Appendix 1 - Letter for funding A&B May 2023

Page 1

Helensburgh.twinning@gmail.com 
Facebook @helensburgh.thouars 
1st May 2023 
FAO Mrs Shona Barton
Argyll & Bute Council 
Dear Shona, 
Further to my email earlier, please accept this letter as a formal request for funding from the Twinning Association. 
As mentioned in the letter last year the French committee decided to cancel their visit to Helensburgh for 2022 due to
the pandemic. To get the bi-annual dates back on track they have decided that they will return to Helensburgh in 2025.
Given our inability to fundraise, and the cost-of-living crisis the committee are hopeful that the Twinning Association
will receive the Twinning grant as previous years so that we can give our visitors from Thouars a wonderful time in
Helensburgh. When they come, the plan is very much to keep as much of the activities for the economic benefit of our
surrounding area, giving a much-needed boost to local Argyll & Bute businesses. For 50 guests, for example, entry to
the Hillhouse could cost upwards of £12 per person, so £600. This would also obviously only cover one day of a 7-day
packed itinerary. 
The funding would assist further with this summer’s plans. A group from Helensburgh are all booked to travel to France
in July, and this will be the impressive 40th Anniversary with Thouars. We have offered to pay for a catered meal when
we go to France as we have skipped a year of hosting due to the pandemic and feel it appropriate to contribute to the
40th anniversary celebrations. 
Our committee would welcome the support of elected members in maintaining this historical & well-established
twinning link and its associated costs. And we thank the elected members for their continual support over the years. It is
very much appreciated. 
I look forward to hearing from you. 
Yours sincerely 
Deborah Dennett
Secretary, Helensburgh and District Twinning Assoc.