Since 2017, Hawthorn Housing Co-Operative has received £80,000 worth of funding from the Scottish Procurement Alliance’s (SPA) Community Benefit Fund (CBF) in partnership with Lintel Trust.
The money has been used to revitalise the Possilpark community transforming vacant land into a community and memorial garden.
The co-operative has further plans to develop a play park in partnership with the council with facilities for older children and adults, including fitness equipment and cycling paths.
Colin Turnbull, director of Hawthorn Housing Co-operative, said: “For an organisation of our size, the grant awarded through the Community Benefit Fund is significant.
“The area around the Co-op was rundown, with derelict buildings, abandoned land, fly-tipping, and no pleasant public spaces.
“The long-term fund has assisted us in developing a social strategy focused on providing wide-ranging benefits for the residents of this community by improving derelict spaces and a wide range of activities to bring the community together and improve wellbeing.
“Having this money has played a significant part in giving us the freedom to turn our ambitions into action, and to develop a long-term plan to benefit this community for future generations.”
Since its launch in 2017, the CBF has given more than £2 million in grants and match funding to over 102 community groups, charities, and various causes.
Lesley Anderson, regional director at Scottish Procurement Alliance, said: “It is incredibly rewarding to see the tangible impact of the Community Benefit Fund in Possilpark and how this investment has contributed to shaping the Hawthorn community over the past eight years.
“Since 2017, the work Hawthorn Housing has done to transform the area as well as supporting its residents to become more engaged with local community groups and initiatives has been incredible.
“This is exactly what the CBF aims to do, to get right to the core of what’s important to communities and provide them with the necessary support to realise these ambitions and turn them into something which delivers a far-reaching social value.”
Co-operative’s efforts have extended to Young People’s Futures which encourages children to participate in gardening and nature activities.
The project also includes a wheelchair-accessible path, a wildlife pond, and the planting of more than 100 trees by volunteers.
Other initiatives include ‘Welcome to Hawthorn’ which has been instrumental in integrating more than 70 families from diverse backgrounds, and hosting ESOL classes for people across Possilpark.
The funding has also allowed the development of the Women’s Wellbeing Group which empowers younger women in the community.
