Fourteen Lochaber community projects have received close to a quarter of a million pounds in the first round of grants from the 2023/24 Community Regeneration Fund (CRF) provided by the Highland Council.
Totalling £245,625, awards ranging from £28,500 to £7,323 were distributed to organisations based in Fort William, Mallaig, Arisaig, Acharacle and the Isle of Muck.
Recipients were chosen by the Highland Strategic Local Action Group after it met last month.
The Buzz Project, a Fort William-based charity providing a safe space for young people in Lochaber, was granted £19,195 to cover salaries and overheads, for which project manager Mandy Cameron said the charity was extremely grateful.
“This fund has been essential to the project. It allows us to continue to run our drop in sessions on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening from 6-10pm,” she said.
“We have an average of around 20-25 young people attend the sessions every evening and most use it as a space to socialise with their peers.”
Receiving £13,559, Nevis Radio also said it was grateful for the money, as its community licence means it can only generate 50 per cent of its income through on air advertising.
Simon Abberley, the station’s sustainability manager, said: “In the current climate, maintaining a community radio station and keeping our one employee secure in his post is quite a task. The funding will ensure this is secure for the following months and allow Nevis Radio to plan further ahead in terms of developing its services into 2024 and beyond.”
Allison Stringer, Director of Music at Lochaber Music School, said its award of £10,000 means the school can continue to run during a period of financial uncertainty.
“The loss of our regular Highland Council funding created an immense challenge for the school which this funding has alleviated for the time being.
“We rely heavily on funding from external sources to operate and provide a musical education for more than 150 Lochaber children and young people. Music is a fundamental aspect of Scottish culture and we are thrilled we are able to continue being a part of this fabric.”
Other recipients included Mallaig Community Hub and Shop, Caol Regeneration Company and Voluntary Action Lochaber. Urram, the Lochaber care charity, which received £17,736, said it will use its grant to conduct a survey of local housing needs, including for key workers and the elderly.
The largest single award in Lochaber went to the Isle of Muck Community Enterprise Ltd, which received £28,500 for Phase 1 of the Isle of Muck Community Housing Project. Arisaig Community Trust received more than £55,000, with its community housing project work and operational costs and maintenance receiving more than £27,000.
In total, nearly £1 million was awarded to 61 initiatives across the Highlands, from 75 applications.
Chairman of the Highland Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee Councillor Ken Gowans said a wide spectrum of projects had been given funding.
“It is fantastic we have been successful in securing a large allocation of CLLD funding from the Scottish Government again this year,” he said.
“Last year, 48 projects benefitted from the CLLD programme meaning that, with this year’s approvals, £2 million of additional funding has been invested in our rural communities over the last couple of years.”
The Highland Council also noted that in addition to the £1 million of revenue funding already committed this year, it has been awarded a further £400,000 of CLLD funding towards capital projects which will be distributed with the remaining CRF later this year.
A full list of the recipients of funding can be found at the Highland Council website via https://www.highland.gov.uk/downloads/file/27689/list_of_projects.