TWENTY community projects in Cowal and Bute have been recommended to benefit from council funding, a report has revealed.
Argyll and Bute Council officials have made recommended allocations for the authority’s Supporting Communities Fund, with seven proposed to receive the maximum £1,500 allocation.
Another three initiatives had requested the maximum £1,500, but are planned to receive a little over £1,100 instead. Two more projects are listed to miss out on funding altogether.
Councillors will now be asked to agree the grant awards at a meeting of the council’s Bute and Cowal Area Committee on Tuesday, September 1.
The Meeting Place in Dunoon is one of the projects recommended for a £1,500 award, with a council officer saying: “The Meeting Place project provides support for people experiencing long-term mental ill health, social isolation and poverty by providing a safe, welcoming community space with warmth, food and companionship. The project also aims to improve wellbeing by building informal support networks.”
Funding is to support general running costs and ingredient costs for cooking courses and weekly meals as part of its operations. The group meets two to three times a week.
Dunoon Grammar School’s Pipe Band (DGPB) is also earmarked for the maximum £1,500 grant, with the officer saying: “The DGPB, supported by the Parent Council, has applied for general costs to keep piping free and accessible to young people attending Dunoon Grammar.
“This provides a clear route to musical qualifications and involvement with community events, and local adult bands. The group engages with local primaries and is open to all children.”
Funding will be used to replace piping uniforms and equipment which are beyond repair. The aim is to remove any cost barriers to young people who wish to play.
Benmore and Kilmun Resilience Group is also recommended for a £1,500 award in its bid to create three emergency refuge facilities.
The report said: “This is considered important due to changing weather patterns, and to provide local and quick response in an isolated ribbon community.”
Funding will be used to equip centres with communications equipment, radios, off-grid lighting, first aid kits and high-vis waterproofs.
The funding will also pay for three meet-and-greet events to inform residents of the group’s plans, and to engage volunteers.
The two projects recommended for no award are Oakbank Community Inn Sandbank OCIS Ltd, and Neighbours to Friends CIC.
In those two cases, council officials said that the projects were at an early stage.
