A charity which supports initiatives to improve health and employment prospects for people across Ayrshire’s mining communities is in line for a major cash boost.
The Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT) is to receive £750,000 from the Scottish Government to help with its programme for 2021/22.
CRT was founded more than two decades ago to help regenerate coalfield communities following the devastating pit closures and it has invested more than £20 million in these areas across Scotland.
MSP Tom Arthur confirmed the funding was being put in place.
The money will be used by CRT to continue to tackle the issues that impact its communities.
Among the problems are higher than average unemployment; children living in poverty and with poor health, and issues which have been exacerbated by Covd-19 and lockdown measures.
CRT in Scotland chair Nicky Wilson said: “We would like to thank the Scottish Government for its ongoing support in helping us tackle social and economic issues that continue to impact many former mining areas.
“Over the past year we have worked with our communities to address problems, such as unemployment and health, that have been exacerbated by the pandemic and we will continue to do so.”
Meanwhile, CRT has welcomed a new head of operations for Scotland in Stuart Douglas.
Stuart joins CRT with over 30 years’ experience in various third, public and community sector roles.
Mr Douglas said: “I’m pleased that the Scottish Government is continuing to support the work of the organisation and understand the challenges faced by these communities as they seek to regenerate economically.
“I look forward to working with CRT to influence local, national and UK policy to have positive outcomes that improve social justice for coalfield communities across Scotland.
“Building on the great work that has come before me, I hope to bring new and additional resources to coalfield communities and work to support areas that have been affected significantly by the pandemic.”
A report commissioned by CRT from consultants Social Value Lab, and published before the pandemic, found that almost a third of coalfield neighbourhoods were in the most deprived 20 per cent of Scotland.
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