Supporting Communities Fund 2023/24
Argyll and Bute Council · 13 June 2023
Back to Helensburgh & Lomond Area Committee — 13 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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1 ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL HELENSBURGH AND LOMOND AREA COMMITTEE CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S UNIT 13th 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 Helensburgh and Lomond. 1.2 The total Supporting Communities Fund budget made available by the Council for allocation in Helensburgh and Lomond for distribution in 2023/24 is £38,450. 1.3 It is recommended that 20 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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2 ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL HELENSBURGH AND LOMOND AREA COMMITTEE CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S UNIT 13th 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 Helensburgh and Lomond for 2023/24 is £22,500. 2.2 The total available for allocation is £38,450 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 28 applications from the Helensburgh and Lomond area, requesting a total of £54,995.00. 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. 20 are recommended to be funded. 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 Members are asked to agree that the 20 applications, marked as ‘Award’ within Appendix 1 are awarded funding from the Supporting Communities Fund totalling £38,450. Detailed information about these projects is contained within Appendix 2.
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3 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 28 eligible applications received (requesting a total of £54,995.00), 10 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, 20 are recommended to be awarded funding. 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 fun and healthy pizza making to a community beach clean. 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 £38,450 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 £3,450 from projects from the financial periods 2020/21 and 2021/22 due to changes to planned activity as a result of Covid-19 restrictions. 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.
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4 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 20 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 Helensburgh and Lomond. 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: 0 of the applicant projects are island based. 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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5 Pippa Milne Chief Executive Alastair Redman Policy Lead Councillor 19th May 2023 For further information contact: Ailie Law Community Development Officer 01546 604707 07919 547589 Ailie.law@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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6 Appendix 1 – Assessment Score and Recommendations Ref Applicant Recommendation Assessment Score Value of Project Amount Requested Recommended Award 2023/24 Cumulative Total 1 *Rosneath Community Hub Award 7.5 £7,468.28 £2,489.00 £2,489.00 £2,489.00 2 *Police Scotland Youth Volunteers Award 7.3 £6,354.53 £2,500.00 £2,500.00 £4,989.00 3 **Plastic Free Helensburgh Award 7 £2,350.00 £2,350.00 £2,350.00 £7,339.00 4 **Friends of Hermitage Park Association Award 6.8 £3,200.00 £2,500.00 £2,500.00 £9,839.00 5 **Cove Park Award 6.4 £2,500.00 £2,500.00 £2,500.00 £12,339.00 6 *Rosneath Peninsula Amenity Society Award 6.3 £500.00 £500.00 £500.00 £12,839.00 7 Jean's Bothy Award 6.2 £2,500.00 £2,500.00 £2,500.00 £15,339.00 8 Garelochhead Station Trust Award 6.1 £1,208.00 £1,108.00 £1,108.00 £16,447.00 9 Scottish Women's Institute - Millig Award 6.1 £1,426.00 £1,426.00 £1,426.00 £17,873.00 10 Helensburgh Art Hub Award 5.9 £7,770.00 £2,500.00 £2,500.00 £20,373.00 11 Princess Louise Hall Award 5.8 £3,355.00 £2,446.00 £2,446.00 £22,819.00 12 Cove and Kilcreggan Lunch Club Award 5.7 £2,259.00 £1,013.00 £1,013.00 £23,832.00 13 Helensburgh Bowling Club Award 5.6 £3,407.96 £2,500.00 £2,500.00 £26,332.00 14 Geilston Hall Award 5.5 £2,500.00 £2,500.00 £2,500.00 £28,832.00 15 Fun First Award 5.5 £5,110.00 £2,500.00 £2,500.00 £31,332.00 16 Rosneath Peninsula West Community Development Trust Award with conditions 5.4 £8,621.00 £2,500.00 £2,500.00 £33,832.00 17 **Helensburgh Community Council Award 5.3 £2,160.00 £2,160.00 £2,160.00 £35,992.00
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7 18 Loch Long Jetty Association Award 5.3 £558.00 £558.00 £558.00 £36,550.00 19 Arrochar Tarbet & Ardlui CC Award 5.3 £4,398.09 £650.00 £650.00 £37,200.00 20 Helensburgh Amateur Athletic Club Award (partial award) 5.2 £32,000.00 £2,000.00 £1,250.00 £38,450.00 21 Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs No award 5 £33,000.00 £2,500.00 £0.00 £38,450.00 22 Alzheimer Scotland- Action on Dementia No award 4.9 £2,500.00 £2,500.00 £0.00 £38,450.00 23 Cove and Kilcreggan Youth Café No award 4.9 £10,000.00 £2,500.00 £0.00 £38,450.00 24 Helensburgh Writing Circle No award 4.8 £900.00 £700.00 £0.00 £38,450.00 25 Carr Gomm No award 4.7 £2,875.00 £625.00 £0.00 £38,450.00 26 Helensburgh Lunch Club No award 4.7 £10,750.00 £2,250.00 £0.00 £38,450.00 27 Helensburgh Community Council No award 4.6 £4,260.00 £2,500.00 £0.00 £38,450.00 28 Garelochhead & Rosneath Peninsula Community First Response No award 4.5 £2,220.00 £2,220.00 £0.00 £38,450.00 TOTAL £166,150.86 £54,995.00 £38,450.00 £38,450.00 * 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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8 Appendix 2 – Project Summary Sheet Applications received (in order of scoring by Community Development Officer) for submission to Helensburgh and Lomond 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: *Rosneath Community Hub Recommended Award: £2,489.00 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7.5 Project Summary: Funding is requested for an IPad, a table-top electric oven and 118 x youth/ family worker staffing hours for a school cafe and homework club. Part of the project works with the foodbank using the community garden to harvest, prepare and cook vegetables for creative cooking sessions for adults, supplementing foodbank ingredients with fresh, healthy produce and including fun pizza making for young people. Homework skills for children and employability /digital skills are also supported for adults to improve prospects. The project aims to help all in the community and build resilience. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 2 Applicant: *Police Scotland Youth Volunteers Recommended Award: £2,500.00 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7.3 Project Summary: Funding is required for uniform items such as good quality boots, trousers and belts for 25 x police youth volunteers. The project is returning after the pandemic and works with local secondary schools to gain referrals of young people, up to 40% of whom may be disadvantaged and not able to afford certain uniform items of a robust standard. In addition, costs are required towards refreshments and transport to events where volunteers support community beach cleans, or manage an information stand. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 3 Applicant: **Plastic Free Helensburgh Recommended Award: £2,350.00 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7 Project Summary:
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9 To provide 4 x litter pick stations, including waste bags and disposable gloves. The project links with national environmental organisations and local community groups to encourage people to collect and dispose of litter when they are enjoying the outdoors. The stations are based on the success of a nationwide initiative where people can photograph and share their efforts in keeping local beaches clean. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 4 Applicant: **Friends of Hermitage Park Association Recommended Award: £2,500.00 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.8 Project Summary: To provide a series of 16 x workshops with materials in Botanical Art and Horticulture and Floristry, a percentage offered to mental health groups with the object of increasing skills, wellbeing, creativity and personal and community resilience. This has a social enterprise component to improve resilience of the Park, encourages biodiversity in the local environment while including those who would benefit most that are least likely to afford. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 5 Applicant: **Cove Park Recommended Award: £2,500.00 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.4 Project Summary: Funding is requested for workshop leader and assistant fees, materials and free travel for 4 x free creative workshops for up to 140 children. Workshops will be inspired by the surrounding natural environment, children will use natural dyes to create artworks using a ‘chemigram’ photographic process. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 6 Applicant: *Rosneath Peninsula Amenity Society Recommended Award: £500.00 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.3 Project Summary: Purchase of 2 x electric heaters for library space and towards electricity cost so that a warm spot can be offered in winter for activities such as reading and jigsaws. The main users of the library space are elderly people and pre-school children from 3 rural villages. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 7 Applicant: Jean’s Bothy Recommended Award: £2,500.00 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.2
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10 Project Summary: 18 x craft sessions and 6 x photography sessions, creation and publication of a recipe book and calendar. This 3-fold project for adults with a learning disability focuses on health and wellbeing through, trying new craft techniques like resin – pouring, creating a photography calendar from walks in nature and learning about nutrition and creating a recipe book. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 8 Applicant: Garelochead Station Trust Recommended Award: £1,108.00 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.1 Project Summary: To support a fortnightly craft group, with 40 x free sessions to include materials. The request for a craft group came from the GST members which includes veterans and their spouses. Card making, painted stones, table centres, poppy brooches for remembrance and handmade scarves are examples of items produced. The craft group will link with wider GST membership, local youth groups and the wider community. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 9 Applicant: Scottish Women’s Institute - Millig Recommended Award: £1,426.00 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.1 Project Summary: Funding is requested for venue hire for 40 sessions to include 6 taster sessions for juniors and 4 days of cookery lessons, cookery tutor x 20 hours with leaflets for non-English speakers and 4 x PVG Disclosure certifications. The project aims to reach out to a wider audience to be more inclusive, including young people and ethnic minorities. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 10 Applicant: Helensburgh Art Hub Recommended Award: £2,500.00 Assessment Score (out of 10): 5.9 Project Summary: To fund the venue hire and tutor fees for 40 x hours of ‘Community and Creativity’ art workshops plus art materials. The project targets community groups for artists to work with and is open to the general community. Classes are held at indoor accessible venues, outdoors or online and delivered by experienced and emerging artists. Learners can access tutoring and volunteering opportunities, as well as selling artworks with the aspiration to become self-sustaining. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions
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11 Ref: 11 Applicant: Princess Louise Hall Recommended Award: £2,446.00 Assessment Score (out of 10): 5.8 Project Summary: To fund consultation fees towards a professional building survey, travel for liaison and hospitality for consultation events. An A3 printer, stationery and digital survey are required for communication with stakeholders. The organisation wishes to reinstate the hall as a community focus once more, after several years of neglect. The consultation aims to find out what people want and to reach all members of the community offering them a voice in the hall’s future. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 12 Applicant: Cove and Kilcreggan Lunch Club Recommended Award: £1,013.00 Assessment Score (out of 10): 5.7 Project Summary: Funding for hall hire, taxi and a Christmas meal, trips and outings enabling continuation of a valued older people’s lunch club in Cove Burgh hall that includes nourishing meals, transport and good company, to prevent social isolation and maintain social networks. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 13 Applicant: Helensburgh Bowling Club Recommended Award: £2,500.00 Assessment Score (out of 10): 5.6 Project Summary: Purchase of smaller sized lawn bowls to encourage uptake of the sport by younger people, increasing membership and replacement of damaged windows. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 14 Applicant: Geilston Hall Recommended Award: £2,500.00 Assessment Score (out of 10): 5.5 Project Summary: To fund a Project Manager salary for hall repairs. The hall is B listed status, an options appraisal was produced to address ongoing conservation needs and the roof repair is now a priority. Historic Environment Scotland have been approached for grant assistance, as part of their grants process an accredited person must be approved and appointed to project manage the work. The hall is used by all the community and repairs will ensure continuation of its use in the winter months and secure the building’s future. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions
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12 Ref: 15 Applicant: Fun First Recommended Award: £2,500.00 Assessment Score (out of 10): 5.5 Project Summary: 2 x staff for weekly toddler fitness sessions and venue costs, to ensure continuation of a popular session that includes an obstacle course for toddlers and encourages parents to get involved in children’s key development stage and interact with other families, many from the nearby military base, reducing social isolation. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 16 Applicant: Rosneath Peninsula West Community Development Trust Recommended Award: £2,500.00 Assessment Score (out of 10): 5.4 Project Summary: Funding is requested towards the cost of traffic management, medals, water bottles, first aid for a 10K community walking and running event along scenic coastline, encouraging people of all ages and levels of fitness to participate in its second year of operation. Recommendation: Award with conditions Conditions: Relevant permissions in place for 2024 event for road closures, insurance and evidence of contact with Safety Advisory Group. Ref: 17 Applicant: **Helensburgh Community Council Recommended Award: £2,160.00 Assessment Score (out of 10): 5.3 Project Summary: Funding is required to provide 10 x skips to remove non –recyclable plastic waste from Helensburgh beach cleans for disposal by a contractor. The project works in partnership with other local organisations. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 18 Applicant: Loch Long Jetty Association Recommended Award: £558 Assessment Score (out of 10): 5.3 Project Summary: To provide a petrol powered pressure washer and accessories needed to clean the Loch Long jetty to keep it clear of seaweed and debris in order to avoid accidents or infections to the many users from the community and visitors in the popular location. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions
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13 Ref: 19 Applicant: Arrochar Tarbet & Ardlui Community Council Recommended Award: £650.00 Assessment Score (out of 10): 5.3 Project Summary: Venue hire and printing costs for the launch of a community local place plan, produced in response to strong local demand and with stakeholder consultation for improvements to the area and delivered in partnership with the National Park and local landowners. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 20 Applicant: Helensburgh Amateur Athletic Club Recommended Award: £1,291.00 Assessment Score (out of 10): 5.2 Project Summary: To fund costs of road closure and traffic management to permit over 1,000 runners participating in the Babcock Helensburgh 10K to race in this popular event, organised by a team of volunteers. The club provides a focus for track and field athletics that is unique locally. Recommendation: Award (partial award) Conditions: No conditions Ref: 21 Applicant: Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs Recommended Award: £0.00 Assessment Score (out of 10): 5 Project Summary: Contribution towards project co-ordination staffing cost and litter bin emptying by a contractor along the A82 for the ‘Adopt a Bonnie Banks Bin’ scheme weekly/bi- weekly collection and recycling of litter from the 20 bins in place between Arden Roundabout and Tarbet. This is part of a wider West Loch Lomond litter management collaborative initiative with local businesses in the interests of protecting, enhancing and promoting the National Park. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 22 Applicant: Alzheimer Scotland- Action on Dementia Recommended Award: £0.00 Assessment Score (out of 10): 4.9 Project Summary: Funding is requested for facilitator fees, marketing and props, for 10 x one-to-one and 10 x group music and movement ‘Spin and Turn’ sessions that address memory impairment and mild cognitive decline. The sessions use reminiscence props for older people and younger people with early onset dementia. The project seeks to build confidence and encourage self-expression in a dementia-friendly setting. Funds are requested for printing and refreshments. Recommendation: No award Conditions:
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14 Ref: 23 Applicant: Cove Kilcreggan Youth Café Recommended Award: £0.00 Assessment Score (out of 10): 4.9 Project Summary: Funding is sought for 2 months youth-worker salary. The project enables positive interactions in a rural location, supports resilience of young people after the pandemic and is a safe place to mix freely, expand relationships and improve communication skills through engaging in social activities. Capital costs are also requested for building upkeep, towards the replacement of degraded wooden decking. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 24 Applicant: Helensburgh Writing Circle Recommended Award: £0.00 Assessment Score (out of 10): 4.8 Project Summary: Publication of book, ‘A Sense of Place’ featuring stories from Helensburgh Writing Circle plus author’s fees to talk to the group of older adults about developing writing skills. Sales from the book will be donated to charity. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 25 Applicant: Carr Gomm Recommended Award: £0.00 Assessment Score (out of 10): 4.7 Project Summary: To fund the ‘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: Ref: 26 Applicant: Helensburgh Lunch Club Recommended Award: £0.00 Assessment Score (out of 10): 4.7 Project Summary: Funding is requested towards running costs and a summer 2024 outing for a long established group. The aim of this project is to restore the capacity of the club, from being open for two days each week, to the pre-pandemic level of four days per week and increase the number of members able to take advantage of the club's services and activities. Recommendation: No award Conditions:
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15 Ref: 27 Applicant: Helensburgh Community Council Recommended Award: £0.00 Assessment Score (out of 10): 4.6 Project Summary: Funding is requested for delegation air fares to France and subsistence for a group of local professional people representing education, business, sports, culture and environmental sectors of Helensburgh with young people and Net Zero as their priority focus for an information exchange. The project seeks to create opportunities and experiences for citizens of both towns in a twinning town partnership with Le Taillan- Medoc, Bordeaux. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 28 Applicant: Garelochhead & Rosneath Peninsula Community First Response Recommended Award: £0.00 Assessment Score (out of 10): 4.5 Project Summary: Replacement defibrillator pads and batteries for the local equipment as well as a contribution towards running costs and a new defibrillator for this active first responder group. Recommendation: No award Conditions: