BARRHEAD’S most-vulnerable residents are to be supported by a new £190,000 tenancy sustainment project.

The windfall was awarded to Barrhead Housing Association (BHA) by the Scottish Government’s Aspiring Communities Fund to help deliver the ‘Make It Your Own’ initiative in the Dunterlie area of the town.

The scheme helps tenants to set up, sustain and maintain their home, increase their employability skills by developing and delivering a local environmental enhanced project and learn and enhance digital skills through a variety of online engagement workshops.

James Ward, director of asset management at BHA, said: “Through this fund, we will explore partnership approaches between statutory bodies and local communities with a shared interest in exploring new and sustainable ways of working to improve local outcomes. 

“A number of established third sector partners will be involved in the delivery of the project and further information, along with recruitment of staff, will be available on the BHA website in December.”

BHA also received £23,000 from the government’s Community Choices Fund to give tenants more of a say on spending priorities in the town.

Bosses at the housing association have confirmed it will contribute £12,000 to the pot on top of the governmental grant.

BHA is set to use that combined £35,000 to create a Community Projects Fund of its own which will invite applications for projects which support people into employment, improve the environment, recognise and reduce social isolation and cut food and energy poverty.

Ideas that provide tenants with welfare advice and improve health and well-being will also be welcomed.

Mr Ward continued: “The Barrhead Housing Association Community Projects Fund will demonstrate how, working closely with communities and partners, we can support local projects and initiatives to help make a positive impact in our communities.”

Further information on the application process and the fund itself will be available on the BHA website in the coming weeks.