Supporting Communities Fund - Monitoring of Projects Funded 2023/24
Argyll and Bute Council · 9 September 2025
Back to Helensburgh & Lomond Area Committee — 9 September 2025 and its agenda
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL HELENSBURGH & LOMOND AREA COMMITTEE CHIEF EXECUTIVES UNIT 9 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 20 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 a summary 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.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL HELENSBURGH & LOMOND AREA COMMITTEE CHIEF EXECUTIVES UNIT 9 September 2025 SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES FUND - Monitoring of Projects Funded 2023/24 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 This report highlights the positive outcomes for communities in Helensburgh and Lomond through the allocation of the Council’s Supporting Communities Fund in the 2023/24 round of funding. 2.2 A total of £28,939 (£38,449 including Levelling up monies specifically for climate change focused projects) was awarded to 20 community organisations in 2023/24. Organisations have 18 months to spend 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 Helensburgh and Lomond 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 7,000 people to participate in a variety of activities including outdoor activities, sports, music and mental health. For example: • Cove and Kilcreggan Lunch Club provided a place for elderly people to engage and socially interact. • Fun First provided weekly toddler fitness and movement classes, to support physical and cognitive development.
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• Garelochhead Station Trust’s fortnightly craft group helped reduce the social isolation of the most vulnerable in the community. • Plastic Free Helensburgh held an event in four areas of the town to reach areas not usually covered by their beach cleans. • Jean’s Bothy introduced members to ways to reduce stress & anxiety through creative practice, which increased confidence levels and helped foster social connections. • The Cove & Kilcreggan 10k Run/Walk created a really, positive local atmosphere. Many of the projects supported noted positive impacts of increased community participation and volunteering. Feedback from projects showed the benefits experienced by particular groups in the community: • “…workshops help children to think differently, to use creative skills and fine motor skills.” • “…we also included family members and carers who worked aside their children…” • “…helped build closer relationships within the family unit.” • “…encouraged athletes from across the region to take part resulting in a total field of 486 runners.” • “…able to provide junior bowls for free to children and young adults…” • “…now being used as a community resource and we have many regulars, mostly elderly, who use our coffee mornings as a meeting place…” • “…provided social facilities for several groups such as the elderly, the local school Special Needs Group, and the Stroke Society.” • “…connections have even led to instances of intergenerational support.” 4.2 The attached table provides more detail from individual projects funded. 4.3 17 grant recipients have submitted an End of Project Monitoring Report. 4.4 No funds have been identified as remaining from the projects spend.
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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 Arrochar, Tarbert and Ardlui Community Council venue hire and printing posters £650.00 The aims of the project were met. Hard copies of the local place plan were made and distributed. 530 2 Cove and Kilcreggan Lunch Club hall hire, taxi and Christmas meal, trips and outings £1,013.00 We met the aims of the project which were to provide the elderly people of the local community a venue to meet once a week and have a hot meal provided by Kilcreggan Primary School catering staff. The lunch club provides a place for elderly people the chance to engage and socially interact with people of their own age group. 10 3 Cove Park (shared prosperity) workshop leader and assistant fees, materials and travel £2,500.00 The workshops help children to think differently, to use creative skills and fine motor skills. Following past experience running the workshops we also included family members and carers who worked aside their children. This meant the children were more engaged and it helped build closer relationships within the family unit. 440 4 Friends of Hermitage Park Association (shared prosperity) floristry workshops materials £2,500.00 A number of spaces were offered at no cost in each workshop to community groups to promote social engagement. All participants learned new skills, encouraging creativity and time spent in and appreciating our natural environment. The project has had a positive impact on the participants with feedback being very positive. 250 5 Fun First staff and venue costs £2,500.00 For this project we also provided weekly toddler fitness and movement classes, which are a fantastic way to support physical and cognitive development. These classes help toddlers build strength, coordination, and balance, promoting healthy motor skills. When done alongside parents and carers, they foster a deeper bond, providing opportunities for shared experiences and strengthening emotional connections. 967 6 Garelochhead Station a fortnightly craft group £1,108.00 The aims of this project is the reduction of social isolation of the 14
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2022/23 SCF Round of Funding Trust most vulnerable in the community. This was achieved through the provison of craft and model group with those members attending learning and sharing new skills. Some of the members, due to health problems had difficulty taking full part in the activities and were supported by their peer group to fully participate and found the experience uplifting. 7 Geilston Hall Management Committee extension to 31 March 25 a project manager salary for hall repairs £2,500.00 Initial works have proved important with initial assessments including photography to be included in application providing significant information and professional opinion on the prioritisation and full scope of works in this first phase. 400 8 Helensburgh Amateur Athletics Club traffic management contractor for Babcock 10k £1,250.00 The event remains the largest mass participation sporting event in Argyll and Bute attracting runners of all abilities and backgrounds. The event was also nominated as a ‘championship event’ by Scottish Athletics. This endorsement encouraged athletes from across the region to take part resulting in a total field of 486 runners, an increase of 19% on the previous year. 486 9 Helensburgh Art Hub venue hire, tutor fees and art materials £2,500.00 A total of 23 workshops were provided directly through the Supporting Communities Fund funding. This benefitted a total of 167 People. Volunteer hours were provided for the planning and advertising and running of these workshops. An additional workshop was provided for the children supported by jigsaw cornerstone on 4/1/24, 6 workshops were provided for the Royal Navy Submarine charity in September/October 2024 and 8 workshops were provided for Homestart for which volunteer hours were provided. 167 10 Helensburgh Bowling Club lawn bowls and replacing damaged windows £2,500.00 The club has been able to provide junior bowls for free to children and young adults and we are able to support their training and development. The clubhouse is now being used as a community resource and we have many regulars, mostly elderly, who use our coffee mornings as a meeting place to get together with friends old and new. 274
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2022/23 SCF Round of Funding We have provided social facilities for several groups such as the elderly, the local school Special Needs Group, Helensburgh and District u3a and the Stroke Society We have provided resources and assistance to Enable, Grey Matters and children from local primary school. 11 Helensburgh Community Council (shared prosperity) skips to remove waste £2,160.00 Litter and plastic waste was regularly removed from the beach, with much improved appearance for residents and visitors, and the plastic permanently removed from the Clyde. Residents were aware of a regular beach clean last Saturday of the month, and large numbers joined in. 335 12 Jean’s Bothy craft, photography & cooking sessions £2,500.00 Over the 18 crafts sessions we reached over 100 members. This improved skill levels, introduced members to ways to reduce stress & anxiety through creative practice; increased confidence levels and also increased social connections. Our Bothy Calendar and photography sessions improved members skill levels in photography including composition, landscapes; lighting; texture and portraits. Kath was able to share her knowledge about photographers, styles and how to use either a mobile or camera to take images. By including a number of photowalks this also had the impact of getting members outdoors, meeting new people, visiting new places and gaining an appreciation of nature. 349 13 Loch Long Jetty Association a petrol washer, petrol can and printer £558.00 No report received 14 Plastic Free Helensburgh litter pick stations, waste bags and disposable gloves £2,350.00 Yes we held an event in four areas of the town to reach areas not usually covered by our beach cleans. Particularly areas where residents had highlighted an issue with litter. The aim of the events was to engage and involve the local community in cleaning up the area and then by leaving a litterpick station in that area encourage them to continue to maintain the area. In each area we partnered with local groups to make it clear 1520
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2022/23 SCF Round of Funding that we were not going to be responsible for ongoing maintenance but were enabling the local community to take action themselves. 15 Police Scotland Youth Volunteers contact formerly Mark Toner uniforms £2,500.00 No report received 16 Princess Louise Hall consultation fees, consultation days and stationery £2,446.00 No report received 17 Rosneath Community Hub a school cafe and homework club £2,488.28 The program has fostered strong relationships between volunteers and young people, creating an environment of trust and mutual respect. These connections have even led to instances of intergenerational support, with volunteers and youth working together to address challenges and provide encouragement. The café has also become a hub for pastoral care, where youth and families feel supported and know they have a reliable network to turn to for help. 123 18 Rosneath Peninsula Amenity Society heaters and electricity £500.00 Community run library giving free access to books, DVDs, jigsaws etc. Items of library news now posted on Facebook leading to an increase in membership from residents of Clynder and Rosneath. Commenced an exchange of books with Covepark library. 757 19 Rosneath Peninsula West Community Development Trust traffic management, medals, water bottles and first aid £2,500.00 Many people have said how it has encouraged them to get fit and sign up and those unable to participate added their support by marshalling the route. We worked with the local teenage Youth Cafe and they encouraged young people to get involved. We encouraged employees from local GP surgeries to participate, we asked the local groups to join, ie Chair Yoga, Line Dancing, Running Club and many members signed up. This created a really positive local atmosphere. 330 20 Scottish Womens Institute - Millig venue hire, PVG, cookery lessons and leaflet printing £1,426.00 The craft and chat group is ongoing monthly. Good uptake by members. Raising profile of our group. 47
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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 Helensburgh & Lomond 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: 3 of the funded projects addressed climate change 6.8 Fairer Scotland Duty: Compliant with policy 6.9 Equalities - protected characteristics: 3 of the funded projects addressed 6.10 Consumer Duty: None 6.11 Island Communities: None 6.12 Children’s Rights and Wellbeing: 3 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 9 September 2025 For further information contact: Community Development Officer David Hagerty on 01700801088 / David.Hagerty@argyll-bute.gov.uk.