New Community led campaign seeks ideas for projects across the Kirkcaldy Area

A new community led campaign to decide how £300,000 is best spent improving communities across the Kirkcaldy area has been officially launched.

A collaboration between Fife Council and its communities, the “You Decide” campaign is overseen by a steering group of residents from Kirkcaldy, Dysart, Burntisland, Kinghorn, Auchtertool and Puddledub, who now want to hear from local people and groups with project ideas that could benefit from the available funding.

Ideas for projects can be submitted via the campaign’s “Bright Ideas” application form at the You Decide/Kirkcaldy web page, with the group currently finalising a series of follow up local workshops and online engagement opportunities for people to discuss and develop ideas further.

Applications are welcome from projects covering the priorities around People and Place in Fife Council’s current Plan 4 Kirkcaldy Area, including those designed to help with the cost-of-living crisis; build community spirit; support early intervention & crisis prevention and bolster local economies and skills.

Projects ideas are also sought around further enhancing Kirkcaldy Town Centre and Waterfront and those helping build community spirit and improving the area’s outdoor places and spaces. Applications across broader themes including health & wellbeing and green initiatives combating climate change will also be considered.

Under the scheme, projects will be able to apply for funding ranging from £500 to £15,000.

Deadline for applications is December 2024, with an agreed short- list of potential projects announced the following January. Successful projects will then be chosen by a public vote managed by the steering group in early March.

All successful projects will be expected to spend any allocated funding within 12 months of receiving their grant award.

Cllr Ian Cameron, Kirkcaldy Area Committee Convenor said: “You Decide” provides a great opportunity for local people to get involved, and make their voices heard by deciding how public money is spent on projects to make a positive difference to the communities where they live and work. I look forward to seeing what projects come out of this and the positive impact they have for the Kirkcaldy area’s future.”

Steering group Chair, Paul McGhie added: “Everyone on the steering group is excited and hopeful that some brilliant ideas will come forward and be developed into successful projects.”