TWENTY community projects in Cowal and Bute are recommended to receive council funding – but another seven are set to miss out.
Argyll and Bute Council’s supporting communities fund is set to be distributed for another year, with £22,500 available to each of its four administrative areas.
Thirteen applicants are recommended to receive 100 per cent of the money they requested, while another seven are listed for part of their request.
However, initiatives like Cowal Community Orchestra and Castle House Museum are set to miss out, unless councillors overrule the decisions of officers.
The details were featured in a report presented to the council’s Bute and Cowal area committee on Tuesday.
Council chief executive Pippa Milne said in the report: “Of the 28 applications received, one was withdrawn and 13 applicants are either new or have not applied to the fund in the past two years.
“Of the applications, 20 are recommended to be awarded funding; five of these are for island-based projects.
“The projects recommended will deliver a range of activities from music, dance and drama tuition and youth sports to trips for young carers, a food festival, essential community facility repairs and walking trail improvements.”
Ms Milne added: “Changes to the SCF (supporting communities fund) in 2025/26 include an online application form and a reduced maximum award per project.
“These were implemented following a review after last year’s round of SCF, which included feedback from community groups, officers and comments from area committees.
“The SCF is assessed through a robust process which involves community development team contact with the applicant to verify any information where required.
“All applicants need to provide satisfactory essential information on governance and finance to be eligible. Scoring is based on a set of criteria outlined in the guidance and made available on the council’s website.”
Four projects are earmarked for the maximum grant of £1,500 – Crossroads Caring for Carers, Youthstuff performing arts group, Isle of Bute Resilience Team, and Dunoon Foodbank.
Glendaruel Hall is narrowly short of the maximum award, listed to receive the full £1,480 its committee requested.
Andrew Galloway
Local Democracy Reporter
