Communities across North East Fife have benefited from more than £73,000 of funding for local heritage and community projects during 2024/25, thanks to Fife Council’s Common Good and Settlement Trust Funds.

Members at North East Fife area committee were present with a report which highlights how these funds are used to support projects that matter to local people. This year, the money helped:

• Restore Crail Parish Church and improve facilities at Crail Museum & Heritage Centre
• Upgrade Cupar Golf Club and support local groups like the Cupar Explorer Scouts
• Fund cultural events such as the StAnza International Poetry Festival in St Andrews
• Improve community spaces, including playparks and halls, and carry out repairs to historic buildings

In total, £73,996 was awarded to projects across the area. The funds also paid for essential maintenance of community-owned property.

The annual report shows the funds are in good health, with reserves increasing by over £200,000 this year. This means more opportunities to support local priorities in the future.

Councillor Jonny Tepp said:“This funding is about more than preserving heritage—it’s about investing in people and places. By supporting local projects, cultural events, and community spaces, we’re helping strengthen connections and create opportunities that benefit everyone in North East Fife.”

Common Good Funds have historic roots dating back to assets originally held by Scotland’s royal burghs. By law, these funds can only be used for the benefit of communities within the boundaries of those former burghs, even though they are managed by Fife Council. This means not every area in Fife has access to a Common Good Fund, and some communities cannot benefit from this type of support. In North East Fife, towns like St Andrews, Cupar, and Crail are among those with Common Good assets, helping preserve local heritage and invest in community priorities. You can view the full register of Common Good assets at www.fife.gov.uk/commongood.