Ormiston Play Park is centrally located in the heart of Whitfield, surrounded by the streets of Lufness, Craigievar, Pitcaple, Dunrobin, and Cardoness Walk. Positioned within a social housing development predominantly occupied by families, the park is a vital community asset, offering a safe and accessible space for children, young people, and families to play, gather, and enjoy the outdoors. Despite its popularity, the park’s equipment is outdated and in urgent need of refurbishment. Through recent community engagement and consultation, residents have clearly expressed the need for improvements. Key priorities identified include the installation of equipment suitable for pre-school children, the addition of inclusive and accessible play features, picnic benches to encourage family use of the green space, and repairs to existing well-loved equipment.

The redevelopment will not only improve physical infrastructure but also foster stronger community connections, promote outdoor activity, and support early years development. The inclusion of picnic areas and improved signage will further encourage families to spend time in the park, strengthening social ties and promoting well-being.

This project directly supports local priorities by addressing the significant levels of child poverty in the North East of Dundee, where 36% of children live in poverty, higher than the city average of 31% (SIMD 2020). By enhancing the quality and inclusivity of Ormiston Play Park, we aim to provide a safe, welcoming, and stimulating environment for children of all ages and abilities, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. We have linked with Stakeholders such as Primary Schools, Parent Councils, Tenants Community Empowerment Team, Early Years Educators, to ensure there is no duplication of work and to ensure we are enhancing current assets. Angus Housing Association, a registered charity and the landowner, is committed to supporting this initiative. However, due to financial constraints, we are unable to fully fund the redevelopment independently. We are therefore seeking external funding to bring this community-led vision to life. This project represents a meaningful investment in children, families, and the wider community, creating a more inclusive, engaging, and vibrant public space for all. The association has undergone extensive outreach through a Microsoft Forms questionnaire to gather feedback regarding what equipment and improvements should be made. This included targeted door knocking in the surrounding areas of the play park. We also attended the North East Campus during school finish times to facilitate more engagement and feedback. Additionally, this was sent out on our social media platforms and distributed through emails and text messages to tenants and the wider community for completion. On Monday, May 2nd, which was a school in-service day, we aimed to maximize feedback and engagement while schools were closed. We held a picnic in the park event from 11 AM to 1 PM as another way to engage with individuals. Here, we invited children and families to complete the questionnaire and assist with designing a sign and notice boards for the park, which was successful.

Investing in our proposed play park will not only enhance the community’s recreational offerings but also provide a safe and engaging environment for children and families to thrive. By fostering physical activity, social interactions, and imaginative play, we are nurturing the well-being of our youth and building stronger community bonds. We believe that with your support, we can create a vibrant space that will be cherished for generations to come. Together, let’s make a lasting impact on our community by turning this vision into reality.

Local Priority: - Enhanced community facilities.

Since 1946 to date the Lochee Boys and Girls Club has been evolving. The club plans to invest more than £500,000 into the Lochee community, by expanding its facilities to better serve the community's growing needs. Collaborating with local stakeholders, plans are underway to enhance gym and training areas and create additional community spaces. Our project will create positive change for individuals and the wider community by encouraging youth engagement in healthy lifestyles, teamwork, and discipline through sport. It will promote social cohesion by bringing together diverse groups to foster understanding, cooperation, and inclusion. A key focus will be on physical and mental wellbeing, providing safe spaces for exercise that contribute to both physical fitness and mental health improvements. The expansion will generate wider social benefits, this includes new opportunities for volunteer and create employment opportunities, creating avenues for coaching certifications, mentoring positions, and careers in sports and community development. Sustained benefits for the community will be achieved by reducing social isolation, enhancing local engagement, and improving overall health metrics.

Collaboration is central to our strategy. We intend to partner with local charities and stakeholders to create a unified network dedicated to community health and safety. The facility will actively promote the benefits of sport beyond just physical activity. Mental health support will be integrated through structured programmes that incorporate stress management and resilience-building workshops. The space will encourage social interactions, reducing loneliness and fostering friendships. This is aligned with the local community plan to tackle social isolation and build community resilience. It will also serve as a positive diversion for young people, reducing crime rates by engaging them in structured activities. Additionally, partnerships with local schools will support academic attainment through sports participation. The new extension will enhance the club’s ability to deliver these initiatives, ensuring a broader reach and greater impact on the community. Along with the Capital Funding for the extension we are also looking to improve what we currently have. This grant would be utilised to achieve this. We are hoping to improve accessibility to all areas of the club and this involves renewing the entrance with DDA approved automatic doors, lowering thresholds to ensure wheelchair accessibility.

To support our commitment in developing opportunities for women and girls in our sport we are creating a new female changing area. The demand for the women's only class and the number of girls attending the junior boxing sessions has increased. We plan to collaborate with partners in Health who will be working towards improving support for those in recovery and this facility will prove essential to meet the needs of those women. If we can achieve both the refurbishment and extension this allows us to double our outreach and be a positive factor for individuals and families in the local area.

We have been embedded in the Heart of Lochee for almost 80 years. Our club membership is continually growing with 70% of our members residing locally. We are engaged with several local partnerships, including the Regeneration Forum, Lochee Community Larder and Lochee Residents and Tennent’s group. We work closely with local schools providing activities within schools and elsewhere. We attend community meetings and are members of the Lochee Area Community Sports Hub which allows us to engage with a vast number of individuals and groups. We work with Active Schools and deliver sessions within various locations across the ward during which we have discussed with parents, carers, and young people themselves to identify their needs and expectations. Engagement has been carried out with local councillors, Sport Scotland, Dundee City Council, NHS and other groups and charities. We consulted with them regarding our strategic aims and development plan and there is a shared opinion that due to the lack of other community facilities in the Lochee area our project is vital and should be a priority. The Lochee Community Plan 2022-2027 has outlined the community priorities and our plan supports these. We are focused on tackling social isolation and improving mental wellbeing, introducing a multi functional community lounge and increasing the accessibility of our club and delivery of our services, we can have a massive positive impact. Another priority is the need to improve community safety. With larger premises we can offer diversionary programmes for young people in partnership with education. Boxing can be a tool to reduce antisocial behaviour by offering a positive outlet for energy and promoting discipline, self-respect, and a sense of community. Boxing clubs can act as a “great hook for change” by providing a space for self-development and keeping individuals away from crime and violence.

The local priorities this will address are:

- Improve safety, accessibility and equipment in outdoor recreation spaces for families and young people

- Improve community facilities to support wider range of projects

At present our children do not get to achieve their UNCRC article 31 - the right to play in a safe and accessible environment. We would like to enhance their play experiences and widen the activities available to them. Having a basketball court and nets will allow us to have an after school club which we currently can't do due to the lack of facilities in and outside of the building. We will also be able to use the equipment and courts during the school holidays to invite families to holiday camps and competitions run by our SFDW. This would improve community facilities to support a wider range of projects and clubs available. Due to our building we are very limited in what we can offer our families and would like to increase and improve the experiences for all.

Funding will be used to pay for:

Goal post on wall x 2 Professional basketball unit x 2  Basketball floor markings Football floor markings  Activity trail floor markings Wall panels for games Activity frame Wet pour flooring

Due to the age and condition of our building we would really like to develop this project. Our children are missing out on play and social experiences due to this. These facilities would allow us to create more after school clubs as well as inviting families to support sessions during the school holidays.

Local Priority: - Improve outdoor spaces

Provision of new picnic tables and benches at both Trottick Ponds Local Nature Reserve and Templeton Woods. These seating facilities will improve access for all at these beloved local sites and also enhance the experience of local people to enjoy nature in a walkable setting. This has proven benefits for mental and physical health. This funding would also provide a new dipping platform at the pond within Templeton Woods - a resource which can be used by local community groups and schools. We also propose the refurbishment of signage at Trottick: this will help educate visitors about the historical significance and enhance visits. Also requested is funding to purchase fruit bushes for Templeton Woods will improve the range of species at the site, prove visually appealing and can be used as a food resource by local people. Finally, we would also wish to apply for wildlife cameras for recording at these sites. This record will help to survey the animals in the area and will be used to help educate local groups as to what lives within Strathmartine. This technology is not normally within the financial reach of local people and will also allow children, in particular, to use them and monitor local wildlife both at the sites and potentially within other local areas (such as school grounds). All of these projects will be contributing to the local priorities by improving visitor experiences at accessible green spaces within the ward thereby improving health and wellbeing.

Trottick Ponds Local Nature Reserve and Templeton Woods are both well-used visitor sites within the ward. Provision of facilities improve the experience of accessing nature for all those who visit. The signage at Trottick informs of the historical significance of the site thereby instilling local pride and improving local knowledge of in important part of local history. Visitors have spoken to Rangers about the need for these projects, which will improve nature access to all. The need for more seating was identified by local residents, as relayed to the Ranger Service by Community Workers. Both sites are important cultural icons within the city and serve a wide range of people for pursuits such as dog-walking, cycling, community group activities and relaxation within peaceful settings. Templeton also provides a formal cycling track (Templeton Tangle) and toilet facilities during opening hours. The sites draw visitors from all ages and social grouping; both being placed within commutable distances from some of the most challenged areas of the city. The Ranger Service regularly meets with and provides nature education to visitors from Strathmartine at both sites, including community groups and schools.

The Countryside Ranger Service is a well-established service within Dundee City Council's Neighbourhood Services section. Much of our remit is to serve the people of Dundee in educating about nature as well as maintaining the sites we manage as best as possible for the people and other living things there. We have key sites we manage within Strathmartine which are well used by all the people of the area and beyond. These are Green Flag winning sites with a wide range of visitors from all demographics and we feel we can enhance them for local people by the use of the Community Fund. This is a time when the funding within our own department is often hard to access for these sort of projects. It is also a time when people are increasingly under pressure within their own lives and in need of places to relax and enjoy nature. We think that improving the sites and enhancing access to the natural world we are so lucky to have on our doorstep is of paramount importance to the health and wellbeing of our own citizens. The Ranger Service has delivered groups, volunteer events and education to over 600 people already this year within the city. The majority of these have been met within Strathmartine as it is our key area of interaction. With your assistance we can provide more of the same for our sites and for the people of the city.

This project links in with the Maryfield priority of ‘Improvements to outdoor play and recreation incorporating park, green spaces and school playgrounds. Our expected outcomes for this project are: • Increase participation of people accessing East Craigie to play football. • Increase participation in females’ access and using the sport facilities at East Craigie. • Increased footfall of people spectating sporting events at East Craigie • Increased footfall contributing to community asset wealth opportunities for East Craigie. Our plan is The plan is to upgrade existing toilet and shower facilities in the existing East Craigie pavilion (1932). East Craigie F.C - Google Maps • Existing building in serious disrepair. • The committee currently looking into suggested layout and facility changes to upgrade the building. • Final scheme will dictate electricity requirements including main distribution board. • Reviewed to accommodate structural engineering inspection and develop options for multi-designated official. Work would include: • Removal of non-structural partition walls • Upgrading shower and toilet facilities • Relocation of laundry equipment including washing machines and tumble dryers The installation of new unisex facilities for match officials and visitors. The installation would include: • Cubicles x3 • Separate toilet and washing facilities • Storage lockers for officials • Upgrades to lighting and heating. • New doors, facings and skirtings. • All surfaces will be wet wall with suspended ceiling.

East Craigie FC are the oldest football club in Dundee. The club is also the oldest junior football club in Scotland. The club was founded in 1880 by mill workers from Wallace Craigie Mill. The club moved from the dock area to their current home in 1932. The club are part of the community and engage in activities to support the promotion of football in the area. We regularly host women at the club through hospitality and as match officials. Our facilities are unfortunately not the standard required. The club is committed to improving changing and toilet facilities for women and girl players, visitors and match officials. East Craigie look to continue and enrich our hosting of groups from the Grey Lodge, Mid-Lin Daycare Centre, supporting elderly and dementia groups. We have an excellent long standing supportive relationship with our neighbours in the allotments. The club has engaged with the Stobswell Forum, who are a local community action group. The club has recently entered into a partnership with Dundee United Social Club (DUSC). This partnership aims to consolidate the club’s community engagement, DUSC have a history of serving areas of multiple deprivation in Dundee and share a similar community ethos with East Craigie FC.

East Craigie are committed to supporting the continuation of football in Maryfield. The clubs’ roots are a century old in the local community. Improving facilities is an essential part of any club’s development. As we move forward to our 150th anniversary as Dundee’s oldest football club, we look forward to welcoming visitors from throughout Scotland, and particularly the Maryfield community. This project will allow East Craigie to work towards our goal of maximising the community wealth opportunities for the benefit of the club and the area it serves.