VoLAAF has been given the green light to purchase the former nursery which has been their home for the past year.

At a meeting of the Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development Committee on Wednesday, the council agreed to sell the building to the group for £25,000.

The group moved to the centre last year after its founders launched the support group for parents and children with hidden disabilities and now supports 56 families, with youth clubs seven days a week, manned by volunteers.

VoLAAF has been using the centre since the Council provided it with a one-year lease in April 2014, and Wednesday’s decision now gives the group long-term security.

Councillor Patrick McGlinchey, convener for Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development Committee, said: “It is fantastic that the Council has been able to provide a long-term home for the Vale of Leven Autism and Asperger’s Forum. The group does brilliant work throughout West Dunbartonshire and with families from further afield, and we are delighted that they can now plan for the future.” Council leader Martin Rooney, said: “This is an excellent outcome for everyone involved with the Vale of Leven Autism and Asperger’s Forum. The support the group provides to children, parents, carers and siblings is valued by the community, and with a permanent place to call home I’m sure the group will go from strength to strength.” In April 2015, the council marketed the property to 105 community groups with interests in the Vale of Leven area. VoLAAF and Dawn’s Dance Academy both submitted proposals, with VoLAAF being chosen as the preferred option.

As both proposals were less than market value, council officers evaluated them against four categories – financial assessment, viability and sustainability, the council’s strategic objectives, and statuatory and regulatory issues.

With VoLAAF chosen as the preferred option, the group will now need to provide the council with a business plan and comprehensive detail about the funding arrangements for both the purchase of the property and its longer term maintenance.

This information needs to be provided within six weeks of the property being placed under offer.

Angie Davis, co-founder of VoLAAF told the Reporter: “There was around eight of us that went down to the meeting. There were a few representitives from the other bid there as well.

“It was the last item on the agenda, they read out a report and a few councillors expressed their opinions on why we should get the centre, and the good work we do. Then that was it.

“We didn’t even realise we had been successful at the time. It took a few minutes to sink in.” The group – who have depended on donations from volunteers and the local community since they started – are now looking to secure a loan to finish the buying of the centre.

Angie added: “We’re halfway there with fundraising, the next stage is inquiring into the interest free community loan fund from the council.

“We’ll have a timescale in around four weeks time and then we find out when the centre has to be bought by. We’re working with the Environmental Trust to make the building more economical to run, making us more sustainable in the long run.

“We’re absolutely delighted now we’ve secured our future. It’s down to the help of the community, we’ll always fundraise to help keep us going and we’d like to thank everyone that supported us.” For more information about VoLAAF, you can like them on Facebook.