Supporting Communities Fund - Monitoring of Projects Funded
Argyll and Bute Council · 5 March 2024
Back to Bute and Cowal Area Committee — 5 March 2024 and its agenda
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL BUTE & COWAL AREA COMMITTEE COMMUNITY PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 5th March 2024 SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES FUND - Monitoring of Projects Funded 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 The purpose of this report is to provide monitoring information on the funding given to community projects from the council’s Supporting Communities Fund. 1.2 12 constituted, not-for-profit community organisations were awarded funding in 2022/23. Projects were required to spend their funding within 18 months of and submit an End of Project Monitoring Report outlining the project’s projected costs, actual costs incurred and beneficiaries. 1.3 Members are asked to consider the summary of information supplied by organisations in their End of Project Monitoring Reports highlighting the positive impact of projects in communities. 1.4 Members are asked to note the return of unspent funds of £676.69 and agree these are allocated to the 2024/25 round of Supporting Communities Fund.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL BUTE & COWAL AREA COMMITTEE COMMUNITY PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 5th March 2024 SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES FUND - Monitoring of Projects Funded 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 This report highlights the positive outcomes for communities in Bute and Cowal through the allocation of the Council’s Supporting Communities Fund (SCF) in the 2022/23 round of funding. 2.2 A total of £22,980.29 was awarded to 12 organisations in 2022/23. Organisations have up to two months from the end of the project to complete and return a project monitoring report. 2.3 A total of £676.69 unspent funds has been returned; and is proposed to be included in the distribution of the SCF for 2024/25. 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS It is recommended that the Bute and Cowal Area Committee: 3.1 Note and consider the positive contribution of the Supporting Communities Fund detailed in section 4 and the attached table. 3.2 Note that a total of £676.69 in unspent funds has been returned and agree that this be included in the distribution of the SCF for 2024/25. 4.0 DETAIL 4.1 The funded projects supported over 2,350 people to participate in a variety of activities including outdoor, sports, music and activities to support positive mental health. Highlights include: • An immersive and inclusive outdoor heritage interpretation project enabling children to access local archaeological sites, working with Bute Museum and Ardencriag Gardens and a historian. The project encouraged creativity, fun and self- expression with a drama tutor and
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was delivered by Achievement Bute. • A community food growing project by Kirn Primary pupils, partnering with volunteers from the Grow Food Grow Dunoon project to grow and sell year-round produce from a poly-tunnel and garden. School environmental and climate topics linked to the project that was delivered by Dunoon Community Development Trust. • Live music was performed by Cowal Community orchestra, for Ukrainian refugee events, Christmas and community Burns Suppers. With new sheet music and musical director hours, the orchestra reached new audiences and supported an opportunity for a talented young musician. • An exciting film project for people with additional support needs encouraged participants to get moving and improve wellbeing after Covid-19 and express themselves through choreographed dance. They are reaching out to inspire others following the success of the project that was delivered by Waterbaby Arts. 4.2 The attached table summarises information received from individual projects. 4.3 12 grant recipients have submitted an End of Project Monitoring Report. 4.4 £676.69 in unspent funds has been returned; £676.69 to be included in the distribution of the SCF for 2024/25.
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2022/23 SCF Round of Funding No Organisation Project Funded Award End of Project Achievements No. of people in communities benefitting 1 Achievement Bute tutor fees, transport and materials to support the provision of a child-led programme of heritage and history based outdoor activities £2,500.00 Our original aim was to build on the success of previous work to offer children opportunities during school holidays to investigate, explore and interpret local landmarks/buildings and/or sites of historical interest. We worked with volunteers from the Bute Museum and Ardencraig Gardens Friends Group, together with a local historian/archaeologist and freelance drama tutor and we created a unique, educational immersive experience celebrating the history of Ardencraig Gardens. Free minibus transport was included (with a wheelchairadapted minibus) to ensure equality of access and no charge was made for the activities. 181 2 Argyll & Bute Befrienders 40 sessions of therapeutic and personal development activities for young people £680.00 We met the aims of the project in that we provided opportunities for disadvantaged children and young people to experience a range of recreational and therapeutic activities with the support of their befriender. The main activities undertaken were various sports including climbing, swimming, cycling and minigolf, arts and crafts activities such as pottery painting and felting and several of our young people benefited from horse-riding in small groups to build their confidence and help them learn to regulate their emotions. 19 (A&B wide ) 3 Argyll Mausoleum Limited t/a Historic Kilmun preparation of a feasibility study and delivery of a community consultation for the use of visitor centre at St Munn's Church. £637.71 The original aim of the project had been to consult with the community and stakeholders and using an architect to produce documents with drawings to present to potential funders and planning department for preplanning discussion about the future of the building. This funding enabled us to carry out the first stage of this. 68 4 Bute Community Land Company support for 6 community engagement events and will include the purchase of £2,464.70 Our events provided people with an opportunity to gather and meet like-minded people in a different social setting (the forest). All of our events contained an element of catering which 395
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2022/23 SCF Round of Funding equipment and materials, expert fees and marketing costs. encouraged people to socialise and chat about the event they had just attended. As well as this the finish time for our events was always kept loose where people were welcome to stay and chat for as long as they liked. 5 Cairndow Community Childcare promotion, delivery and administration of 6 days of bicycle maintenance workshop sessions. £2,250.00 The cycle workshops proved very popular and were much appreciated by those who attended. The levels of knowledge regarding cycle maintenance were raised along with an awareness of how to cycle safely in our locality. The project has encouraged greater use of cycles in the area and a greater ability for cyclists to maintain their bikes without having to take them out with the area for repairs. 24 6 Cormonachan Community Woodlands Ltd provision of two free theatrical events during Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, one event aimed at children and the other for adults £2,000.00 We had 71 visitors attend the 2 free events on 3rd June 2022.:- The Wonderland Adventure at 2 pm with 39 attendees including lots of children and: Macbeth the Red at 7 pm with 32 adult attendees. We could not have provided these events for the local community without this valuable funding. 71 7 Cowal Choral Club venue hire and Musical Director fees to support the delivery of musical events and productions throughout 2022. £2,500.00 The impact on club and local community members was positive. The Club reduced isolation, establishing a WhatsApp group for members in-between rehearsals. Club membership was boosted to 58 members. We welcomed Ukrainians newly arrived in Dunoon, their inclusion has benefited them and the club. "…. I've enjoyed being back in rehearsals and especially back on stage - but it's the camaraderie, friendship and support from all of you that makes it extra special and all the more fun." A review published in the Dunoon Observer following our first production at the Queen’s Hall since 2014 demonstrated that the Club are ‘back in business.’ 58 8 Cowal Community Orchestra purchase of new music for the orchestra and 50 hours of Musical Director fees £1,500.00 We played in Oban for the Ukrainian Refugees event and also in Dunoon too. One of our new members is Ukrainian. Our youngest member has also been playing with the Nicola 279
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2022/23 SCF Round of Funding Benedetti Conservatoire Orchestra which is so wonderful for a 12 year old. The Christmas Choir concert in Dunoon Burgh Hall was a great example of cross musical talents coming together to have a fun evening for the community. We also attend Burns Suppers to assist with tradition music too. We also busk in the town centre during the summer months so this attracts client groups not necessarily attending concerts or organised events. Herewith the concert programme and a sample of playing. 11 J'est me, Le Divin Enfant.mp3 9 Dunoon Community Development Trust volunteer expenses, insurance, and the purchase of materials, tools and plants to create raised beds £2,500.00 Our ‘Grow Food, Grow Dunoon’ working group established a partnership initiative with Kirn Primary School to establish a growing space in the school grounds. This space allowed a group of adult volunteers to create a ten-bed rotation vegetable garden alongside the school’s existing poly- tunnel. Food growing activities ran year-round with pupils from the school actively involved with their teachers and the adult volunteers in learning about our environment, our climate, nutrition, food supply chains and the value of local growing. 1,000 10 Dunoon Junior Shinty Club training fees, Camanachd Association Membership and insurance for 8 voluntary coaches, the purchase of 8 £2,500.00 This funding has helped us to provide safety equipment for players; supported volunteer membership, insurance and qualifications; and helped cover pitch fees so that club member fees could be used to purchase more safety equipment (helmets) 137
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2022/23 SCF Round of Funding helmets and a contribution to annual pitch fees and playing equipment (sticks and balls). We ran a Family Fun Day at Dunoon Stadium which saw over 50 people attending to take part in fun games of shinty for all abilities. 11 Tighnabruaich Development Trust 60 Gaelic classes online/face-to-face using Speak Gaelic Materials, pre- school sessions, Gaelic holiday scheme play sessions and outdoor workshop in Glenan Community Woodland £948.88 The ‘Bringing Gaelic Home’ day was a success. The art club had produced 50+ art works with Gaelic titles and descriptions. The children’s story wring workshops were successful and enjoyed by all.. Adults popped into the hall throughout the day to take part or use the cafe, and the evening Ceilidh and meal was enjoyed by many. Gaelic classes using the Speak Gaelic materials are ongoing. The group meets weekly and will finish the first set of materials before the summer. The weekly on line zoom group is going well and are a couple of weeks behind the ‘face to face’ group. 110 12 Waterbaby Arts SCIO 6 weeks of bespoke dance workshops and 2 weeks of filming for dancers with additional support needs to produce a film capturing their creative response to Covid-19 £2,499.00 We produced 2 lovely films and exceeded expectations in the impact that the films made on the public and dancers. The dancers are now more enthused than ever and want to promote disability awareness by teaching in schools and helping others make films. We had so many workshops in choreography and basic movement - everyone could see the change in the participants, ownership of the film and their moves. 84
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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 Bute & Cowal area 2022/23 budget for the allocation of Supporting Communities Fund 6.3 Legal: None 6.4 HR: None 6.5 Fairer Scotland Duty/Equalities/Islands: Compliant with policy and noting that 2 of the funded projects were on the Isle of Bute. 6.6 Climate Change: None 6.7 Risk: None 6.8 Customer Service: None 6.9 The Rights of the Child (UNCRC): None Chief Executive – Pippa Milne Policy Lead - Cllr Alistair Redman Communities and Partnership Manager – Rona Gold 12 February 2024 For further information contact: Community Development Officer Ailie Law on 01546 604707 / ailie.law@argyll-bute.gov.uk.