The Belmont Cinema, an all-ability wheelchair swing project, youth club equipment, and a community radio station are among a raft of local organisations which are to benefit from grants totalling £965,000 approved today (7 May 2025).
Aberdeen City Council’s Finance and Resources Committee agreed the monies for projects around the city including The Belmont Community Cinema Project, Aberdeen Deeside Rotary Trust, Kingswells Community Centre, and Station House Media Unit (SHMU).
Committee Convener Councillor Alex McLellan said: “These are major projects which have been awarded funding today and the monies will assist the organisations in bringing forward their respective projects.
“These grant applications, from a number of partners and third sector organisations, will make a positive impact on our city in their own way.”
Council Culture spokesperson Councillor Martin Greig said: “These grants will make a positive difference for organisations and people across Aberdeen. I look forward to seeing the progress on all of these projects in the coming months.”
A report to committee said the grants awarded included:
- Aberdeen Deeside Rotary Trust – all-ability wheelchair swing project - £13,000;
- Aberdeen Performing Arts - building management system upgrade at HMT - £48,895;
- Aberdeen Science Centre - community engagement and accessibility project - £73,198;
- Alcohol and Drugs Action - family harm reduction/recovery support - £19,801;
- Aberdeen City Council – Bucksburn Swimming Pool recommissioning project - £173,140;
- Befriend a Child - family support project - £19,152;
- Belmont Community Cinema - improving the entrance project - £100,000;
- Citymoves Dance Agency - United Aberdeen Dance project - £47,089;
- Community Outreach Group – upgraded kitchen - £3,800;
- Denburn Residents and Tenants Association - Upper Denburn Gardens - £10,000;
- East Grampian Coastal Partnership - Aberdeen City Coastal Path Study - £9,450;
- Grampian Cardiac Rehabilitation Association - specialist exercise service for people with cardiac and chronic health conditions in Aberdeen - £15,000;
- Grampian Women’s Aid - support services - £45,470;
- Growing2gether - strengthening communities by building local skills, wellbeing and resilience project - £28,865;
- Instant Neighbour – Upcycle Inc Project - £10,000;
- Kingswells Community Centre - youth club equipment - £876;
- Sound Scotland - Soundcommunities year 2 - £24,000;
- Station House Media Unit - extension to Station House - £110,000;
- Techfest - TechFests Blueprint Challenge: A Future Highstreet - £10,000;
- The Kings Community Foundation - the Bridge Centre Retrofit - £50,000.
The report to committee said allocation of grant funding is from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). The UKSPF money was allocated to the City Council by the UK Government. The core UKSPF element can be used across three priority areas - community and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.