh Halls this week played host to a visit by the Big Lottery Fund Scotland which is a key funder of the restoration work.
Big Lottery Fund Scotland has provided grant funding to the tune of £980,910 - a major contribution to the overall £9.2 million cost.
Big Lottery Fund Scotland’s Chair Alison Magee and Committee Member Helen Forsyth toured the ongoing work which is due for completion next year.
They were welcomed by Irene Scott, Chair of the Maryhill Burgh Halls Trust.
The Trust comprises of people living or working within the local community and 3 key partner organisations - Maryhill Housing Association, Cube Housing Association and Glasgow City Council.
Once restored, the Halls will be a fabulous 21st century community asset which will recapture the splendid historic beauty of one of the city's most
treasured buildings and be developed into a modern public hall, cafe, 11 offices, a commercial and a community recording studio, a nursery, meeting
rooms and courtyard garden.
The grant from Big Lottery Fund Scotland came from its “Growing Community Assets” fund in April last year.
Hunter Reid, Project Co ordinator and Company Secretary of the Trust said: “The Big Lottery Fund Scotland money is a vital part of the overall funding needed to restore the Halls. It will allow us to hand back Maryhill Burgh Halls to the people of this community and make it a historic yet modern-day asset to benefit the people who live here and who are firmly in the driving seat.”
Alison Magee said: “When we made the decision to fund this community led project we knew that we were putting Lottery money in the hands of local people who had the drive, determination and passion to turn a dream into reality. Since then a year has passed and I am delighted to see what has been achieved so far and to meet those people who have given their all to get the project off the ground. I look forward to the day when I can return for the official opening of the Halls and join in the celebrations that the restoration of this much loved historical building will bring.”
The Big Lottery Fund (BIG) is the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding and is responsible for giving out half the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.
BIG is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since June 2004. The Fund was formally established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
The Scotland Committee has been making Big Lottery Fund decisions on Scottish projects since March 2007.
ends
Notes to Journalists:
The full breakdown of the funding received by Maryhill Burgh Halls Trust for the restoration of the halls is as follows:
Scottish Government City Growth Fund Phases 1 and 2 £1.25m
Heritage Lottery Fund £990,000
Big Lottery - Growing Community Assets Fund £980,910
European Regional Development Funding £1.279m
Glasgow City Council Better Glasgow Fund £1.02m
Glasgow City Council Vacant and Derelict Land Fund £650,000
Scottish Government Town Centres Regeneration Fund £1.8m
Historic Scotland £500,000
Scottish Government Housing and Regeneration Directorate £750,000
The Robertson Trust £28,000
Total: £9.2 million
News release issued by Ross Wilson Public Relations (www.rosswilsonpr.com) on behalf of the Maryhill Burgh Halls Trust. Further details from Ross on 07768 280021.