Castle Douglas Community Centre's development trust lands National Lottery windfall

02.11.2022 - 12:07 / dailyrecord.co.uk

An equipment store beside a community garden at Castle Douglas Community Centre is set to get a makeover into a multi-use social space.

The building will undergo the conversion after the centre’s development trust scooped a grant worth almost £10,000 from the National Lottery.

The garden has already proved popular with hobby growers and gardeners of all ages.

Now the addition of a covered shelter immediately adjacent is set to broaden its appeal.

David Young, chairman of the community centre board of trustees, told the News: “We have been awarded a grant of £9,250 by the Lottery.

“Once completed the conversion will give us a space which groups such as the Golden Day Club, Better Lives and the toddlers can use.

“It will provide a shelter and activities area next to the garden where people can sit, have a chat and boil a kettle for a cup of tea.

“Ultimately we want to involve the wider community – it is a community garden after all.

“The store measures 19 feet by 23 so it’s not an insignificant space.”

David added: “Once we are organised we plan to hold small events such as coffee and scones for the elderly.

“The garden is quite a sun trap.

“And as the garden develops next year we plan to make available the activity space created for our user groups and in due course the general community once we have got it more established.”

The National Lottery Community Fund’s Scotland chief Kate Still praised the scheme.

She said: “This project delivered by Castle Douglas Community Centre Development Trust is a great example of community activity in action, showing just what can be achieved when people come together for a common cause or to help others.”