| Activity | In 1966 a farmhouse and group of buildings collectively known as Craigsfarm was scheduled for demolition after the completion of the construction Craigshill area of Livingston. A group of tenants, led by Church of Scotland Youth Worker Max Cruickshank, conducted a successful community campaign to save the building.
In 1967 the building was use in as a cafe and provided space for a community activities. The project was originally known as The Craigshill Community Development Project, but in 1972 the name was changed to the Craigsfarm Community Development Project Ltd to allow the project to run community businesses - such as a Nearly New shop and a furniture restoration workshop. The farm came under control of the community by its representative body - The Craigsfarm Council.
By 1993 the Development Corporation and Manpower Service Commission (MSC) community programme had invested £250,000 in the renovation and extension of the building. Urban Aid Grants allowed the purchase of equipment to develop a community arts programme.
By the 1980s, the area surrounding Craigsfarm, Craigshill, had mutiple indicators of social deprivation. The effect of this can be seen in comunity centre's articulation of its aims in 1993: to provide access to arts for the community, relieve poverty, provide youth work and education, and to provide community work and family support
Livingston Devleopment Corporation owned the building but, by the windup of the Corporation, the majority of the project's funding came from Lothian Regional Council Community Education. The Craigsfarm Council was in close contact with the Community Development department of the Livingston Development Corporation. In 1996 ownership of Craigsfarm passed to West Lothian Council. As of 2013, it is still a functioning community centre. |