A NEW Home Safety Fund has been launched in the name of a late Fife Council manager.

Mark McCall died aged just 51 in September 2021, who worked with the local authority for two decades.

He helped start the Safer Communities team in 2016, and was a former chair of the Scottish Community Safety Network's (SCSN) board of directors, and the council's service manager for housing.

Now, the council has partnered with SCSN and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) to carry on his legacy.

The Mark McCall Home Safety Fund focuses on children's safety in their home and will award £3,000 to a single winning application for projects providing safety equipment to children under the age of five.

Lorraine Gillies, chief officer of the Scottish Community Safety Network, said: “Mark McCall is missed by all who were fortunate to meet him. The creation of this fund in his name with our colleagues at RoSPA and Fife Council is fitting, as those who knew Mark understand how passionate he was to prevent injuries and accidents to children in the home.

"The Mark McCall Home Safety Fund provides groups with an opportunity to apply for support for small projects across Scotland. The fund will provide support to the winning applicant who is delivering on home safety outcomes for children under the age of five anywhere in Scotland.”

Bill Harley, project officer in Safer Communities at Fife Council said: “This fund has been created to provide a wonderful opportunity for the successful applicant to continue Mark’s aspirations. He always worked very hard to ensure that prevention of injury, particularly to children in the home, was a priority both locally and nationally.”

Liz Lumsden, community safety manager at RoSPA added: “RoSPA is honoured to contribute to such a fitting tribute in the name of a valued colleague who worked tirelessly to promote the need for programmes ensuring the safety and wellbeing of young children in the home.

"Sadly, many children are regularly admitted to hospital following an accidental injury. We encourage those with a role to play in ensuring safety in the home for the under-fives to apply to the Fund to help prevent future accidental injuries to this most vulnerable age group.”

The winner will be announced in the Scottish Parliament on March 21.

To find out more visit https://www.safercommunitiesscotland.org/mark-mccall-home-safety-fund/ and download an application form. Joint bids will also be considered and the deadline for entries is 5pm on Tuesday, February 28.