£29.5k funding sets wheels in motion for Include Me 2 Club
Barrhead-based charity Include Me 2 Club has purchased a new wheelchair accessible minibus after landing £29,500 through community funding grants.
Published: 6 July 2021
Include Me 2 Club works to create a community where people, no matter their age or abilities, are treated equally and fairly, and are supported to achieve their goals and ambitions.
The new minibus, which has been fully equipped and specially adapted to meet the group's needs, will increase the number of vulnerable children, young people and adults with disabilities and/or additional support needs who can access the diverse range of services offered by the charity throughout East Renfrewshire.
The project was grant-funded by the East Renfrewshire Renewable Energy Fund (ERREF) and Neilston Windfarm Legacy Fund (NWL). The ERREF fund - which is administered by East Renfrewshire Council - combines contributions from ScottishPower Renewables Whitelee and Middleton windfarms, and aims to assist projects that will provide community benefit to the people of East Renfrewshire. The purpose of the NWL fund is to advance community development and give financial support to a range of projects and initiatives.
Councillor Tony Buchanan, Leader of East Renfrewshire Council, said: 'This is a fantastic initiative and I am delighted that funding through the East Renfrewshire Renewable Energy Fund and Neilston Windfarm Legacy Fund was secured to allow Include Me 2 Club to purchase this minibus. The minibus will help increase community engagement for vulnerable or isolated people with disabilities or additional support needs across East Renfrewshire. Include Me 2 Club already undertake vital work across Barrhead and beyond, and this minibus will now increase the community services which the group is able to provide, whilst making a positive impact to the environment, as the number of individual journeys currently being undertaken by service users will now be reduced. I can't wait to see the bus out and about across the area.'
Paul McIlvenny, Chair of Include Me 2 Club, said: 'Include Me 2 Club would like to say a massive thanks to the East Renfrewshire Renewable Energy Fund and Neilston Windfarm Legacy Fund for granting us the funding, to allow us to purchase the new minibus.
'Having an accessible vehicle that is fitted with a ramp and can support wheelchairs or 16 passengers is a great asset to the organisation. The minibus will open up so many opportunities for our members and enable us to transport them in and around East Renfrewshire for activities and events, and elsewhere once restrictions allow it possible to do so.
'We are looking forward to put the minibus to good use, supporting our range of existing programmes and supporting the creation of new services the minibus will allow us to do.'
The ERREF Board, which is made up of four local Councillors and the Chief Executive of Voluntary Action East Renfrewshire, considers applications on an annual basis and awards grants to the most deserving projects. Every year, a total of approximately £150k in grant funding is made available to community groups across the area. Applications for grant funding for this year will open on 1 August.
Find out more about the ERREF, eligibility criteria and to apply for funding.
