THE Tullibody Community Development Trust (TCDT) have been given another huge boost thanks to a four-figure sum from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT).

The CRT have donated a £3,000 sum to the trust for the appointment of a part-time catering assistant in its newly refurbished café.

It comes just two weeks after the Advertiser told how another grant of more than £290,000, from the Scottish Land Fund, had been given to the TCDT to buy the Tullibody Civic Centre.

Both donations mark a huge month for Tullibody and the TCDT, which was established in response to Clackmannanshire Council's planned closure of the community centre in September 2018.

TCDT took on the running of the centre to keep it open to continue to offer a valuable facility in the area and the volunteer staff looks after all aspects of the running of the centre, from managing booking to health and safety.

Janette McGowan, chair of TCDT, said: "We would like to thank the Coalfields Regeneration Trust for their ongoing support.

"It's great to be able to employ a catering assistant to make the café in the community centre more accessible to everyone and provide somewhere for people to socialise and eat affordable, healthy food."

The café is currently only able to operate only when the hall is hosting a function, but TCDT plans to introduce a community café open at other hours to provide healthy food and a place for residents to meet and socialise.

The project will be specifically targeted at those who are isolated due to lack of income or mobility - the centre is wheelchair accessible - and volunteers will be encouraged to assist in expanding opening hours.

Nicky Wilson, chair of CRT trustees in Scotland, added: "TCDT provides an excellent resource for the entire community.

"We are more than happy to provide funding for a catering assistant for such an excellent facility as the community centre's recently refurbished café."