Supporting Communities Fund - Monitoring of Projects Funded 2023/24
Argyll and Bute Council · 10 September 2025
Back to Oban Lorn & The Isles Area Committee — 10 September 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Page 1
ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL OBAN, LORN AND THE ISLES COMMITTEE CHIEF EXECUTIVES UNIT 10 September 2025 SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES FUND - Monitoring of Projects Funded 2023/24 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 The purpose of this report is to provide information on the impact and spend of funding awarded to community projects from the council’s Supporting Communities Fund in 2023/24. 1.2 18 constituted, not-for-profit community organisations were awarded funding in 2023/24 from the Supporting Communities Fund. Projects were required to spend their funds within 18 months and to submit an end of project report outlining the benefits of the fund to the project and providing information on any remaining funds at end of project. 1.3 Members are asked to consider the contents of this report which contains highlights of the information supplied by organisations. 1.4 Members are asked to note that no funds have been identified as remaining at end of projects.
Page 2
ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL OBAN, LORN AND THE ISLES AREA COMMITTEE CHIEF EXECUTIVES UNIT 10 September 2023 SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES FUND - Monitoring of Projects Funded 2023/24 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 This report highlights the positive outcomes for communities in Oban, Lorn and the Isles through the allocation of the Council’s Supporting Communities Fund in the 2023/24 round of funding. 2.2 A total of £28,343 (£35,843 including Levelling Up monies specifically for climate change focused projects) was awarded to 18 organisations in 2023/4. Organisations have 18 months to spend the funds and up to two months from the end of the project to complete and return a project monitoring report. 2.3 No funds were identified as remaining at the end of projects. 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS It is recommended that the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee note: 3.1 The positive contribution of the Supporting Communities Fund detailed in section 4 and within the attached table. 3.2 That no funds are due to be returned. 4.0 DETAIL 4.1 The funded projects supported a total of approximately 8,000 people within Oban, Lorn and the Isles area to participate in a varied range of of activities with many benefits including outdoor activities, sports, music and mental health. For example: • Mull and Iona Community Trust - delivered a new outdoor educational programme including reflection on emotional and practical responses to climate change. They worked with 6 Mull primary schools. A total of 94 school children attended both a workshop day and a performance.
Page 3
• Oban Pride – hosted a monthly film showing at Phoenix cinema providing a safe space for LGBTQ+ people and allies to come together. • Ross of Mull and Iona Community Transport Scheme (RoMICTS) - 499 Trips were undertaken, covering over 13,900 Miles. Trips included NHS appointments, prescription pick-ups, social trips, vet trips and taking people to work. It keeps the community connected, and supports the very old, the vulnerable and the very young. • Kilmore and Kilbride Public Hall Committee – improved groundworks and appearance of the hall including installation of an outdoor seating and garden area. Many of the projects supported noted increased community participation and increased numbers of volunteers. Feedback from projects showed the benefits experienced by particular groups in the community: • “…important in assisting elderly people or those with no computer access to get involved and capture their views.” • “…reduced the isolation and loneliness of mothers and provided stimulation and physical activity for children…”. • “…a breakfast club for our children at no additional cost to parents.” • “…generated a strong sense of community and newly found information about the history of our area and the people who lived here.” • “…able to run regular scheduled services… to travel for shopping, appointments and social events which [residents] may have been unable to do if the community bus was not there.” 4.2 The attached table provides more detail from individual projects funded. 4.3 18 grant recipients have submitted an End of Project Monitoring Report. 4.4 No funds have been identified as remaining from the projects spend.
Page 4
2022/23 SCF Round of Funding No Organisation Project Funded Award End of Project Achievements No. of people in communities benefitting 1 Argyll Wellbeing Hub 100 reduced cost CBT therapy sessions £2,500.00 We were able to provide 100 counselling and CBT sessions over the 6 months of our planned project. We provided 64 counselling appointments to 4 different people and 36 CBT appointments to 4 different people. 8 2 Isle of Luing Community Trust an independent housing survey for the island by Communities Housing Trust £2,500.00 This project expanded the number of people in the community who got involved in progressing new housing ideas. The key outcome has been a joint campaign with Luing Community Council under the banner ‘Homes For Luing’. This has continued to generate new ideas and links across the community to work on option to create affordable housing. We now have a core group of Trust members and Community Councillors who are continuing to work together on this project. 208 3 Kilmore and Kilbride Public Hall Committee Treasure away back end March groundworks and installation of an outdoor seating and garden area £2,200.00 The improvements to the grounds and appearance of the hall has been well appreciated by the community. 120 4 Lorn and Oban Healthy Options 30 free creative themed classes (art / singing / music based) £2,500.00 Our goal was to provide the community with health and wellbeing classes. During the grant term (Aug 2023 – Dec 2024) we held 1741 different classes, attended by 721 unique attendees a total of 23,571 times. Classes included movement classes, education, gym, staff-led rewild walks and singing classes. 1361 5 Lorn Toy Library a website with an online booking/hiring service for Lorn Toy Library £2,500.00 The website development required the creation of a digital inventory. The inventory has helped drive toy hires, the photographs, descriptions and the processes necessitated by the website aid the staff with making recommendations and providing toy bundles for other children’s groups. 405 6 Mull and Iona Community a 2 day outdoor arts £2,500.00 We delivered a new outdoor educational programme including 124
Page 5
2022/23 SCF Round of Funding Trust performance delivered by Rowanbank Environmental Arts and Education (rowanbank.org.uk) reflection on our emotional and practical responses to climate change. We worked with 6 Mull primary schools. (Iona school intended to join in but unfortunately were prevented from attending by cancelled ferries). During the week beginning 25th September 2023, a total of 94 school children attended both a workshop day and a performance day (spread across 4 days to fit everyone in) and we held an additional performance day open to the public which attracted 30 participants. 7 Mull and Iona Community Trust 2 vehicle maintenance costs and driver / vehicle permit fees (funding is ring-fenced for this purpose) £2,500.00 The aim of Ulva Ferry Community Transport is to provide a bus service to the people living in the North West of Mull to allow them to access services such as medical care, work and being able to go shopping. We have been able to run regular scheduled services which allow holders of Transport Scotland travel cards to travel for shopping, appointments and social events which they may have been unable to do if the community bus was not there. 1472 8 Northwest Mull Community Woodland Company cleaning and maintenance costs of a new public toilet £610.96 Provide a disabled access toilet, a safe and convenient public amenity which is also a basic necessity. Greater access to public toilets means greater access to the community, something our Charity promotes. Thanks to this fund we have a donation box which helps with the running costs. Unknown 9 Oban Mod Academy (Comunn Gàidhealach an Òbain ) PVG registered tutors for reduced cost Gaelic language and singing sessions £2,000.00 The aims of the Project were met by tutoring over 100 children from both Gaelic and non gaelic speaking backgrounds. The aims of the Project are to tutor children to be able to enter both Provincial and National Mods and to encourage them to know about their Heritage and Culture. 104 10 Oban Pride a monthly film showing at Phoenix cinema, costs for venue and film licences and additional hire for partnership event at Corran Halls £2,500.00 Our project met the aims set out by Oban Pride of providing a safe space for LGBTQ+ people and allies to come together. We met our aims of our Film Club project by showing a series of LGBTQ+ films, which reflected LGBTQ+ people in a positive light as well as reflecting on the history of LGBTQ+ people and the issues faced by LGBTQ+ people. 850
Page 6
2022/23 SCF Round of Funding 11 Ross of Mull and Iona Community Transport Scheme (RoMICTS) vehicle running costs, namely insurance costs and 8 weekly servicing of vehicles (funding is ring-fenced for this purpose) £2,500.00 499 Trips were undertaken, covering over 13,900 Miles. Trip included NHS appointments, prescription pick-ups, Social trips, vets trips, taking people to work etc. It keeps the community connects, and supports the very old, the vulnerable, the very young. It allows those without transport to keep their own independence, helps small business and works with local transport to take people to and from Iona. 861 12 SOROBA Community Enterprise Ltd an amplifier and projector for community activities, plus costs to refurbish 6 community centre laptops with increased memory and relevant software £1,030.00 We now have a very active youth club and children’s club, elderly bingo group. Zumba keep fit group restarting. 68 13 Soroba Young Family Group extra staff hours to facilitate the delivery of a breakfast club, ingredient costs and small appliances £1,343.14 Our project ensures that all our children start off their day with a full tummy in a relaxed environment. Children have been able to develop their independence, learn about healthy recipes and the benefits of healthy eating habits. We have continued to provide a breakfast club for our children at no additional cost to parents. Our children have daily access to a warm breakfast option (toast, sausages, beans, French toast, home-made pancakes, porridge) fruit and cereal. 55 14 The Ardchattan Centre venue hire, staff and materials £2,442.00 Our programme comprised 81 opportunities for 1,890 attenders who engaged in events including Pop Up Tearooms, exhibition- days, playgroup meet-ups, games clubs, fibre clubs (textile-crafts), creative workshops, home education group meetings, climate/enviro/place meetings/research, hire of premises, Hogmanay bashes, Craft fairs, green hub meetings, bonfire nights, cinema screenings, a wedding, a raffle, a community council meeting, a walk, a ferry crossing, and an AGM. 1890 15 The Victory Hall Benderloch new LED light fixtures and fittings by hire of cherry picker and competent electrician for installation £606.00 The replacement lighting is brighter, which has improved the conditions in the hall for all users. The lighting also uses a fraction of the electricity of the original lighting, so has much lower running costs. It all contributes to the larger plan to make improvements to the hall, for the benefit of users in the local community. Unknown
Page 7
2022/23 SCF Round of Funding 16 Tiree Community Business contractor costs to complete groundworks and installation (only) for picnic benches and a seating shelter in playpark £2,500.00 The impact of this project allowed both local and visiting families to enjoy a safer environment in which to spend time. 650 17 Tiree Tots a programme of 7 of free activity sessions for 0-5 age group on Tiree £2,500.00 The project reduced the isolation and loneliness of mothers on the Island and provided stimulation and physical activity for children on the Island. ‘Without the weekly coffee and chat meetings I wouldn’t leave the house most weeks’ Mother of a young child. ‘The stay and play sessions being incorporated with the Health Visiting Team meant I could access advice and support that otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to.’ 65 18 Wildcat Explorer Scouts Argyll activity costs during residential trip to Aberfeldy (white water rafting / mountain biking) £610.97 We cooked communally and prepared the Explorer Scouts each evening for the following days activities. The activities were provided by a Qualified mountain Guide who was assisted by a leader on the mountains. Using boots, ice axes and crampons hire from Ellis Brighams we used the Nevis Range Gondola on Saturday to access high level winter conditions where the Explorers were taught winter mountaineering skills. Sunday we used those newly acquired skills to ascent a munro top in Glencoe, quite an experience for all of the Explorer Scouts. 8
Page 8
5.0 CONCLUSION 5.1 The project monitoring form has a section asking for comments on the grant process. Not all applicants have completed this section but of those received, the comments have largely been very positive. 6.0 IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Policy: None 6.2 Financial: The report sets out the expenditure from the Oban, Lorn and the Isles area 2023/24 budget for the allocation of Supporting Communities Fund 6.3 Legal: None 6.4 HR: None 6.5 Customer Service: None 6.6 Risk: None 6.7 Climate Change: None 6.8 Fairer Scotland Duty: Compliant with policy 6.9 Equalities - protected characteristics: 2 of the funded projects 6.10 Consumer Duty: None 6.11 Island Communities: 7 of the funded projects were on islands 6.12 Children’s Rights and Wellbeing: 5 of the projects were delivered for children and young people Chief Executive – Pippa Milne Policy Lead - Cllr Mark Irvine Communities and Partnership Manager – Rona Gold 10 September 2025 For further information contact: Community Development Officer Kirsty McLuckie on 01631572192 / Kirsty.McLuckie@argyll-bute.gov.uk.