Latest news with #CommunityBloomFund
The Herald Scotland
31-07-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Polmont community hub garden in the running for £30k transformation grant
Run entirely by unpaid volunteers, the hub has already become a lifeline for the community, serving hundreds of local residents each week. Organisers want to expand that reach even further by investing in outdoor spaces and infrastructure that support community resilience, education, and sustainability. Kenny Alexander, the hub's volunteer sustainability manager, said: 'Our vision is rooted in the idea of people looking after each other and the planet. Whether it's growing food, offering a space to connect, or creating a place where people can learn new skills, we're focused on building something long-lasting and meaningful. This is about future-proofing our community.' The funding would support groundwork and growing space development across two acres of open land behind the hub. Volunteers have already set up composting facilities and are working with local volunteers to plan social gardens, outdoor classrooms and seasonal events like turnip carving at Halloween. The Community Bloom Fund was launched by off grid energy distributor Certas Energy to support impactful grassroots projects across the UK. Winners will be decided through a public vote. Richard Billington, managing director of Energy Solutions at Certas Energy, said: 'The team at Polmont Community Hub stood out for their passion, determination, and commitment to sustainability. The way they're combining climate action with community wellbeing is genuinely inspiring. This kind of project shows just how much can be achieved when people come together with a shared purpose.' With more homes being built in the area and demand for community services growing, volunteers say now is the time to invest in spaces that bring people together, promote resilience, and build for the future. Kenny added: 'This is about so much more than a garden. It's about growing hope, connection, and resilience in our community. With support from the public and Certas Energy, we have the chance to create a lasting legacy that nourishes both our people and the planet for years to come.'
Scotsman
22-04-2025
- General
- Scotsman
Scots Struggling to connect with community, survey finds
Watch more of our videos on and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Visit Shots! now A new survey released today by Scottish Fuels, part of Certas Energy, has shown that less than half of Scottish homeowners (49 per cent) think their community is thriving, with 1 in 4 people (26 per cent) reporting that they never engage in community activities. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The national survey shows that Scots aren't alone in facing challenges when it comes to community connection. However, they are the least certain about how to better engage with the community. Nearly one in five people (19 per cent) in Scotland said they don't know how to get more involved in their local community. The survey also showed that those living in rural areas across the UK are 23 per cent less likely to feel engaged with their community than their urban counterparts, highlighting an added challenge for Scotland's many rural communities. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Off grid energy distributor Scottish Fuels, part of Certas Energy, is on a mission to change this through its £30,000 Community Bloom Fund. Richard Billington, MD of Energy Solutions at Certas Energy (quoted) Scottish Fuels which serves rural communities across the country, is offering community groups within the UK a chance to receive £30,000 in funding to help improve a local shared space or initiative. The fund can be used to spruce up community centres, refresh local parks or sponsor local sports teams - anything that will bring communities and the people within them closer together. Richard Billington, the MD of Energy Solutions for Certas Energy, explained: "The fact rural communities are so disengaged is upsetting, especially for a country like Scotland, where 98 per cent of the land mass is considered rural. We see every day the power of community, and we wanted to do something to bring this back across the country. That's why we created the Community Bloom Fund. 'With more than 70 per cent of people saying that their local community projects would benefit from additional investment, we can't wait to see the impact it has.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Whether it's parent and baby groups, gardening clubs or local community centres that host different events, having easily accessible and thriving community initiatives can make such a difference, especially to those in rural areas." The Certas Energy team volunteering to support Domestic Abuse charity, Phoenix Rising in 2024 To be in with a chance to secure the funding, community groups are invited to apply by 28th May 2025. Applicants should share a summary of the work they do and explain how they would use the funds to support the local project. Apply by visiting:
Scotsman
22-04-2025
- General
- Scotsman
Scots struggling to connect with community, survey finds
The Certas Energy team volunteering to support Domestic Abuse charity, Phoenix Rising in 2024 A new survey released today by Scottish Fuels, part of Certas Energy, has shown that less than half of Scottish homeowners (49 per cent) think their community is thriving, with 1 in 4 people (26 per cent) reporting that they never engage in community activities. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The national survey shows that Scots aren't alone in facing challenges when it comes to community connection. However, they are the least certain about how to better engage with the community. Nearly one in five people (19 per cent) in Scotland said they don't know how to get more involved in their local community. The survey also showed that those living in rural areas across the UK are 23 per cent less likely to feel engaged with their community than their urban counterparts, highlighting an added challenge for Scotland's many rural communities. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Off grid energy distributor Scottish Fuels, part of Certas Energy, is on a mission to change this through its £30,000 Community Bloom Fund. Scottish Fuels which serves rural communities across the country, is offering community groups within the UK a chance to receive £30,000 in funding to help improve a local shared space or initiative. The fund can be used to spruce up community centres, refresh local parks or sponsor local sports teams - anything that will bring communities and the people within them closer together. Richard Billington, the MD of Energy Solutions for Certas Energy, explained: "The fact rural communities are so disengaged is upsetting, especially for a country like Scotland, where 98 per cent of the land mass is considered rural. We see every day the power of community, and we wanted to do something to bring this back across the country. That's why we created the Community Bloom Fund. 'With more than 70 per cent of people saying that their local community projects would benefit from additional investment, we can't wait to see the impact it has.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Whether it's parent and baby groups, gardening clubs or local community centres that host different events, having easily accessible and thriving community initiatives can make such a difference, especially to those in rural areas." To be in with a chance to secure the funding, community groups are invited to apply by 28th May 2025. Applicants should share a summary of the work they do and explain how they would use the funds to support the local project.
