Kirrie community garden wins financial support from Co-op members

The garden is run and maintained by a dedicated team of volunteers. Details of how to get involved can be found on its Facebook page.

The application was lodged by Sustainable Kirriemuir but, as part of that, the cash has been allocated to the garden project at St Mary’s Field.

The Co-op’s Local Community Fund has supported more than 25,000 causes across the UK, and data from the latest funding shows that community support is needed more than ever, with more than a million Co-op members selecting a cause in a single round of its Local Community Fund – the highest number since its launch in 2016.

A Co-op survey earlier in the year found that three quarters of community causes surveyed expected demand for their services to increase dramatically – especially services that champion mental well-being support, opportunities for young people and provide access to food.

The project received more than £4800 towards its work.

This insight has helped to inform the Co-op’s vision of co-operating for a fairer world, which focuses exclusively on three missions: Fair Access to Food, Fair Access to Mental Well-being Support and Fair Access to Education and Employment for young people.

This year, members are choosing to support causes working with communities in these three areas.

Ruth Watson, one of the project’s organisers, thanked the local community for its support for the garden’s work and the donation of £4838 .

She said: “Thank you so much to the team at the Co-op who made this possible, and to every one of you who chose to support us as your community cause.

“The Kirriemuir Community Garden is one of the projects which comes under the Sustainable Kirriemuir umbrella and the money you have donated is going to the field funds. We will use it very carefully.”

Rebecca Birkbeck, the Co-op’s director of Community and Shared Value, added: “Throughout the pandemic we’ve seen more Co-op members than ever play an active role in supporting their community by selecting a cause.

"Our insight has told us that support for mental well-being, access to food and education and employment for young people, are key for helping communities as they get back on their feet.”