High ranking YMCA delegates from around the world swapped COP26 for Kirkcaldy to witness the opening of the organisation’s newest facility.
The brand new £750,000 hub in the Lang Toun‘s Gallatown area threw its doors open for the first time on Monday with some of the YMCA‘s most senior bosses on hand to help celebrate.
COP26 delegates
They were on hand to celebrate what has been a nine-year journey for local YMCA staff to deliver the new community hub.
Boasting a commercial kitchen, work spaces, café and soon to be finished outdoor landscaping, the hub is the latest addition to facilities which already include the pump track and community garden.
The hub also provides a much needed facility in east Kirkcaldy which suffers a number of social problems including high levels of child poverty.
Nine year vision for new hub
The new hub is set to become a vital resource for the community offering a level of support much needed in the town.
For Liz Easton, general secretary of Kirkcaldy YMCA, the hub is nearly a decade’s worth of effort and dedication realised.
“It’s taken a huge effort and support from a great many people to turn an idea we first had in 2012 into reality,” said Liz.
“It’s a wonderful day, made even more special by the last minute surprise of our YMCA delegates who’ve taken time out from attending COP26 to witness what we do.
“The building received high praise from our visitors for it’s environmentally friendly construction.
“We have a special drainage, a heating and ventilation system that recycles heat and air as well as a connection between the indoor and the outdoor spaces.”
Tears of joy
Among the delegates taking time out from the COP26 environmental summit in Glasgow were Tom Valentine, vice president, International Group Y of the USA, Juan Simoes Iglesias, secretary general of YMCA Europe and Nam Boo-Won, secretary general of the Asia Pacific Alliance.
With £736,000 already spent on the construction and further funding going on landscaping, Liz said the project would not have been possible at all without the support of the YMCA board who backed her team’s vision for a new hub.
“There have been a few tears of joy today, especially from locals who say we have delivered everything and more for what the community said they were desperate for back in 2012,” said Liz.
“Through hard work and sheer determination we’ve taken that original idea and created something special for the community.”
The hub will open for general use six days a week, Monday -Saturday with the café facility open Wednesday – Saturday.
