Residents and voluntary groups across the Falkirk area will have watched developments in neighbouring Clackmannanshire with concern after ground movement linked to historic coal workings forced evacuations in the village of Coalsnaughton. A crowdfunding drive created to support those households raised £2,214, but the organiser’s attempt to redirect the funds to a Falkirk-based community football club has been rejected.
Fundraiser intended for evacuated Benbuck View families
The GoFundMe was launched on 1 June by Glen Burt after his family and others were required to leave their homes on Benbuck View when ground movement became apparent. According to local reporting, 256 people from four streets in the village remain displaced and 97 properties have been cleared since the issue — now believed to be connected to historic coal mining — came to light in May.
Mr Burt said the original purpose of the fundraiser was to ease immediate financial pressures on affected households, covering accommodation, bills, food and other unexpected costs. He told reporters that attempts to identify an appropriate association to receive and distribute the money had been unsuccessful.
“When this fundraiser was created, the intention was to help the residents of Benbuck View with the immediate financial pressures caused by the evacuation, including accommodation, bills, food and other unexpected expenses.”
Offer made to Falkirk club; club declines
After considering options, Mr Burt said he wished to donate the total sum to Carron Huskies Community FC, a Falkirk-based club for which he plays and which is registered as a charity. He described the club as providing “positive opportunities that help keep young people engaged and out of trouble” and said the donation was intended as a way to “pay forward the kindness and generosity that was shown to us”.
However, following contact from local media, Carron Huskies issued a response stating it would be “inappropriate” to accept the funds. The club’s statement, reported by the Advertiser, makes clear it does not consider taking money raised specifically for displaced households to be suitable.
Local fallout and outstanding questions
The episode highlights the practical difficulties that can arise when grassroots fundraisers operate through third‑party platforms and when there is not an obvious charity or body in place to manage distributions. It also underscores the strain on families living with evacuation uncertainty, and the limited capacity some individuals have to coordinate wider distribution while coping with personal upheaval.
- Raised via GoFundMe: £2,214
- People displaced: 256 from four streets in Coalsnaughton
- Properties cleared: 97 since May
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Amount raised | £2,214 |
| People displaced | 256 |
| Properties cleared | 97 |
The club’s refusal leaves the funds without the intended custodial body. Mr Burt told the Advertiser he did not have the time to pursue alternative recipient organisations amid the stress of displacement, saying he had not had many people coming to him for help and questioned why he should give money to “somewhere that has alrea…”. The published report cuts off the remainder of that sentence.
For Falkirk readers, the incident is a local reminder of the complications that can accompany community fundraising and the importance of clear governance when donations are earmarked for specific groups of people. It may prompt volunteers and organisers to consider establishing trusted local partners or using established charitable structures when collecting funds intended for households in crisis.
Local authorities and charities in the wider area are likely to continue to be involved as the situation in Coalsnaughton evolves. For the families awaiting a longer-term resolution to the ground‑movement issue, the decision by Carron Huskies to decline the gift will be a further twist in an already difficult set of circumstances.
