The funding will benefit 22 community and third sector groups
More than £2 million has been provided to allow Highlands and islands communities find new ways to improve people’s lives and services.
The funding will benefit 22 community and third sector groups who will use the investment to deliver innovative and long-lasting projects which tackle inequality, poverty and support inclusion in the local community.
The projects span across arts and heritage, local history and environment, creative writing, and music and dance.
They include mentoring schemes for young people, developing local energy companies, supporting community transport, outdoor learning and skills building programmes.
The funding will be delivered through the Aspiring Communities Fund (ACF) and is supported through the European Social Fund.
Communities secretary Aileen Campbell visited Ecologia Youth Trust’s Growing2gether in the Community project in Inverness to announce the new funding, and meet some of the participants.
She said: “Local communities understand what works in their own areas, and this funding will enable them to help create a more equal Scotland.
“It will support organisations across the Highlands and Islands to deliver tangible, innovative approaches to improve lives, based on local priorities, and will address poverty and inequality in their area.
“Each of the projects backed by the Aspiring Communities Fund is empowering and enabling local people to tackle the disadvantages they face, leaving a long-lasting positive impact on their communities and their lives.”
Diana Whitmore, director of Ecologia said: “With this generous grant we will be able to transform the wellbeing, relationship skills and community engagement of over 200 deserving young people and children throughout nine communities in Highland. We are grateful to the Scottish Government for the opportunity to support young people to flourish in their communities, to build their social skills and to realise and recognise how much they have to contribute.”
Groups funded are An Lanntair, British Red Cross - Enhancing Resilience in Remote Island Communities, Broadford and Strath Community Company Ltd, Caithness Voluntary Group, Care Lochaber, Cearns Community Association, Community Energy Scotland, Comunn Eachdraidh Nis, Cothrom Ltd, Ecologia Youth Trust, Highland Third Sector Interface, Kilmarnock Station Railway Heritage Trust, Kinloch Historical Society, Kyle of Sutherland Hub Ltd, Mhor Collective, North Lands Creative, Support in Mind Scotland (SiMS), Taigh Chearsabhagh Trust, Timespan, Urachadh Uibhist, Urras Coimhearsnachd Bhradhagair agus Arnoil and Voluntary Action Orkney.
