Argyll and Bute Council’s Community Development Team Update

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Community Development
Helensburgh & Lomond: ACPG Update:
• Princess Louise Hall - online meetings and dialogue with the group involving senior
managers in both Estates and Community Planning. The group are awaiting a building
report, commissioned by council, before any remedial works may be possible. Council
Officers and PLH committee met at the hall on Friday 31st to review site and discuss next
steps towards re-opening Howie Pavilion. 
• Continuing to engage with Welcome In and working with group to review governance
structures. This is to help organise and offer a wider activities for members attending the
cafe. This support has a wider link to the ROSC - Recovery Orientated Systems of Care work,
in Partnership between the Alcohol and Drugs Partnership (ADP) and wider Community
Development / Planning Team. 
Ambition for 2025 is to hold a local network event for all agencies involved in alcohol and
drugs recovery work in the H&L area. 
• Kirkmichael Community Development Group committee met late January at County Hotel.
In regular contact with group and have organised meeting with National Lottery Community
Fund to discuss what information is required for a larger bid. 
The KCDG group are organising summer activities and have shown a renewed interest in
developing the area adjacent to the former changing rooms and astro pitch. 
• Aspiring Places – Aspiring Places team working with two local community groups in each
administrative area as part of the testing phase, to ensure platform is ready for launch to all
groups across Argyll & Bute. 
The platform will be an opportunity for groups to publicly highlight their future projects and
define next steps and resources required. This platform can be used to support larger
funding applications, in which funders would expect a defined and staged plan – for example
if applying for staffing costs or building works. 
Ongoing support to community groups / Engagement 
Parents for Change group  – The group’s aim is to offer holiday and respite provision for families /
children with ASN. The group will put forward a model of funding to council officers, while exploring
similar models of holiday activity and support for Children and Young People with ASN in Argyll and
neighbouring authorities. 
Over the last month I have met with a number of community groups to provide advice on funding
and governance. This has included the Save the Tower and Cove Bowling Club with the TSI.
Attended launch of Helensburgh Repair Café  - invited by Helensburgh Community Hub to share my
experiences as a volunteer at Glasgow Repair café to help in the establishment of a local group by
Helensburgh Hub and Jean’s Bothy