The Strong Foundations Scotland project is also aimed at supporting 180 local people in training for new skills and qualifications, a new report states.

Having presented the current issues in Scotland, along with its previous work in South Wales, to the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, Strong Foundations secured Kickstarter funding to deliver a two-year development project which will lay the groundwork for a major, multi-year community regeneration project in Dundee.

Catrin Evans from the Community Impact Initiative, which runs the Strong Foundations project, said: “We know from experience that setting up a project like this is a sizable task and we want to make sure that we fully embed ourselves in the community. We’re grateful to the SEHP for affording us the time and resources to not only develop this project but to do it right.

“As the coordinator for this project, much of my first year will be taken up with talking to people. We want to talk to everyone, not only the people in communities who most need our support but also the people who are already on the ground, supporting those communities. This will allow us to understand the unique barriers facing people in Dundee, which we know will be different, though I’m sure will echo, the experience of those we support in South Wales.

“In our second year, we’ll shift gears as we begin to put in place the operational and structural elements needed to deliver a major, multi-year project. This will include creating a detailed plan and timeline, hiring project staff and identifying and purchasing our first project property. By the end of our second year, aka the start of 2026, we will be ready to break ground on our first Dundee community regeneration project.

“Our two-year development period officially starts on the 7th of May. I’m looking forward to bringing our community regeneration model, which I have seen time and time again radically improve the circumstances of people down in Wales, to such a unique and vibrant city.”