WEE COUNTY community groups can still benefit from Clacks Council’s community empowerment fund grants to make capital improvements to their land and buildings.

Last year, more than £69,000 was awarded to local groups for a wide variety of improvements projects including heating upgrades, roof replacement, land drainage and restoration.

As well as improving the appearance of their land and buildings, these improvements have helped groups expand their options for income generation and enhance their provision of activities.

Alloa Rugby Football Club received £10,000 last year towards the cost of their clubhouse extension.

Gary McPhail, club president, said: “The availability of the council grant made a huge difference to us.

“In order to take advantage of grants available at that time to sports clubs to modernise our changing facilities, we had to find match funding quite quickly to supplement what our members had contributed through fundraising.

“The Council turned our application around quickly and this meant a major upgrade to our changing facilities and gym area was within our means as a Club. The Council worked flexibly with us when our timescales changed and we are now delighted to have completed the extension.”

Councillor Helen Lewis, spokesperson for partnership and third sector said: “We are keen for groups who have not benefited before to take this opportunity to make improvements which will make a big difference to the community.

“The fund is even more attractive to community groups this year as the level of match funding required has been reduced to 20% of the total cost of the project up to a maximum of £10,000.”

Groups who applied in previous financial years are also eligible to apply in this financial year. There is no closing date and applications are considered on a rolling basis.

To receive a grant, applicant organisations must be constituted and not-for-profit. They must own or have a long-term lease on the building or land in question.

Projects should contribute to the regeneration or development of an area and/or assist in providing more integrated accessible services for local communities.

More information, an application form and guidance notes are available on the Council’s website https://www.clacks.gov.uk/community/ceg/.