West Lothian Gets $20M Community Fund | Edinburgh News

0:00Alright, let's talk about some serious cash flow hitting West Lothian. We're looking at a 10-year, $20 million fund, straight from the government, earmarked for Blackburn, Whitburn, and Falldhouse. The whole point is to invest in these communities, and they've set up a board called Pride and Place to figure out the best way to spin that too. Million dollars a year. The chair of this board, a lawyer named Eric Lumsden, is making it clear they want the people who actually live there to have a say. They're actively recruiting three new representatives from each of the three towns, Blackburn, Whitburn, and Falldhouse. They're not looking for folks with their own personal agendas, but rather individuals who are genuinely committed to the betterment of their entire community. This board has a lot of freedom to decide where the money goes, whether it's for ongoing costs, like sprucing up town centers, or for bigger, one off. Investments like buying buildings to turn into community spaces. They've already committed to rotating their meetings across all three towns, so the

1:01board members can see first-hand what's going on, and they're even. Installing new audiovisual equipment and community hubs for hybrid meetings, which will be available for everyone to use. One of the early observations is that a lot of local charities tend to work in isolation. The Pride and Place board sees a role in bringing these groups together, fostering collaboration so they can share resources and support each other. More effectively, it's about building connections and making sure help is available when and where it's needed without duplicating efforts. It's important to note though that this fund isn't meant to cover basic council responsibilities, like fixing potholes. This is about providing that extra boost that added benefit that can really make a difference in the long run for these communities. Stay informed with Edinburgh News Today, AI-powered updates. I'm Corey with The Story.