Supporting Communities Fund 2023/24
Argyll and Bute Council · 14 June 2023
Back to Oban Lorn & The Isles Area Committee — 14 June 2023 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 14th June 2023 SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES FUND 2023/24 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 budget made available by the Council for allocation in Oban, Lorn and the Isles for distribution in 2023/24 is £35,843.07. 1.3 It is recommended that 18 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 14th June 2023 SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES FUND 2023/24 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 The report details recommendations for the award of the Council’s Supporting Communities Fund (SCF). The Supporting Communities Fund budget made available by Council in Oban, Lorn and the Isles for 2023/24 is £22,500. 2.2 The total available for allocation is £35,843.07 due to additional funding from the Shared Prosperity Fund, funds to support resiliency in communities impacted by Covid-19 and from 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 31 applications from the Oban, Lorn and the Isles area, requesting a total of £66,617.54. 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/council- and-government/third-sector-grants) and a summary of all applications is appended to this report 18 are recommended to be funded. 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 Members are asked to agree that the 18 applications, marked as ‘Award’ within Appendix 1 are awarded funding from the Supporting Communities Fund totalling £35,843.07. 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 made available on the council’s website: (Guidance for applicants). 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 31 applications received (requesting a total of £66,617.54), 2 were not eligible and of the 30 eligible applications, 18 are either new applicants to the fund or have not applied within the last two years. 4.3 Of the eligible applications to the SCF, 18 are recommended to be awarded funding. 6 of these are for island based projects. The applications recommended for funding are labelled as ‘Award’ in the recommendation column in Appendix 1. The detail of the projects is in Appendix 2. 4.4 The projects recommended will deliver a range of activities from community transport, increasing play and arts opportunities for children, to improving community halls and spaces. 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 £35,843.07 available for allocation is comprised of: £22,500 from the Council’s Supporting Communities Fund. £7,500 from the Shared Prosperity Fund. This is specifically to support projects related to climate change. These funds are ring fenced to the highest scoring projects under the ‘Greener, Cleaner Communities’ criteria. £5,000 of funding specifically for projects that support resiliency in communities impacted by Covid-19. These funds are ring fenced to the highest scoring projects under the ‘Resilient Communities’ criteria. Return of unspent funds of £843.07 from projects from the financial periods 2020/21 and 2021/22 due to changes to planned activity as a result of Covid-19 restrictions.
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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 2025, if not before depending on project duration. 5.0 CONCLUSION 5.1 The Supporting Communities Fund application and assessment process has been completed as set out within its guidance (https://www.argyll- bute.gov.uk/council-and-government/third-sector-grants ). 5.2 The recommendations made fully allocate the funding available for financial year 2023/2024. 5.3 The 18 projects being put forward for an award will help communities to deliver priority activities in their area in 2023/24. 5.4 All applicants to the fund are supported throughout the process and beyond by the Community Development Team. 6.0 IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Policy: n/a 6.2 Financial: Recommendations in the report are limited to the budget allocation available in 2023/24 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: 10 of the applicant projects are island based. 6 of these are being recommended funding. 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. 6.8 Customer Service: None
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Pippa Milne Chief Executive Alastair Redman Policy Lead Councillor 19 May 2023 For further information contact: David Hagerty Community Development Officer Tel. 01700 801088 Email. david.hagerty@argyll-bute.gov.uk Kirsty Moyes Community Development Team Leader Tel. 01436 657635 Email. kirsty.moyes@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 Ref Applicant Recommendation Assessment Score Value of Project Amount Requested Recommended Award 2023/24 Cumulative Total 1 **Lorn Toy Library Award 7.9 £2,500.00 £2,500.00 £2,500.00 £2,500.00 2 Lorn & Oban Healthy Options Award 7.7 £2,500.00 £2,500.00 £2,500.00 £5,000.00 3 Oban Pride Award 7.6 £20,680.00 £2,500.00 £2,500.00 £7,500.00 4 *The Ardchattan Centre Award 7.5 £3,162.00 £2,442.00 £2,442.00 £9,942.00 5 Victory Hall Benderloch Award 7.5 £606.00 £606.00 £606.00 £10,548.00 6 Tiree Tots Award 7.3 £4,190.00 £2,500.00 £2,500.00 £13,048.00 7 Isle of Luing Community Trust Award 7.0 £2,730.00 £2,500.00 £2,500.00 £15,548.00 8 Argyll Wellbeing Hub Award 6.8 £3,500.00 £2,500.00 £2,500.00 £18,048.00 9 *Kilmore & Kilbride Public Hall Award 6.7 £2,895.00 £2,200.00 £2,200.00 £20,248.00 10 **Mull & Iona Community Trust Award 6.6 £6,420.00 £2,500.00 £2,500.00 £22,748.00 11 Oban Mod Award 6.6 £11,000.00 £2,000.00 £2,000.00 £24,748.00 12 Tiree Community Business Award 6.6 £9,464.88 £2,500.00 £2,500.00 £27,248.00 13 Soroba Young Family Group Award 6.5 £1,343.14 £1,343.14 £1,343.14 £28,591.14 14 Mull & Iona Community Trust 2 Award 6.4 £49,553.00 £2,500.00 £2,500.00 £31,091.14 15 **Ross of Mull & Iona Community Transport Award 6.4 £14,676.79 £2,500.00 £2,500.00 £33,591.14 16 *Soroba Community Enterprise Ltd Award 6.4 £1,230.00 £1,030.00 £1,030.00 £34,621.14 17 Wildcat Explorer Scouts Award (partial) 6.3 £2,698.00 £2,500.00 £610.97 £35,232.11 18 Northwest Community Woodland Company Award (partial) 6.3 £2,500.00 £2,500.00 £610.96 £35,843.07 19 Isle of Kerrera Development Trust No award 6.2 £2,390.00 £2,090.00 £0.00 £35,843.07 20 Hebridean Pursuits No award 6.1 £2,450.00 £2,450.00 £0.00 £35,843.07 21 Kilchrenan Village Hall No award 6.0 £1,755.00 £1,455.00 £0.00 £35,843.07
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22 Oban & Lorn Community Enterprise (Atlantis) No award 5.5 £2,800.00 £2,500.00 £0.00 £35,843.07 23 Ardchattan Community Council No award 5.3 £3,000.00 £2,500.00 £0.00 £35,843.07 24 Curam Thiriodh No award 5.1 £3,887.00 £2,500.00 £0.00 £35,843.07 25 Developing Potential No award 4.9 £2,360.00 £2,360.00 £0.00 £35,843.07 26 Seil & Easdale Community Council No award 4.9 £2,500.00 £2,500.00 £0.00 £35,843.07 27 Oban War Memorial Group No award 4.7 £800.00 £800.00 £0.00 £35,843.07 28 Glenorchy & Innishal Orchard No award 4.6 £24,160.00 £2,416.40 £0.00 £35,843.07 29 Carr Gomm No award 3.7 £2,875.00 £625.00 £0.00 £35,843.07 TOTAL £190,625.81 £61,817.54 £35,843.07 £35,843.07 * Projects recommended to receive funds ring-fenced to support resiliency in communities impacted by Covid-19 ** Projects recommended to receive funds ring-fenced to support climate change as part of the Shared Prosperity Fund
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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). * Projects recommended to receive funds ring-fenced to support resiliency in communities impacted by Covid-19 ** Projects recommended to receive funds ring-fenced to support climate change as part of the Shared Prosperity Fund Ref: 1 Applicant: **Lorn Toy Library Recommended Award: £2,500 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7.9 Project Summary: Website build and design to move Oban Toy Library online and create an online presence with the library catalogue and new option of online lending. Project aims to increase loans of toys and equipment to families and other organisations at low cost, and will increase the library’s membership and long term sustainability. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 2 Applicant: Lorn & Oban Healthy Options Recommended Award: £2,500 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7.7 Project Summary: As part of the group’s THRIVE programme this funding will offer weekly health and wellbeing classes to new and existing group members – including those referred by wider services including GPs. It is anticipated the application will fund 30 extra sessions. Free classes offered meet needs of those less able to take part in physical activity and have arts and creative focus. The grant will cover staff time, tutor pay, and venue costs. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 3 Applicant: Oban Pride Recommended Award: £2,500 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7.6 Project Summary:
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Oban Pride to add a monthly cinema club in the Phoenix Cinema, to their annual activities. This is aimed at providing an alcohol free, “safe space” for people to meet throughout the year, both for LGBT+ community and allies. The funding is to cover Phoenix cinema hire and film licences. A smaller portion of funding is requested for venue and table hire for a community partnership event at Argyll Wellbeing Hub, as part of the annual Pride event. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 4 Applicant: *The Ardchattan Centre Recommended Award: £2,442 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7.5 Project Summary: Application to cover venue operating costs, staff and materials; offering a core 6 month programme of 24 sessions as part of wider engagement around the Ardchattan centre over autumn and winter. Activities include knowledge exchange classes, walking groups and community film nights. Activities both have an educational and environmental focus, these sessions are aimed at increasing engagement with the community centre and addressing isolation. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 5 Applicant: Victory Hall Benderloch Recommended Award: £606 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7.5 Project Summary: The Victory Hall wish to replace light fixtures and fittings by hiring a cherry picker and electrician. The grant would assist the group in reducing electricity costs after being quoted a 286% increase by their current supplier. The hall committee currently pay the lighting through hall users paying for electricity on a coin meter. Lighting improvements are considered the first step to making the hall more environmentally and financially sustainable. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 6 Applicant: Tiree Tots Recommended Award: £2,500 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7.3 Project Summary:
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Funding is requested to support a programme of free activities for 0-5s on Tiree. This will provide opportunities for sensory play, learning, sports and intergenerational sessions – which have been less available due to remoteness and additional cost. Funding is requested for equipment, tutor costs, travel and transport. The activities will include: 1 x day of dance ;1 x baby sensory session 1 x creative play session:1 x sporty tots day 3 x Gaelic music and storytelling sessions (one will take place in the care home). Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 7 Applicant: Isle of Luing Community Trust Recommended Award: £2,500 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7 Project Summary: Funding for an independent and comprehensive housing survey by the Communities Housing Trust. This is considered by the Isle of Luing Community Trust as a necessary step to address the issues of affordable housing and island de-population. An independent survey has been externally advised as a requisite to support future high value housing applications. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 8 Applicant: Argyll Wellbeing Hub Recommended Award: £2,500 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.8 Project Summary: Provision of 100 reduced cost CBT sessions, to increase access to professional support for those in times of crisis, or having deeper needs than can be addressed by volunteer led group sessions. Open to all, but targets beneficiaries identified by mental health support groups running at Argyll Wellbeing Hub and partner organisations. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 9 Applicant: *Kilmore & Kilbride Public Hall Recommended Award: £2,200 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.7 Project Summary:
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To improve the outdoor area to increase use and capacity of Kilmore and Kilbride public hall for events. The funding will be used to create a new outside area available for people uncertain of returning to the hall post Covid and for use at future outdoor activities. Funding is requested for groundworks and landscaping of new garden and seating area. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 10 Applicant: **Mull & Iona Community Trust Recommended Award: £2,500 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.6 Project Summary: MICT Ranger service coordinating and hosting a 2 day outdoor arts performance, and week of workshops from Rowanbank Environmental Arts and Education, open to local children to increase awareness of environmental climate change. These are to take place outdoors in Tiroran Community Forrest and Aros Park, with partners Forestry Land Scotland. The application is for the theatre performances and learning workshops, including travel costs. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 11 Applicant: Comunn Gàidhealach an Òbain (Oban Mod Academy) Recommended Award: £2,000 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.6 Project Summary: Comunn Gàidhealach an Òbain offering support for young people to prepare for the National Mod, taking place in Oban in 2024, and to participate in provincial mods during the year. The group has 60+ members and aims to keep sessions affordable to all participants The funding is used to engage PVG registered tutors for Gaelic language and singing sessions for members. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 12 Applicant: Tiree Community Business Recommended Award: £2,500 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.6 Project Summary: Tiree Community Business (TCB) support and manage the only community play park on the Tiree.
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Funding is requested for the groundworks and installations of picnic benches and a seating shelter, as part of an ongoing upgrade. The equipment costing £7k, will be purchase by the TCB. This is to be installed be a local contractor for which costs are requested. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 13 Applicant: Soroba Young Family Group Recommended Award: £1,343.14 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.5 Project Summary: Funding is requested to extend staff hours by 1 hr per day, to assist in the delivery of a breakfast club for pre 5s attending Soroba Young Families Group. The grant is also to include ingredient costs and the purchase of small appliances for food preparation. The anticipated start date is the start of the next school year, August ’23. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 14 Applicant: Mull & Iona Community Trust 2 Recommended Award: £2,500 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.4 Project Summary: The MICT Community Transport service provides transport options for people on the east of Mull; helping with shopping trips, GP appointments, prescription pick- ups, attendance to lunch clubs, musical memories, mental health groups and library visits. Funds are to help with the ongoing delivery of the service, and would be ring- fenced for maintenance costs and associated vehicle and driver permit fees. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 15 Applicant:** Ross of Mull & Iona Community Transport Scheme Recommended Award: £2,500 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.4 Project Summary: The funding is to support community transport services, meeting travel needs of people in the South West Mull & Iona. The group wish to apply for vehicle running costs and the insurance and servicing of the vehicles, on an 8 weekly basis. The service offers pre-booked journeys where no reasonable, affordable or alternative means of travel are available. This is predominantly catering for older
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residents to access healthcare, prescriptions, attend leisure and wellbeing sessions. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 16 Applicant: *Soroba Community Enterprise Recommended Award: £1,030 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.4 Project Summary: In response to a reduction in hall user numbers post Covid, the group would like to start an adult Zumba class, youth club and computing sessions to increase its programme. A small amplifier and projector are requested for these activities, plus costs to refurbish old laptops with increased memory for community use. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 17 Applicant: Wildcat Explorer Scouts Recommended Award: £610.97 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.3 Project Summary: The Wildcat Explorer Scouts are a new group and wish to join a district wide weekend residential in Aberfeldy. The funding is requested to enable the Explorer Scouts from North Lorn to attend this activity weekend; and covering minibus, accommodation and activity costs for 10 young people and 4 adult volunteers. Recommendation: Award (partial) Conditions: No conditions Ref: 18 Applicant: Northwest Community Woodland Company Recommended Award: £610.96 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.3 Project Summary: Group seeking money to complete renovations and run a new public toilet in Dervaig transferred to community ownership. The group require funding to complete the project, maintain and run the facility. Funding requested for: Cleaning, maintenance, cleaning products, on site repairs using local contractor. Recommendation: Award (partial) Conditions: No conditions Ref: 19
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Applicant: Isle of Kerrera Development Trust Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.2 Project Summary: Isle of Kerrera Development Trust, are requesting funding to help in the organisation and delivery of a children’s cycling festival in October 2023. The project is delivered conjunction with Adventure Oban and follows two previously successful years of the event. This event includes competitions, family rides, and arts and creative workshops. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 20 Applicant: Hebridean Pursuits Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.1 Project Summary: Funding is requested for 4 days of “coasteering” as part of the Summer Sensations transition programme for pupils starting Oban High School. The summer programme is offered by partner agencies annually, with Hebridean Pursuits requesting funds to deliver “coasteering” sessions. Sessions would comprise of 2 days in 2023 and also 2 days 2024, 8 sessions in total (am/pm). Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 21 Applicant: Kilchrenan Village Hall Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6 Project Summary: The main portion of the grant is to fund an open day and community meal, to showcase the recently improved Kilchrenan hall to community members. The purpose of the event is to increase community engagement, future hall use, and encourage older member groups to return to activities. The purchase of kitchen equipment is also requested (stock pots and moveable stainless steel prep table to help with outside events). Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 22 Applicant: Oban & Lorn Community Enterprise (Atlantis Leisure) Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 5.5 Project Summary:
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Atlantis Leisure are applying for roller-skating and tag archery equipment - with the aim of increasing “play- sport” as a means to engage with a wider user and customer base. This equipment will be for all groups using the centre, including local schools and Summer Sensations transition sessions. The equipment will also help increase Atlantis’ income as a social enterprise. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 23 Applicant: Ardchattan Community Council Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 5.3 Project Summary: Grant to fund a number community engagement events as a springboard for further involvement from community members in the local area. These would include a Christmas light switch on, and other community events over the calendar year. Part of overall request to organise and fund a volunteer recognition programme. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 24 Applicant: Cùram Thiriodh Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 5.1 Project Summary: Cùram Thiriodh working with Versus Arthritis, wish to employ a local fitness instructor to provide 2 x 8 week blocks of introductory seated Qi Gong classes on the Isle of Tiree. This is to promote joint movement as a preventative health measure. An instructor has been identified and completed training with Versus Arthritis to be able to deliver seated Qi Gong. Costs would be for hall hire, tutor costs, and transport for participants. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 25 Applicant: Developing Potential Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 4.9 Project Summary: Developing Potential are seeking staff costs for an organiser, 12hrs per week, to assist in a Co-operative buying project. This is to arrange regular minibus trips for members to purchase and redistribute goods bought at larger chain stores to save
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members money. The group work in partnership with other voluntary organisations. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 26 Applicant: Seil & Easdale Community Council Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 4.9 Project Summary: Seil and Easdale Community Council to hire machinery to prepare land as first stage to opening allotments. The group has acquired land which has been earmarked for improvements for community benefit. The group plan to clear the overgrown land and create allotments and garden areas for community use. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 27 Applicant: Oban War Memorial Group Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 4.7 Project Summary: Funding is requested to illuminate the war memorial in time for its centenary celebrations. The group have purchased lights and are looking for installation costs. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 28 Applicant: Glenorchy & Innishal Orchard Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 4.7 Project Summary: The funding is to remove dead branches and windfall in higher areas of the Community Orchard – following a volunteer being hit by a falling branch, resulting in the orchard being closed temporarily. Additional funding is requested for materials to repair a storage shed roof, and to purchase plants and compost for a herb garden. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 29
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Applicant: Carr Gomm Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 3.7 Project Summary: To fund ‘Keep Warm Boxes’ to help those who are vulnerable or impacted by rising energy costs and power cuts to stay warm. Funding is requested to provide 12 boxes. Recommendation: No award Conditions: