Ian Findlay Path Fund

The Ian Findlay Path Fund (IFPF) is named in memory of the late Paths for All Chief Officer, Ian Findlay CBE. The fund supports the improvement of local path networks within and between communities, making it easier for people to choose to walk wheel or cycle for everyday journeys.

This grant fund is provided by Transport Scotland and administered by Paths for All. Funded projects improve local path networks and make Active Travel a more attractive option for all users. A wide range of groups are able to bid into the fund, including charities, community groups, and community councils with Paths for All providing support to these groups who do not always have experience of delivering Active Travel infrastructure.

Typical interventions for these projects include:

• Design and construction of new paths
• Barrier removal
• Seating installation
• Gradient improvements
• Barrier removal
• Surface improvements

Table 6: IFPF Investment and Delivery Summary for 2023–24 and 2024–25

Case Study: Castlemilk Park Lighting & Flood Improvements

In 2024, Cassiltoun Housing Association were awarded £90,000 by IFPF to improve a key pathway through Castlemilk Park.

The path had no lighting and often flooded. In winter, the standing water would regularly ice over, and local people would avoid it completely. The alternative path was too steep and difficult to use by anyone using a wheelchair, with mobility issues, or pushing prams.

The upgraded route now offers a safe, direct, and fully accessible connection through the park, enabling residents to reach local services and public transport in all seasons. Data from footfall counters revealed that between the end of October 2023 and the end of March 2024, a total of 11,169 people used the path between the hours of 4pm and 9am. In the year following the installation of new lighting, counts during the same period showed an increase of 97.5%, with 22,066 using the route. This significant rise in footfall, particularly during darker hours, highlights the positive impact that improving lighting on a path can have, helping people see it as a safe and accessible route.