Inside look at West Lothian heritage centre project as work continues
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
A project that celebrates West Lothian heritage and provides a community hub for the future has been praised by a local councillor.
The transformation of a historic West Calder Co-op bakery into a new national heritage centre will eventually create jobs and new training opportunities in the village.
The rebirth of the iconic building is testament to the work of the local development trust which has raised £6m to drive the community project.
Councillor Susan Manion who heads the Economy Community Empowerment and Wealth Building PDSP visited the Co-op site this week with the council's Community Wealth Building manager Clare Stewart to see the progress.
West Calder and Harburn Community Development Trust (WCHCDT) led project aims to transform the derelict former Co-operative Bakery in West Calder into a hub for local economic development, local community cohesion, resilience, celebration, place making and community wealth building.
The completed centre will be home to a heritage attraction and interactive exhibition on the Co-operative movement in Scotland, as well as spaces for community, training and well-being services, creating 22 new jobs and 150 annual training opportunities targeted at the most disadvantaged.
(Image: West Lothian Council)
West Lothian Council have supported the efforts of the WCHCDT helping them with funding applications as well as continued input from the Museums service to ensure the historic element of the local co-operative movement is full captured including borrowing collections for display in the new centre.
To date funding has been secured to enable the capital and construction phase of the project from the Place Based Investment Funding, Regeneration Capital grant funding from Scottish Government, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic Environment Scotland, UK Government Community Ownership Fund and a range of smaller trusts and charities. This is underpinned by local windfarm community benefits and a local community share scheme.
With construction now reaching the half-way milestone, the project team invited partners to get a glimpse of progress being made.
West Lothian Council Executive Councillor for Economy, Community Empowerment & Wealth Building, Susan Manion joined West Lothian Council Community Wealth Building Manager Clare Stewart on a tour of the site.
Councillor Manion said: 'The project builds on a proud local history to create a new national attraction with local roots. The area's Co-operative heritage will be a catalyst for improving community well-being, inclusion and opportunity locally and celebrating and sharing the history and future potential of the Co-operative model.
"It's exciting to see it all taking shape and I'm sure the tremendous efforts of WCHCDT and partners will be rewarded with a fantastic venue and destination that will be enjoyed by many.'
Trust Manager Matt Pearce said 'We are delighted to be able to show progress to date. We are well on the way to delivering our vision. The support we have received from West Lothian Council has been and continues to be critical to the project's success. We are now focussed on delivering the exciting exhibition element.'
Matt added: "Key to the Trust is that we, a small community charity have managed to raise nearly £6m towards a truly community led regeneration project based around a locally important heritage.
'We have been very pleased to receive such support from WLC and Scottish Government along with key funders National Lottery Heritage Fund and are now focussed on securing the last elements of funding required to complete the final stages and to make it the best it can be.
'This will be good for our village, good for West Lothian and good for Scotland.'
For more on the Scottish Co-operative Discovery Centre follow the project Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ScottishCooperativeDiscoveryCentre
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Inside look at West Lothian heritage centre project as work continues
The transformation of a historic West Calder Co-op bakery into a new national heritage centre will eventually create jobs and new training opportunities in the village. A project that celebrates West Lothian heritage and provides a community hub for the future has been praised by a local councillor. The transformation of a historic West Calder Co-op bakery into a new national heritage centre will eventually create jobs and new training opportunities in the village. The rebirth of the iconic building is testament to the work of the local development trust which has raised £6m to drive the community project, Councillor Susan Manion who heads the Economy Community Empowerment and Wealth Building PDSP visited the Co-op site this week with the council's Community Wealth Building manager Clare Stewart to see the progress. West Calder and Harburn Community Development Trust (WCHCDT) led project aims to transform the derelict former Co-operative Bakery in West Calder into a hub for local economic development, local community cohesion, resilience, celebration, place making and community wealth building. The completed centre will be home to a heritage attraction and interactive exhibition on the Co-operative movement in Scotland, as well as spaces for community, training and well-being services, creating 22 new jobs and 150 annual training opportunities targeted at the most disadvantaged. West Lothian Council have supported the efforts of the WCHCDT helping them with funding applications as well as continued input from the Museums service to ensure the historic element of the local co-operative movement is full captured including borrowing collections for display in the new centre. To date funding has been secured to enable the capital and construction phase of the project from the Place Based Investment Funding, Regeneration Capital grant funding from Scottish Government, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic Environment Scotland, UK Government Community Ownership Fund and a range of smaller trusts and charities. This is underpinned by local windfarm community benefits and a local community share scheme. With construction now reaching the half-way milestone, the project team invited partners to get a glimpse of progress being made. West Lothian Council Executive Councillor for Economy, Community Empowerment & Wealth Building, Susan Manion joined West Lothian Council Community Wealth Building Manager Clare Stewart on a tour of the site. Councillor Manion said: 'The project builds on a proud local history to create a new national attraction with local roots. The area's Co-operative heritage will be a catalyst for improving community well-being, inclusion and opportunity locally and celebrating and sharing the history and future potential of the Co-operative model. 'It's exciting to see it all taking shape and I'm sure the tremendous efforts of WCHCDT and partners will be rewarded with a fantastic venue and destination that will be enjoyed by many.' Trust Manager Matt Pearce said 'We are delighted to be able to show progress to date. We are well on the way to delivering our vision. The support we have received from West Lothian Council has been and continues to be critical to the project's success. We are now focussed on delivering the exciting exhibition element.' Matt added: 'Key to the Trust is that we, a small community charity have managed to raise nearly £6m towards a truly community led regeneration project based around a locally important heritage. 'We have been very pleased to receive such support from WLC and Scottish Government along with key funders National Lottery Heritage Fund and are now focussed on securing the last elements of funding required to complete the final stages and to make it the best it can be. 'This will be good for our village, good for West Lothian and good for Scotland.' For more on the Scottish Co-operative Discovery Centre follow the project Facebook page
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
Poundland slash price of Father's Day gifts to just 25 PENCE as mums rave there's some ‘nice bits to get from the kids'
Plus, the free activities or food you can get for Father's Day PA-FECT Poundland slash price of Father's Day gifts to just 25 PENCE as mums rave there's some 'nice bits to get from the kids' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FATHER'S Day is on Sunday and if you haven't got a gift yet, it could actually work in your favour. Shoppers have shared how Poundland has slashed the prices of its gifts to just 25p ahead of the big day. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Poundland has reduced some of its Father's Day presents ahead of the weekend Credit: Facebook 4 You can get some light-hearted signs for 50p Credit: Facebook A bargain hunter uploaded a photo of the discounted products that they spotted in store, including 25p 'best dad' badges and 50p 'dad's taxi' signs for the car. Also discounted were beer bottle gift bags, themed mugs and beer openers. They wrote on the Facebook group Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK: 'Poundland this afternoon loads of Father's Day stuff reduced to 25p/50p. 'Some nice little bits to get from the kids.' Her post has racked up numerous likes, from fellow bargain hunters. However, some made the joke about the 'best dad' items being put in the clearance section. One commented: 'Says it all really.' Another added: 'They never have appropriate gifts for the deadbeat dads! 'Always just amazing dad and superheroes.' Father's Day is on Sunday, June 15 and there are a number of free or small cost activities to guarantee your dad has the best time. Home Bargains launches Father's Day gifts in store & there's a £5.99 present shoppers are already snapping up There are many places across the country that are giving dads free entry for one day only. Dads go free all weekend at the Whitehouse Farm Centre, 30 minutes north of Newcastle. An adults entry costs £15.95 online or £16.95 on the day as a walk-in. "Superhero dads" will also get free entry to Woodlands Leisure Park in Devon if the ticket is bought online in advance and with a child's ticket. Tickets for an adult range from £20.93-£26.78 according to the website. 4 They also have badges for just 25p - which could be ideal for kids' presents Credit: Facebook 4 The items were seen in a local Poundland Credit: Getty Other parks that offer similar deals include Twinlakes Park and Wheelgate Theme Park, Powderham Castle and Dartmoor Zoo. The Eden Project in Cornwall is not only letting dad and grandads in for zero on Sunday, but they get a free pint if they dine in. A standard ticket is £38 online or £42 on the day. If your dad prefers to open a gift on his big day, then there are some ways to get cheap presents for him. Vodafone customers can get free socks from Sockshop and only pay £2.95 for postage. The offer is available until June 12 or until 30,000 pairs have been snapped up. Co-op is giving away Walk a Mile with Dad t-shirts from July 11. There are 5,000 available and can be picked up on Co-op's website. There are also a number of restaurants doing special Father's Day deals.
Daily Record
a day ago
- Daily Record
Young people in West Lothian tasked with designing alternative uses for heat pumps
The renewables sector in Scotland is in need of a wave of new blood Innovative teenagers in West Lothian are being asked to think outside the box and design an alternative use for heat pumps. It's part of the annual 'Pump It Up' school challenge and pupils at nine of the local authority's secondary schools are taking part. The venture is a joint one between Livingston-based Mitsubishi Electric Air Conditioning Systems Europe and the West Lothian Chamber of Commerce. The aim is to bring industry and schools closer together with S3 pupils being asked to combine their technical knowledge and imagination to come up with an innovative way to use a heat pump. The renewables sector in Scotland is in need of a wave of new blood and it's hoped that in the process of developing their skills, the challenge will ultimately helped the youngsters' career journeys. The finals event will take place at Howden Park Centre on Thursday, June 19 from 4:30pm to 7pm, with special guests set to include the Consul General of Japan in Edinburgh, Mr Katsutoshi Takeda, Mr Hattori Taro, President, Mitsubishi Electric Air Conditioning Systems Europe, Dr Elaine Cook, Depute Chief Executive West Lothian Council and Provost Cathy Muldoon. Rodney Ayre, Senior Department Manager, Mitsubishi Electric Air Conditioning Systems Europe, added: 'The collaboration between high schools and academies in West Lothian, Mitsubishi Electric Air Conditioning Systems Europe Ltd and West Lothian Chamber of Commerce encourages young people to consider heat pump technology in innovative new ways, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. 'The success of the project has given our local community a greater awareness of what we do, while providing a platform for talented young individuals within each school to research, study, plan and create products that may form part of the future, increasing real life skills, environmental awareness and the visualisation of alternative potential careers journeys.' Linda Scott, West Lothian Chamber of Commerce chief executive said: 'This competition is all about encouraging Scotland's younger generation to think outside the box and come up with clever and innovative ideas that give them a greater understanding of technology and sustainable energy. 'Ultimately, we are looking to help our younger generations learn and develop new skills and competitions such as these are great for this because they tap into a number of different skill sets such as creativity and teamwork.'
