Supporting Communities Fund 2025/2026
Argyll and Bute Council · 2 September 2025
Back to Bute and Cowal Area Committee — 2 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 BUTE AND COWAL AREA COMMITTEE CHIEF EXECUTIVE UNIT 02 SEPTEMBER 2025 SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES FUND 2025/26 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 Bute and Cowal. 1.2 The total Supporting Communities Fund budget made available by the Council for allocation in Bute and Cowal for distribution in 2025/26 is £22,500. Community groups were able to apply for funds of up to £1,500 per project. 1.3 It is recommended that 20 applicants are awarded funding. 1.4 Applicants awarded funds from the Council’s SCF have 18 months in which to spend the funds.
Page 2
ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL BUTE AND COWAL AREA COMMITTEE CHIEF EXECUTIVE UNIT 02 SEPTEMBER 2025 SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES FUND 2025/26 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 Bute and Cowal for 2025/26 is £22,500. 2.2 Organisations applying to the fund were able to request up to £1,500. The SCF is popular and this year has attracted 28 applications from the Bute and Cowal area, requesting a total of over £37,000. 2.3 Applications have been scored by the Council’s Community Development Team against criteria set out in the SCF Application Guidance available on the councils webpages. Projects are scored by officers, based on a scoring matrix which can be found here. The fund is oversubscribed each year and funds are distributed based on scores, with partial funding being awarded, where insufficient funding remains to fully fund, and no award when no further funding is available. 2.4 A summary of all applications is appended to this report. 20 are recommended to be funded. 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 Members are asked to agree that the 20 applications, marked as ‘Award’ or ‘Partial Award’ within Appendix 1 are awarded funding from the Supporting Communities Fund totalling £22,500. Detailed information about these projects is contained within Appendix 2.
Page 3
4.0 DETAIL 4.1 Changes to the SCF in 2025/26 include an online application form and a reduced maximum award per project. These were implemented following a review after last year’s round of SCF, which included feedback from community groups, officers and comments from area committees. 4.2 The SCF is assessed through a robust process which involves 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: SCF Application Guidance. 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 4.3 Of the 28 applications received, one was withdrawn and 13 applicants are either new or have not applied to the fund in the past two years. 4.4 Of the applications, 20 are recommended to be awarded funding; 5 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. The detail of the projects is within Appendix 2. 4.5 The projects recommended will deliver a range of activities from music, dance and drama tuition and youth sports to trips for young carers, a food festival, essential community facility repairs and walking trail improvements. 4.6 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. 4.7 This year the total of £22,500 available for allocation comprises • £22,500 from the Council for it’s Supporting Communities Fund. • No return of funds from previously awarded Bute and Cowal projects. 4.8 Projects awarded funding complete a report at the end to evidence the impact of the funded project. The results of this are brought to Area Committee in Summer 2027, if not before depending on project duration. 5.0 CONCLUSION
Page 4
5.1 The Supporting Communities Fund application and assessment process has been completed as set out within the SCF Application Guidance 5.2 The recommendations made fully allocate the funding available for financial year 2025/26. 5.3 The 20 projects being put forward for an award will help communities to deliver priority activities in their area in 2025/26. 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 - none 6.2 Financial: Recommendations in the report are limited to the budget allocation available in 2024/25 for the Supporting Communities Fund in Bute and Cowal. 6.3 Legal: Applications are initially assessed to ensure that groups are constituted with managed accounts. 6.4 HR - none 6.5 Customer Service 6.6 Risk: risk to the public pound is managed through the assessment and scoring, and through end of project monitoring process. 6.7 Climate Change 6.8 Fairer Scotland Duty: The Supporting Communities Fund supports community groups in tackling poverty, reducing inequality and building a fairer and more inclusive Scotland. 6.9 Equalities - protected characteristics: Applicants are given the options of receiving the application in large print and other languages and support with online applications. 6.10 Consumer Duty 6.11 Island Communities: 6 of the applicant projects are island based. 6 of these are being recommended for funding. 6.12 Children’s Rights and Wellbeing
Page 5
Pippa Milne Chief Executive Policy Lead Cllr Mark Irvine 28 July 2025 For further information contact: Kirsty McLuckie - Community Development Officer Tel. 01631 572192 Email. kirsty.mcluckie@argyll-bute.gov.uk Suzanne Mason - Engagement and Communities Lead Tel. 01436 658933 Email. suzanne.mason@argyll-bute.gov.uk APPENDICES Appendix 1: Assessment Recommendations Appendix 2: Project Summary Sheet
Page 6
Appendix 1 – Assessment Recommendations Ref Applicant Recommendation Amount Requested Recommended Award 2025/26 Cumulative Total 1 Glendaruel Hall Award £1,480.00 £1,480.00 £1,480.00 2 Waterbaby Arts Award £1,350.00 £1,350.00 £2,830.00 3 Crossroads caring for carers Cowal & Bute SCIO Award £1,500.00 £1,500.00 £4,330.00 4 Kyles Allotment Group Award £500.00 £500.00 £4,830.00 5 Rothesay & District Pipe Band Award £802.00 £802.00 £5,632.00 6 Youthstuff Award £1,500.00 £1,500.00 £7,132.00 7 Isle of Bute Resilience Team Award £1,500.00 £1,500.00 £8,632.00 8 Strachur and District Piping Association Award £1,300.00 £1,300.00 £9,932.00 9 Dunoon Community Shed Award £1,000.00 £1,000.00 £10,932.00 10 Dunoon foodbank Award £1,500.00 £1,500.00 £12,432.00 11 Grow Bute Gardens Association Award £1,270.00 £1,270.00 £13,702.00 12 Patchwork 2 to 5 Nursery Award £1,000.00 £1,000.00 £14,702.00 13 Sandbank Community Development Trust Award £473.99 £473.99 £15,175.99 14 Bute Junior Agricultural Club Partial award £1,500.00 £1,220.67 £16,396.66 15 Bute Shinty Club Partial award £1,500.00 £1,220.67 £17,617.33 16 Innellan and Toward Family Centre SCIO Partial award £1,500.00 £1,220.67 £18,838.00 17 Lochgoilhead Climbing Club Partial award £1,500.00 £1,220.67 £20,058.67 18 Sandbank Village Hall Partial award £1,500.00 £1,220.67 £21,279.34 19 Cowal Walking Festival Association Partial award £1,500.00 £610.33 £21,889.67 20 Cowal Choral Club Partial award £1,500.00 £610.33 £22,500.00 21 Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop No award £1,500.00 £0.00 £22,500.00 22 Voices of Argyll C.I.C No award £1,500.00 £0.00 £22,500.00 23 Cowal Home Education Inclusion Project No award £1,500.00 £0.00 £22,500.00 24 Castle House Museum No award £1,200.00 £0.00 £22,500.00
Page 7
25 Starter Packs Plus No award £1,500.00 £0.00 £22,500.00 26 Cowal Community Orchestra No award £1,500.00 £0.00 £22,500.00 27 South Cowal Trust No award £1,200.00 £0.00 £22,500.00 TOTAL £35,575.99 £22,500.00
Page 8
Appendix 2 – Project Summary Sheet Applications presented in order of scoring by Community Development Officer. For submission to Bute & Cowal Area Committee for final decision (maximum value £1,500). Ref: 1 Applicant: Glendaruel Hall Recommended Award: £1,480.00 Project Summary: Funding would support the development of signposting and mapping walking trails, printed and digital guides, minor path repairs, and community-led wellbeing activities. Recommendation: Award Ref: 2 Applicant: Waterbaby Arts Recommended Award: £1,350.00 Project Summary: The grant would enable delivery of dance therapy sessions, apprentice training, project administration, and the purchase of dance props for pupils with complex needs. Recommendation: Award Ref: 3 Applicant: Crossroads caring for carers Cowal & Bute SCIO Recommended Award: £1,500.00 Project Summary: Support would allow young carers to access respite activities, including minibus transport and entry to activities such as Ardentinny Outdoor Centre and the Young Carers Festival. Recommendation: Award Ref: 4 Applicant: Kyles Allotment Group Recommended Award: £500.00 Project Summary: Funding would be used to install 400m of deer fencing and clear the fence line to protect community growing spaces from deer damage. Recommendation: Award Ref: 5 Applicant: Rothesay & District Pipe Band Recommended Award: £802.00 Project Summary: The grant would provide chanter reeds, practice reeds, drumsticks, and drum pads to support free music tuition for local young people. Recommendation: Award
Page 9
Ref: 6 Applicant: Youthstuff Recommended Award: £1,500.00 Project Summary: Support would fund microphones, bursaries for low-income families, and professional-led masterclasses in voice, choreography, and staging for children and young people. Recommendation: Award Ref: 7 Applicant: Isle of Bute Resilience Team Recommended Award: £1,500.00 Project Summary: Funding would cover traffic marshal training and travel expenses for 22 volunteers to help ensure the safe delivery of community events across Bute. Recommendation: Award Ref: 8 Applicant: Strachur and District Piping Association Recommended Award: £1,300.00 Project Summary: The grant would support tutor fees, travel, venue hire, transport, and meals to deliver a week-long piping summer school for young people. Recommendation: Award Ref: 9 Applicant: Dunoon Community Shed Recommended Award: £1,000.00 Project Summary: Support would be used to install new LED light fittings, hire mobile scaffolding, and purchase PPE to improve workshop lighting and make the space more welcoming. Recommendation: Award Ref: 10 Applicant: Dunoon Foodbank Recommended Award: £1,500.00 Project Summary: Funding would cover ingredients, equipment, and running costs for small group sessions focused on affordable cooking, food growing, laundry skills, and independent living. Recommendation: Award Ref: 11 Applicant: Grow Bute Gardens Association Recommended Award: £1,270.00 Project Summary: The grant would enable the construction of four new access paths to complete the site’s network, improving safety and accessibility for all users. Recommendation: Award
Page 10
Ref: 12 Applicant: Patchwork 2 to 5 Nursery Recommended Award: £1,000.00 Project Summary: Support would provide transport to Ardnahein Care Home and resources for shared intergenerational activities benefiting both young and elderly participants. Recommendation: Award Ref: 13 Applicant: Sandbank Community Development Trust Recommended Award: £473.99 Project Summary: Funding would be used to purchase a phase contrast microscope to enhance microscopic imagery for biodiversity research and citizen science at Holy Loch Nature Reserve. Recommendation: Award Ref: 14 Applicant: Bute Junior Agricultural Club Recommended Award: £1,220.67 Project Summary: The grant would support the purchase of hockey equipment and travel costs to enable club members to host sports nights and attend local and off-island tournaments. Recommendation: Partial Award Ref: 15 Applicant: Bute Shinty Club Recommended Award: £1,220.67 Project Summary: Funding would provide shinty equipment and cover pitch and hall hire to host children’s open days and promote youth participation in the sport. Recommendation: Partial Award Ref: 16 Applicant: Innellan and Toward Family Centre SCIO Recommended Award: £1,220.67 Project Summary: The grant would be used towards the creation of a community orchard through the purchase of fruit trees, gardening tools, and a canvas bell tent for outdoor activities. Recommendation: Partial Award
Page 11
Ref: 17 Applicant: Lochgoilhead Climbing Club Recommended Award: £1,220.67 Project Summary: Support would be used towards climbing coaching courses, equipment, instructor fees, and transport and entry costs for trips to climbing venues for local children. Recommendation: Partial Award Ref: 18 Applicant: Sandbank Village Hall Recommended Award: £1,220.66 Project Summary: Funding would be used towards roof repairs, hot water installation, energy-efficient lighting and heating, and improved external safety and security lighting. Recommendation: Partial Award Ref: 19 Applicant: Cowal Walking Festival Association Recommended Award: £0 Project Summary: The grant would support venue hire, leaflet distribution, and minibus hire to help deliver the Cowal Walking Festival and promote health and wellbeing through community walks. Recommendation: Partial Award Ref: 20 Applicant: Cowal Choral Club Recommended Award: £0 Project Summary: Support would fund musical instruction, costumes, set hire, space hire, marketing, and insurance for the Cowal Choral Club’s 2025 Christmas Concert and 2026 Musical Show. Recommendation: Partial Award Ref: 21 Applicant: Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop Recommended Award: £0 Project Summary: Funding would provide fortnightly fiddle tuition and venue hire from September to June, supporting accessible traditional music education in the wider Strachur area. Recommendation: No Award Ref: 22 Applicant: Voices of Argyll C.I.C Recommended Award: £0 Project Summary: The grant would support musician fees, workshops, travel, accommodation, venue hire, marketing, and filming for a community music tour. Recommendation: No Award
Page 12
Ref: 23 Applicant: Cowal Home Education Inclusion Project Recommended Award: £0 Project Summary: Support would cover hall hire, activity materials, snacks, entry fees, travel costs, and a first aid kit for educational and community activities for home-educated children. Recommendation: No Award Ref: 24 Applicant: Castle House Museum Recommended Award: £0 Project Summary: Funding would be used to provide sensory backpacks and support ‘quiet time’ visits to create an inclusive, welcoming museum experience for children and young people. Recommendation: No Award Ref: 25 Applicant: Starter Packs Plus Recommended Award: £0 Project Summary: The grant would provide basic household essentials such as kettles, toasters, bedding, and cleaning items for newly housed vulnerable individuals. Recommendation: No Award Ref: 26 Applicant: Cowal Community Orchestra Recommended Award: £0 Project Summary: Support would fund instruments and musical director preparation time to develop musical skills, promote well-being, and support community engagement. Recommendation: No Award Ref: 27 Applicant: South Cowal Trust Recommended Award: £0 Project Summary: Funding would cover start-up costs including a website, accountancy advice, Sage training, insurance, and a letterbox to help establish a new organisation. Recommendation: No Award