Supporting Communities Fund - Applications
Argyll and Bute Council · 12 June 2024
Back to Oban Lorn & The Isles Area Committee — 12 June 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL OBAN, LORN AND THE ISLES AREA COMMITTEE CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S UNIT 12th June 2024 SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES FUND 2024/25 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 The purpose of this report is to decide on the allocation of the Council’s Supporting Communities Fund (SCF) for Oban, Lorn and the Isles. 1.2 The total Supporting Communities Fund available by the Council for allocation in Oban, Lorn and the Isles in 2024/25 is £32,117.50. 1.3 It is recommended that 15 applicants are awarded funding. 1.4 Applicants awarded funds from the Council’s Supporting Communities Fund have 18 months in which to spend the funds.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL OBAN, LORN AND THE ISLES AREA COMMITTEE CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S UNIT 12th June 2024 SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES FUND 2024/25 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 The report details recommendations for the award of the Council’s Supporting Communities Fund (SCF). The Supporting Communities Fund available from the council in Oban, Lorn and the Isles for 2024/25 is £29,500 2.2 The total available for allocation is £32,117.50 due to the return of unspent funds from previous applicants. 2.3 Organisations applying to the fund were able to request up to £2,500. The SCF is popular and this year has attracted 33 applications from the Oban, Lorn and the Isles area, requesting a total of over £70,000. 2.4 Applications have been scored by the Council’s Community Development Team against criteria set out in the guidance (https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/my- community/communities-and-partnerships/supporting-communities-fund) Also the SCF Scoring Matrix can be found here Supporting Communities Fund - Scoring Matrix (argyll-bute.gov.uk). A summary of applications is appended to this report.15 are recommended to be funded. 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 Members are asked to agree that the 15 applications, marked as ‘Award’ and ‘Partial Award’ within Appendix 1 are awarded funding from the Supporting Communities Fund totalling £32,117.50. Detailed information about these projects is contained within Appendix 2.
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4.0 DETAIL 4.1 The SCF is assessed through a robust process which involves financial checks and 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 available on the council’s website. Applications to the fund must be for projects that come under one or more of these categories: • Fairer Communities – tackling poverty by sharing opportunities. • Resilient Communities – community capacity building/rebuilding and repairing from a pandemic • Greener, Cleaner Communities – environmental action to support addressing climate change • Creative Communities – creativity for health and wellbeing 4.2 Of the 35 applications received (requesting a total of £70,136.19), 2 were withdrawn or ineligible and of the 33 remaining applications, 27 are either new applicants or have not applied within the last two years. 4.3 Of the eligible applications to the SCF, 15 are recommended to be awarded funding from the available funds. 9 of these are for island-based projects. The applications recommended for funding are labelled as ‘Award’ or ‘Partial Award’ in the recommendation column in Appendix 1. 4.4 The projects recommended will deliver a range of activities from sporting activities to self-management programmes, and they aim to support vulnerable communities in many ways including community transport, lunch clubs and environmental action. The detail of the projects is in Appendix 2. 4.5 Unsuccessful applications are marked as ‘No award’ in Appendix 1. These applicants will be offered support from the Community Development Team and provided with information on alternative sources of funding. 4.6 This year the total of £32,117.50 available for allocation is comprised of: • £29,500 from the Council’s Supporting Communities Fund. • Return of unspent funds from projects from the financial periods 2022/23 due to underspend and loss of capacity to deliver. 4.7 Successful projects funded have to complete a report at the end to evidence the impact of the spending of the money. The results of this are brought to Area Committee in March 2026 if not before depending on project duration.
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5.0 CONCLUSION 5.1 The Supporting Communities Fund application and assessment process has been completed as set out within its guidance (Supporting Communities Fund | Argyll and Bute Council (argyll-bute.gov.uk). 5.2 The recommendations made fully allocate the funding available for financial year 2024/25. 5.3 The 15 projects being put forward for an award will help communities to deliver priority activities in their area in 2024/25 – 2025/26. 5.4 All applicants to the fund are supported throughout the process and beyond by the Community Development Team. 5.5 Given that fund is oversubscribed, the team is considering potential changes to the fund for the future and recommendations will come to members to decide. 6.0 IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Policy: n/a 6.2 Financial: Recommendations in the report are limited to the budget allocation available in 2024/25 for the Supporting Communities Fund in Oban, Lorn and the Isles. 6.3 Legal: Applications are initially assessed to ensure that groups are constituted with managed accounts. 6.4 HR: n/a 6.5 Fairer Scotland Duty: The Supporting Communities Fund supports community groups in tackling poverty, reducing inequality and building a fairer and more inclusive Scotland. 6.5.1 Equalities - protected characteristics: Applicants are given the options of receiving the application in large print and other languages. 6.5.2 Socio-economic Duty: None known 6.5.3 Islands: 15 of the applicant projects are island based from 4 islands. 9 of these are being recommended funding from 2 islands. 6.6 Climate Change: One of the four criteria within the process is specific to mitigating climate change. 6.7 Risk: risk to the public pound is managed through the assessment and scoring, and through end of project monitoring process.
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6.8 Customer Service: None 6.9 The Rights of the Child (UNCRC): None Pippa Milne Chief Executive Mark Irvine Policy Lead Councillor 12th June 2024 For further information contact: Antonia Baird – Community Development Officer Tel. 01546 604270 Email: antonia.baird@argyll-bute.gov.uk Suzanne Mason- Engagement and Communities Lead Tel. 01436 658933 Email. suzanne.mason@argyll-bute.gov.uk APPENDICES Appendix 1- Assessment Score and Recommendations Appendix 2 – Project Summary Sheet
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Appendix 1 – Assessment Score and Recommendations Applicant Recommendatio n Assessment Score Value of Project Amount Requested Recommended Award 2024/25 Cumulative Total Bendoran Watersports CIC Award 7.5 £ 3,200.00 £ 2,500.00 £ 2,500.00 £ 2,500.00 Taynuilt Primary School and ELC Parent Council Award 7.4 £ 3,000.00 £ 2,500.00 £ 2,500.00 £ 5,000.00 Lorn and Oban Healthy Options Award 7.3 £ 2,500.00 £ 2,500.00 £ 2,500.00 £ 7,500.00 Home-Start Lorn Award 7.2 £ 3,000.00 £ 2,500.00 £ 2,500.00 £ 10,000.00 Mull and Iona Community Trust (MICT) Award 7.2 £84,926.24 £ 2,500.00 £ 2,500.00 £12,500.00 Tiree Community Development Trust 1 Award 7.2 £37,151.30 £ 2,500.00 £ 2,500.00 £15,000.00 Dervaig Community Hall Award 7.1 £ 3,870.00 £ 2,500.00 £ 2,500.00 £17,500.00 Tiree Community Development Trust 2 Award 7.1 £ 5,413.00 £ 2,500.00 £ 2,500.00 £ 20,000.00 The Victory Hall, Benderloch Award 7.1 £ 3,120.00 £ 2,500.00 £ 2,500.00 £ 22,500.00 Appin Skiff Coastal Rowing Club Award 7 £ 2,122.00 £ 2,122.00 £ 2,122.00 £ 24,622.00 Tiree Makery CIC Award 6.8 £ 2,499.00 £ 2,499.00 £ 2,499.00 £ 27,121.00 Mull and Iona Community Trust (MICT) 2 Award 6.8 £32,881.00 £ 2,500.00 £ 2,500.00 £ 29,621.00 Live Music Now Award 6.7 £ 2,457.60 £ 614.40 £ 614.40 £ 30,235.40 Pennyghael Community Hall Partial award 6.7 £ 2,500.00 £ 2,500.00 £ 941.05 £ 31,176.45 An Iodhlann – Tiree’s Historical Centre Partial award 6.7 £ 5,537.40 £ 2,500.00 £ 941.05 £ 32,117.50 Hynish Trust (was the Hebridean Trust) No award 6.7 £ 3,500.00 £ 2,500.00 £ 0.00 Mull and Iona Community Trust (MICT) 3 No award 6.6 £ 3,542.00 £ 2,500.00 £ 0.00 Luing Community Council No award 6.6 £ 1,800.00 £ 1,800.00 £ 0.00 Argyll FM No award 6.5 £ 4,500.00 £ 666.66 £ 0.00 Lismore Historical Society No award 6.2 £20,000.00 £ 2,500.00 £ 0.00 Developing Potential SCIO No award 6 £ 4,500.00 £ 2,500.00 £ 0.00
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Hebridean Pursuits Outdoor Learning No award 5.9 £ 1,400.00 £ 1,400.00 £ 0.00 Argyll & Bute Citizens Advice Bureau No award 5.8 £18,756.00 £ 2,300.00 £ 0.00 Còisir Ghàidhlig Thaigh an Uillt No award 5.7 £ 700.00 £ 700.00 £ 0.00 37th Argyll (Ardchattan) Scout Group. No award 5.6 £ 3,920.00 £ 1,960.00 £ 0.00 Oban FM Community Radio No award 5.4 £ 7,300.00 £ 2,400.00 £ 0.00 Tobermory High School Parent Council No award 5.4 £ 2,500.00 £ 2,500.00 £ 0.00 Argyll Wellbeing Hub No award 5.3 £ 2,500.00 £ 2,500.00 £ 0.00 Argyll Talking Newspapers No award 5.2 £ 666.67 £ 666.67 £ 0.00 Craignure Village Hall and Community Centre No award 4.7 £ 3,200.00 £ 2,500.00 £ 0.00 Oban Pipe Band No award 4.6 £ 20,150.00 £ 2,500.00 £ 0.00 Comunn Gàidhealach An Òbain (Oban Mod Academy) No award 4.5 £ 13,000.00 £ 2,000.00 £ 0.00 Appin Hall No award 3.8 £ 1,007.46 £ 1,007.46 £ 0.00 TOTAL £307,119.67 £70,136.19 £ 32,117.50
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Appendix 2 – Project Summary Sheet Applications Received (in order of scoring by Community Development Officer) For submission to Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee for final decision (maximum value £2,500). Ref: 1 Applicant: Bendoran Watersports CIC Recommended Award: £2,500 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7.5 Project Summary: Developing a new community sailing club by delivery of some taster sessions and some classes to the local community, with the aim of letting community members learn new skills and build relationships in the community thus improving their mental and physical health. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 2 Applicant: Taynuilt Primary School and ELC Parent Council Recommended Award: £2,500 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7.4 Project Summary: The costs of running cycle training for Taynuilt and Barcaldine Primary Schools’ “After School Kids On Wheels” project in order to support more children to gain the health and wellbeing benefits of cycling, particularly respiratory endurance. It will also keep them safe and support a transition to active travel. The project would take place in the 2024/2025 school year. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 3 Applicant: Lorn and Oban Healthy Options Recommended Award: £2,500 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7.3 Project Summary: To remove barriers to attendance to their self-management programmes for people living with long-term health conditions. They have offered evidence showing that attendees face between 3 and 6 barriers to attending these valuable courses, ranging from travel costs, lack of sports clothing to poor confidence. They work with exercise and health professionals to deliver these programmes and support people to be the healthiest they can be. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions
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Ref: 4 Applicant: Home-Start Lorn Recommended Award: £2,500 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7.2 Project Summary: The main contribution towards a summer programme of activities for families in the area to help them with social isolation, give children learning opportunities, help them meet their developmental milestones and get them outdoors thus promoting positive wellbeing. The activities will run during the months of July and August and last year were attended by 511 people from 206 families. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 5 Applicant: Mull and Iona Community Trust (MICT) Recommended Award: £2,500 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7.2 Project Summary: A contribution towards Ulva Ferry Community Transport scheme, which serves one of the most rural, remote areas in Argyll. It will help address isolation and support the fragile and isolated community delivering over 1,000 passenger journeys a year. It operates an electric mini-bus and a people carrier in the north end of the island and services communities and groups, particularly Mull Musical Minds. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 6 Applicant: Tiree Community Development Trust 1 Recommended Award: £2,500 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7.2 Project Summary: A contribution towards two poverty mitigation measures is requested, with a pilot collaboration with Argyll and Bute Citizen’s advice and a Home Energy Efficiency project aiming to target greatest need and improve the sustainability of the island and its homes. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 7 Applicant: Dervaig Village Hall Recommended Award: £2,500 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7.1 Project Summary: Dervaig Lunch Club supports up to 39 older persons with a healthy lunch and good company to the improvement of their wellbeing. Community transport is offered. There are 4 treat trips which support local businesses and are very much looked forward to by regulars and volunteers alike. Lunch Club is seeking funding for ingredients, special events and from 2025 for the hire and heating expense of the hall. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions
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Ref: 8 Applicant: Tiree Community Development Trust 2 Recommended Award: £2,500 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7.2 Project Summary: Match funding towards a year’s running costs of a new Environmental Action Group to be managed by Tiree Development Trust. The work of the group will include the restoration and management of the natural environment, including safeguarding of the machair which is now under threat due to erosion, coastal flooding and extreme weather events. The project will aim to tell the story of how crofting helps steward the machair and aims to highlight best practices already taking place within the crofting community. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 9 Applicant: The Victory Hall, Benderloch Recommended Award: £2,500 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7.1 Project Summary: The hire of a consultant to carry out community engagement to determine the community’s needs for the hall in the future and help to plan to attract more diverse users. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 10 Applicant: Appin Skiff Coastal Rowing Club Recommended Award: £2,122 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7 Project Summary: To increase accessibility and diversity of Skiff rowing within the local community of Port Appin by the provision of reduced membership fees and financially supported events. Involvement in the club has shown to improve fitness, mental wellbeing and decrease loneliness as well as re-establishing a connection to the sea and learning essential maritime skills. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 11 Applicant: Tiree Makery CIC Recommended Award: £2,499 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.8 Project Summary: A small contribution towards this newly-formed artist-led CIC who will offer creative workshops to the community, particularly the oldest residents, with the aim of improving community and individual wellbeing. The CIC also aims to contribute to increasing economic resilience, heritage awareness and generate a creative future for Tiree allowing the resident artists to remain on the island. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions
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Ref: 12 Applicant: Mull and Iona Community Trust (MICT) 2 Recommended Award: £2,500 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.8 Project Summary: MICT is seeking match funding towards new biodiversity restoration work in Ardura Community Forest specifically to fund the post of Ardura Biodiversity Officer, for 6 months to lead that work. The improvements will lead to a healthy and flourishing ecosystem for the benefit of the natural world, the people of Mull and its visitors. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 13 Applicant: Live Music Now Recommended Award: £614.40 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.7 Project Summary: 8x Musician’s fees, lunch and travel to deliver a 1 hour participatory music performance to 7 care homes and 2x 45minute performances to one primary school in order to bring music to a wider audience, and improve health and wellbeing. Two of these care homes would be in Oban. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 14 Applicant: Pennyghael Community Hall Recommended Award: £ 941.05 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.7 Project Summary: Seedcorn funding towards a volunteer coordinator is requested, who will set up and run a weekly café in the hall. This will bring the community together, support the other community ideas and activities and raise funds to sustain the hall in the winter months. Recommendation: Partial award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 15 Applicant: An Iodhlann – Tiree’s Historical Centre Recommended Award: £ 941.05 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.7 Project Summary: Community based sessions in Tiree’s Historical Centre involving the whole community, but particularly the older generation, to explore the extensive Gaelic archive, led by a guest expert educator, musician, and Gaelic speaker. Recommendation: Partial award Conditions: No conditions
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Ref: 16 Applicant: Hynish Trust (was the Hebridean Trust) Recommended Award: 0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.7 Project Summary: The group aims to co-design a new and refreshed Skerryvore Exhibition with the young people of Tiree to provide an exciting educational experience for them using technology, music, art, history and creativity. Hynish has recently returned to local ownership and this is a way to engage young people with their heritage as well as enhancing the visitor offer. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 17 Applicant: Mull and Iona Community Trust (MICT) 3 Recommended Award: 0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.6 Project Summary: Towards a summer of ranger activities for all the family including, outreach sessions for 6 Mull primary schools, outdoor sessions for children during the holidays including den-building and wildlife watching and finally river-fly monitoring to track the health of Mull’s rivers, involving the community as Citizen Scientists and feeding the findings into national databases. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 18 Applicant: Luing Community Council Recommended Award: 0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.6 Project Summary: This application seeks funding to deliver an expert survey and report to inform and devise solutions to address local land-based flooding so that the community can take appropriate mitigating action. This aims to identify practical ways the island community can address and adapt to the effects of climate change. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 19 Applicant: Argyll FM Recommended Award: 0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.5 Project Summary: Equipment, installation, commissioning and data connection costs, plus recruitment and training costs for volunteers and broadcasters in order to deliver a pilot project to future proof the service, improve reception, accessibility and reliability. Hoping to involve young people in the project. Recommendation: No award Conditions:
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Ref: 20 Applicant: Lismore Historical Society Recommended Award: 0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.2 Project Summary: Professional services from National Museum of Scotland to study and conserve 1500 finds and permit the analysis and conservation of these artefacts found in and around the ancient church of Lismore. This will contribute to the increase of knowledge of this prestigious site of the Early Christian period as well as adding to the case for community acquisition of this site as a potential multi-purpose site and interpretation centre. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 21 Applicant: Developing Potential SCIO Recommended Award: 0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6 Project Summary: Gaelic language classes for members of this group, as requested by them, in order to improve their cognition, mental acuity and health and wellbeing. 48 weeks of classes for up to 50 learners are requested. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 22 Applicant: Hebridean Pursuits Outdoor Learning Recommended Award: 0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 5.9 Project Summary: Full cost of 2 days of coasteering sessions for 46 young people attending Atlantis Leisure’s hugely popular Summer Sensations programme which is for P6/7 pupils (ages 10-12) making the transition to Oban High School. These sessions encourage new friendships and team work as well as a healthy fitness activity in our stunning landscape. Activities are offered free across the 21 schools feeding into Oban and Tiree High Schools and support successful transitions. The cost includes footwear which has been identified as a barrier to participation. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 23 Applicant: Argyll & Bute Citizens Advice Bureau Recommended Award: 0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 5.8 Project Summary: To fund a Laptop, stationary, telephone, internet access and room booking at 3hrs per month for 16 months, to support the launch of a Volunteer recruitment project to tackle poverty and increase community capacity building on the islands and in the remoter areas of Oban, Lorn and the Isles. Recommendation: No award
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Conditions: Ref: 24 Applicant: Còisir Ghàidhlig Thaigh an Uillt Recommended Award: Assessment Score (out of 10): 5.6 Project Summary: The full cost of three professional musical workshops for the Taynuilt Gaelic Choir in order to enthuse the choir members and maximise their singing and Gaelic language potential. Argyllshire Gaelic and music has always been promoted by the choir. Choral singing improves stamina, breath and wellbeing. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 25 Applicant: 37th Argyll (Ardchattan) Scout Group. Recommended Award: Assessment Score (out of 10): 5.6 Project Summary: Funding for struggling families towards, a 2-night residential trip for the Cub Pack (age 8 -10) at the Lochgoilhead Scout Outdoor Centre. Cubs would take part in a wide range of outdoor adventure activities and stay in bunk accommodation. This aims to build a range of skills, including planning, teamwork and confidence building for both the young people, the young leaders and the adult volunteers involved. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 26 Applicant: Oban FM Community Radio Recommended Award: 0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 5.4 Project Summary: Live broadcasting of the 2024 National Mòd in Oban. The radio station will be opened to the public for the entirety of the week so volunteers can pool their talents, whether as broadcasters, journalists or technicians and get more people involved in the Mòd week. It also allows the housebound and the distant to listen to all the competitions and support their communities. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 27 Applicant: Tobermory High School Parent Council Recommended Award: 0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 5.4 Project Summary: New and improved sporting equipment for the lunchtime and evening sports clubs which have membership of 80% of the older school. The younger children have requested a willow dome, a mud kitchen and gardening equipment. The aim is to improve the physical and mental health and wellbeing of the Learning Community
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at Tobermory High School particularly in light of the huge impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on scholars and the loss of fund-raising opportunity for the parent council itself. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 28 Applicant: Argyll Wellbeing Hub Recommended Award: 0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 5.3 Project Summary: The provision of counselling support and CBT to persons with a mental health diagnosis. This need has been identified by the group due to long waiting lists and unaffordability as well as a successful pilot last year, where the evidence showed was that it could be life changing and life-saving. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 29 Applicant: Argyll Talking Newspapers Recommended Award: Assessment Score (out of 10): 5.2 Project Summary: A project to upgrade the receiving and listening technology to assist visually impaired persons stay in touch with their communities. A contribution is requested towards the outreach to install and explain the new technology to users. The upgrade is to Alexa and they are being assisted by the RNIB. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 30 Applicant: Craignure Village Hall and Community Centre Recommended Award: 0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 4.7 Project Summary: Improving the appearance, safety, and amenity of the shoreside environment of Craignure hall to improve it for the benefit of families, residents and visitors, by the removal of abandoned boats and trailers and the planting of wildlife friendly shrubs. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 31 Applicant: Oban Pipe Band Recommended Award: 0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 4.6 Project Summary: Towards the 2024/5 season of competitions and local events, including costs of travel and replacement kilts for band members. Recommendation: No award Conditions:
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Ref: 32 Applicant: Comunn Gàidhealach An Òbain (Oban Mod Academy) Recommended Award: 0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 4.5 Project Summary: Towards the fees for tutors to support children and young people to participate in the Mòd, both in spoken and sung Gaelic. This will boost their confidence and enjoyment of the event and give them a grounding in their culture and heritage. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 33 Applicant: Appin Hall Recommended Award: 0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 3.8 Project Summary: While the hall is fundraising for essential repairs to the roof, a year’s wifi costs are requested. Wifi is essential both to the functioning of the hall and to the benefit of the residents and includes training, worship, health and sustainability. Recommendation: No award Conditions: