A LOTTERY windfall of nearly £8000 is enough to make anyone excited, but the members of Cardenden Community Development Forum have found themselves in the unusual position of not being able to spend it!

When they applied for the Awards for All Scotland grant, part of National Lottery funding, there was a vacant store which they intended to turn into a community shop.

However, in the time the £7800 grant came through the site was sold, meaning that Cardenden Community Council are now on the hunt for new premises.

The shop is to be a volunteer-run initiative, with any profits being raised to be put back into the community.

A team of volunteers has already been assembled, now all that remains is for the Development Forum to find a store to use.

Community Council secretary David Taylor said, “It’s a bit up in the air at the moment. When we applied there was a vacant shop, but it’s no longer available for rental. Luckily the money is valid for a year so we have time to find something.

“The money will go towards the initial rent and fitting the shop out. When it becomes self-sustaining, any profits will be ploughed back into the community.” Despite the temporary setback, hopes are high for the new community shop with Lindsay Roy, MP for Glenrothes, sending a letter of congratulation.

Awards for All Scotland gives out grants of between £500 and £10,000 to projects that bring communities together. An Awards for All spokesperson said, “These projects truly demonstrate the variety of projects that can be funded through Awards for All. We are always surprised at the difference a relatively small amount of money can make in communities across Scotland.”