PLANS to improve a Scottish main street and help more people into work are among 20 projects to benefit from UK Government cash — but a funding cut means 15 schemes miss out and further uncertainty looms.
East Renfrewshire Council has approved plans for the use of just over £1 million from the Government’s shared prosperity fund in 2025/26.
Initially launched as a three-year programme, it has been extended for a fourth year but with a reduction of around £850,000.
As a result, a council youth work programme won’t receive £40,000 of funding while Street League, a scheme helping young people into work, is losing out on £92,000.
Four projects by West College Scotland have been cut while some community clean-ups, a Barrhead Halloween parade, a de-fib phone box in Clarkston and street enhancements in Giffnock also missed out.
A full list of successful projects and those that missed out can be found here.
The successful projects include more than £286,000 to fund five workers to help people with convictions or health barriers find jobs and almost £70,000 to support people with mental health conditions into work.
More than £125,000 will help deliver adult learning services, including support with digital, English as a second language and maths, and more than £80,000 will go towards grants and consultancy funding to aid new and existing businesses.
There is almost £50,000 for improvements to Barrhead Main Street, including a new accessible pathway between the main shopping area and Barrhead Foundry.
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Christmas events in Barrhead, Clarkston, Giffnock and Newton Mearns have been funded as well as a community clean-up in Barrhead.
A second phase of a project to improve the lanes to the rear of Thornliebank Main Street, and upgrade paths and a car park, will be given £119,000.
Grants will also be available to shop owners to improve the rear of shops in Thornliebank after £100,000 was provided. The aim is to “increase cleanliness and safety” and “deter anti-social behaviour”.
A council official said: “Given the significant decrease in the funding for this period, we are unable to support all projects previously funded under the programme in previous years.”
Decisions were based on past performance as well as the projects' aims and deliverability. The official said the council was in talks with “some of them in terms of how we could allocate other funding”.
Councils were advised to “prioritise continuation of existing successful projects”. A report added that there is currently no indication from the Government on “the future shape of local regeneration funding of this type”.
It continued: “The SPF programme continues to provide an excellent opportunity to deliver further investment to key areas of East Renfrewshire and will be a catalyst for regeneration until 2026.”
Officials added tthat he projects will address inequalities, improve footfall to town centres and support new and growth businesses.
