West Lothian Housing Partnership (WLHP) and Dunedin Canmore, both part of Wheatley Group, are inviting people in Whitburn to put forward ideas online to make their community an even better place to live.

The two housing associations have launched the You Choose challenge, first asking tenants to take a short online survey about what they think Whitburn needs most and how they would like to see the £5000 fund invested.

Once all the ideas from local people are reviewed, tenants will then be asked to vote for the idea they think would make the biggest difference. The £5000 fund has been made possible thanks to donations from suppliers and contractors to the Wheatley Foundation, Wheatley Group’s charitable trust.

Lynsey Fotheringham, WLHP head of housing, said: “Whitburn is a great community already, but we know from listening to tenants that some groups of people would benefit from additional facilities. We’re delighted to have secured this fund for the area and to be working with tenants as they decide how the £5000 should be invested.

“We would encourage all tenants in the local area to get involved, share their thoughts and, once we have a shortlist of ideas, to vote for what they think Whitburn needs most.

“We have a strong commitment right across Wheatley to engaging and involving customers in decision making and we want to make sure local people have a role in shaping the future of our communities and our services. You Choose is part of that commitment.”

Similar Wheatley Group initiatives elsewhere have supported summer activity programmes for teenagers, digital skills classes for adults, activities for older people and community art projects.

WLHP and Dunedin Canmore tenants who live in Whitburn can complete the online survey, which closes on Monday, 25 January 2021, here or here.