PROJECTS across Glasgow have secured a share of a £1m fund to help improve and promote communities.

Articulate Cultural Trust in the Calton; Victoria Park Community Trust, Clyde Gateway Urban Regeneration Company in Bridgeton; Glasgow Life, My Shawlands, ng Homes and Development Bid, Free Wheel North, Maryhill Burgh Halls Trust, Unity Enterprise and Spoon Cafe in Parkhead; Greencity Wholefoods, and Byres Road & Lanes Business Improvement District all received funding from the Scotland Loves Local Fund.

The fund is being administered by Scotland’s Towns Partnership as part of its work to spearhead the Scotland Loves Local campaign, which is leading the charge for people to think local first for all of their needs to help businesses through the pandemic.

Scotland’s Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said: “I am pleased to see our £1 million Scotland Loves Local Fund has reached hundreds of community projects across Scotland.

“This is a unique chance for our local communities to improve towns and promote them as better places to live – an opportunity to use the funding to unlock some brilliant creativity. This fund will empower communities by supporting local delivery of projects, to help our towns to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Over the festive season and beyond, I want to encourage our communities to ‘love local’ and remind everyone that money spent locally is more likely to stay in the local economy and support local jobs. We all have a part to play in Scotland’s economic recovery and can do so, whilst we look out for one another and follow the FACTS guidance.”

Phil Prentice, Chief Officer of Scotland’s Towns Partnership, said: “We’re delighted that this funding will bring some brilliant projects across Glasgow to life.

“Whether by supporting local businesses in person or online, money that’s spent locally stays local for longer. Each of these schemes will provide another reason for people to embrace local life.

“We hope these grants will be a great Christmas present to all those benefiting as we encourage everyone to safely support their local businesses however they can during the critical festive shopping period.”