13.03.26
Building Momentum: The Men’s Shed Welcomes a New Workshop
The Men’s Shed has been busy building its brand new workshop, which arrived on Friday 27 February. This project was made possible thanks to a generous £7,200 grant from the Merchants House of Glasgow.
The new workshop will free up the original shed to become a social space, while providing a dedicated workspace for members to work on projects and share skills.
Interested in joining the Men’s Shed? Email lochwinnochshed@gmail.com
10.02.26
New Life at Lochhead Gardens: Our Latest Tree Planting Project
We are thrilled to share that Lochhead Gardens is about to get a whole lot greener…
Through the I Dig Trees program, a fantastic initiative by The Conservation Volunteers (TCV), we’ve received a delivery of mixed-variety saplings to plant across the gardens. This project is a huge step forward in our mission to make our community space a haven for both people and nature.
Why trees?
It’s about more than just aesthetics. By introducing these varieties to the gardens, we are:
- Boosting local biodiversity: Creating vital habitats and nesting spots for birds, bees, and bugs.
- Cleaning our air: Helping the garden act as a “green lung” for the local area.
- Planning for the future: Ensuring that the next generation has green spaces to enjoy!
A Community Effort
Our team of volunteers will be out in the gardens shortly to get these saplings settled into their new homes.
A massive thank you to TCV for the trees, and to our dedicated volunteers for providing the “people power” to make it happen.
Want to see the progress? Keep an eye on our social media for photos of the planting days, or better yet, pop down to the gardens and see the new additions for yourself!
03.02.26
Funding Boost for Tandlemuir Regeneration Project
We are really pleased to announce Lochwinnoch Community Development Trust has been awarded grant funding from Inspiring Scotland Neighbourhood Economic Fund.
This vital funding is dedicated to the Tandlemuir Habitat Survey, which marks the official first step in our long-term Tandlemuir Regeneration Project.
Why is this survey so important? Before we can restore and enhance the land, we need to understand it. This survey will assess the current condition of the habitat, identify species of special interest, and highlight areas of high conservation value. The final report will provide us with expert biodiversity recommendations, serving as a “greenprint” for all our future restoration efforts.
We are especially pleased to share that this work will be carried out by Starling Learning, a highly respected ecological consultancy based right here in Lochwinnoch.
13.01.26
Help us shape the future of Lochwinnoch Parish Church: Community Consultation
The design team, LDN Architects, are excited to invite you to their second community event for the Lochwinnoch Church Community Hub project. This is a unique opportunity to work alongside the design team as we look to conserve and transform this historic space into a vibrant, flexible hub for everyone.
What’s happening?
- View early design ideas from the team.
- Meet the architects in person.
- Share your thoughts and help guide the project.
Saturday 31st of January
10am- 2pm
McKillop Institute
Can’t make it? You can still have your say!
After the event has passed:
- Information will be displayed at Lochwinnoch Library for your feedback
- View the details on our webpage: lochwinnochtrust.org.uk/projects/lochwinnoch-parish
We hope to see you there!
09.12.25
Major Funding Boost for Men’s Shed at Lochhead Gardens
Lochwinnoch Community Development Trust is excited to announce a £7,200 funding award from Merchants House, Glasgow.
The generous grant will be used to buy a workspace for the Men’s Shed. This will free up the current shed to serve as a social meeting area and provide a much-needed, separate, and equipped workshop space for members to work on their projects and share skills.
This new development comes as the new toilet block in the gardens is nearly finished. This will allow us to offer proper facilities for our dedicated garden group volunteers and support larger community events at Lochhead Gardens in the future.
This progress marks a big step toward making Lochhead Gardens a vibrant social community space.
05.12.25
Volunteers Wanted: Help Preserve Lochwinnoch Church History
Lochwinnoch Community Development Trust (LCDT) is launching an exciting heritage project to create a lasting digital record of the beautiful contents within our Parish Church.
Before the building begins its next chapter, we have a special opportunity to document every precious item- from the stained glass to the silverware. These objects tell the story of our community across generations.
We are looking for a small team of Church History Recorders to help with a simple, one-day recording session.
No expertise is required! Just bring your curiosity, care, and a smartphone or camera. Full guidance and friendly support will be provided.
This is a meaningful way to contribute to Lochwinnoch’s local heritage and a national project supported by Historic Environment Scotland.
Ready to help preserve our history?
Click here for the full role description and to apply: LOCHWINNOCH CHURCH HISTORY RECORDER ROLE
Or email us to find out more: info@lochwinnochtrust.org.uk
02.12.25
Design phase underway for Lochwinnoch Church Transformation!
We want to extend a huge thank you to everyone who took the time to come out and meet the newly appointed Design Team last Saturday, November 29th and shared your thoughts on our Church Redevelopment Project.
This initial meeting was all about starting the conversation, keeping the community informed about the start of the design phase, and getting some initial thoughts and ideas flowing. We had a lot of interesting and valuable discussions about the future of the church and what it could mean for the entire Lochwinnoch community.
The Design Team will be organising further community engagement and consultation sessions for early 2026.
We will ensure that the dates and times for these next consultations are advertised well in advance across the usual channels to give you plenty of time to save a slot in your diary.
Your thoughts and ideas are vital as we move forward with the plans. We would really appreciate it if you Take a 5-Minute Survey and tell us what you value about the Church and what specific facilities and improvements would make the new hub welcoming and usable for everyone in the village.
Survey Link: PARISH CHURCH TRANSFORMATION SURVEY
14.11.25
Thank You for Coming to Our Psychic Floorshow Fundraiser
Thank you to everyone who joined us at our psychic floorshow fundraising night last week and helped make it a memorable evening!
A special thank you to all the raffle prize donors and the Lochwinnoch Bowling Club staff for making the night run so smoothly.
The event was a great success, raising over £1,300! All the proceeds will go directly towards delivering our community projects in the village.
We’re incredibly grateful for your generosity and support! Stay tuned for more fun events in the future!
29.10.25
Canvas for Our Community:
Help Shape the Art in Our Refurbished Church
Lochwinnoch Community Development Trust is excited to move forward with plans to refurbish our beloved church and turn it into a vibrant hub for our village. While bricks and mortar go a long way, we believe public art that tells our story will breathe new life back into the building.
Now we’re asking for your help to make it happen!
We’re looking to form a new Art Steering Group to guide the creation of art that’s both inspiring and meaningful for the building and its grounds. This is an opportunity to leave a lasting impact on Lochwinnoch.
What will the Art Steering Group do?
This dedicated team will be at the heart of the project. Their work will include:
- Developing a Vision: What is the art for? Should it celebrate our history—the mills, farming, furniture works, and coopering—our future, or a blend of both?
- Creating a Curatorial Theme: Turning that vision into a clear idea, such as “From Field & Furnace to Future: The Spirit of Lochwinnoch,” to guide every artistic decision.
- Supporting Fundraising: Leading the campaign to raise the funds needed for these special artistic projects.
We’re looking for a few creative minds!
To keep this a true community effort, we would like to build a diverse group. We’re particularly seeking:
- Community members with a passion for Lochwinnoch’s history and future
- Art enthusiasts or professionals (artists, curators, teachers, designers)
- People with skills in fundraising, project management, or local history.
You don’t need to be a trustee or an expert, just someone who cares about making our new community space beautiful and meaningful.
Be Part of the Story
The art in the church won’t just be decoration; it will be a conversation with the past and a gift for the future. It will help make the building a destination, a place of pride, and a true canvas for our community’s identity.
If you’re interested in joining the Art Steering Group or would like to learn more, please get in touch:
Email: info@lochwinnochtrust.org.uk
Let’s work together to fill our historic church with the colours, shapes, and stories of Lochwinnoch.
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.