16.09.25
Join us for our LCDT Fundraising event: Sally Buxton’s Psychic Floorshow comes to Lochwinnoch!
We are excited to announce that LCDT is hosting a fundraiser!
Join us to experience the Psychic Floorshow featuring the renowned Sally Buxton and her team of mediums, bringing us an evening of connection, love and laughter on the 8th of November at Lochwinnoch Bowling Club.
All signs point to this being a fun-filled evening, so be sure to book your tickets early to avoid disappointment!
Doors will open at 7 PM, with the show starting at 8 PM.
The event will include a raffle, Irish Bingo, and the chance to win some fantastic prizes. All proceeds from the event will go towards the delivery of our community projects.
07.08.25
Lochwinnoch Men’s Shed Group celebrates Funding Success!
Thanks to a generous grant of £1,500 from Bartec Municipal Technologies, the Lochwinnoch Men’s Shed group now has the resources needed to equip the interior of their shed, allowing them to make a start on their projects.
The LCDT team and some group members had the pleasure of meeting with Bartec’s CEO, Tim, and Sales Manager, Steve, at Lochead Gardens, the Men’s Shed’s new home. A big thank you as well to Engage Renfrewshire for their ongoing support and guidance.
22.07.25
Exciting Opportunity to Transform Lochwinnoch’s Historic Parish Church!
Exciting Opportunity to Transform Lochwinnoch’s Historic Parish Church!
Lochwinnoch Community Development Trust is seeking an experienced Architectural and Design Team to help restore and reimagine the Category A-Listed Parish Church into a vibrant community centre, performance space, and life events venue.
This project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, will breathe new life into a cherished landmark for future generations.
Read in detail about the project here
Deadline for submissions: 15 August 2025, 17:00
🔗 Full details & how to apply: Public Contracts Scotland
Lochwinnoch Community Development Trust Acquires Historic Parish Church
Villagers in Lochwinnoch have purchased a 220-year-old church, which risked being lost forever, and plan to transform it into a thriving community hub.
The Lochwinnoch Community Development Trust (LCDT) will acquire the Grade A listed Lochwinnoch Parish Church from the Church of Scotland on 16th May 2025—a significant milestone for community ownership in Scotland.
The church, which closed at the start of the COVID-19 lockdown in Easter 2020, has remained unused since. Rather than allow a building that has been at the heart of village life for centuries to fall into disrepair, villagers mobilised, and this purchase represents the culmination of extensive planning, consultation, and fundraising activities led by the LCDT.
Diarmid Harris, Chair of LCDT, said, “We have acquired the Parish Church, an iconic building, on behalf of the people of the village. Community ownership of this cultural heritage and its restoration will spur local innovation, creativity, and economic growth. LCDT believes this revitalisation will benefit Lochwinnoch for generations.”
Tom Arthur, SNP MSP for Renfrewshire South, welcomed the news:
“This is a tremendous achievement by the people of Lochwinnoch and the dedicated team at LCDT. The preservation of our cherished historic buildings, combined with their transformation into vibrant community spaces, captures the essence of what community empowerment is all about. I’ve been delighted to support this project and look forward to seeing how this beautiful building will once again serve as a beating heart for Lochwinnoch, bringing people together and creating opportunities for generations to come.”
The purchase and preliminary works have been made possible through a combination of grant funding, including £233,300 from the Scottish Land Fund for the purchase, £198,250 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for the design phase, £500,000 from Historical Environment Scotland towards restoration and conservation works and £10,000 from the Architectural Heritage Fund for consultancy services, including business planning and fundraising strategy.
The project’s next phase involves working with architects to find the best way to resurrect the church so it can best serve the community. The local community will need to raise approximately £1 million through other funders and community fundraising options, including community shares.
The LCDT aims to have a design team in place by September 2025, with building works expected to take approximately two years to complete. The active community garden in the church grounds will continue to operate throughout this period
Lochwinnoch Men’s Shed
LCDT is happy to announce that we are supporting the Men’s Shed group in Lochwinnoch. The new Shed will be located in our new Community garden space at Lochhead Garden.
The group is looking to create a safe place where like-minded people can gather, share ideas, skills, and take some time to pursue projects big or small.
We have the support of the SMSA (Scottish Men’s Shed Association) and are excited about what this may bring for the Men’s Shed Group.
Lochwinnoch Parish Church
LCDT is so excited to share with you that we have received an early Christmas present. Have a look at the press release and then the Parish Church page.
WE are pleased to announce – the Scottish Land Fund has awarded funds to enable us to purchase the property. See announcement here.
This is wonderful news, but it is just the start of what will be a formidable task to raise money to cover the costs for repairs, renovation, and refurbishment to restore the buildings and provide the facilities needed to meet the requirements and standards for the purposes that the community suggested in the consultation held back in February 2024.
LCDT at the Feel Good Festival 2024
Many thanks to all of you that stopped by to get an update on our projects and especially to those of you that have become members. There is a lot happening and we will keep you up-to-date through our website, emails and of course, Chatterbox.
30.07.24
Recreation Park – 30th July 2024
The teen shelter has been installed – located in front of the courts – have a look.
Lochwinnoch Social Gardens project
We have just received significant funding from a 3 year award from the National Lottery Community Fund and the Renfrewshire Council Sustainable Communities Fund to help us take forward the development of the garden site. These monies will enable us to make some real progress with the basic groundworks before moving on to the installation of some of the buildings and facilities as initially planned.
Lochwinnoch Recreation Park
The mural has been painted on the wall facing onto the play area. Go have a look.
Installation of the teen shelter is still in progress, so more to come.
Parish Church Community consultation
On the10th February we held a community consultation in the McKillop institute to gather your suggestions on how to make best use of this wonderful building. We are now waiting for the report setting our your ideas, and general concerns, should we be able to acquire it from the Church of Scotland.
Muirshiel Regeneration project – Community Consultation
On the 27th January we held an open community consultation in the McKillop institute to explain what is happening to the parkland, outline our ideas on how to address the issues that it is facing and make best use of this area. We are now waiting for the report setting our your views and suggestions, should we be able to acquire it from Renfrewshire Council.
WONDERFUL WINTER CONNECTIONS
Fun, games & toasties for children on Fridays at The Annex.
Creative workshops for young people at Shrubs to Suds.
Lunches at The Three Churches Mondays & Wednesdays.
Meditation & Sound Baths delivered by The Wee Therapy Room.
All events are funded by Renfrewshire Council and Greater Renfrewshire & Inverclyde Local Action Group and finish at the end of March. Hopefully more next year.
MEN’S SHED
£5,000 secured from Engage Renfrewshire’s Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund towards cost of an actual shed to become the home for the – watch this space.