Argyll and Bute Council’s Community Development Team

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Community Development Update for Helensburgh and Lomond ACPG
Supporting Communities Fund 2024/25
The Supporting Communities Fund 24//25 will be opening for application on the 5th February. The
fund accepts applications to the value of £2,500 from community organisations looking to make a
difference in their local community.
The fund focuses on the 4 areas of Fairer, Resilient, Greener, Creative communities and CDOs can
advise groups on their eligibility prior to submitting an application.                                                                
Further information can be found at:
Supporting Communities Fund | Argyll and Bute Council (argyll-bute.gov.uk) 
Education Scotland inspection.
The Community Learning & Development Partnership; (Live Argyll’s Community Learning & ABC’s
Community Development Team) recently completed an inspection from Education Scotland on the
partnerships’ work taking place between the 8-10th of January. This included focus groups with
community activists and learners working with CDOs across Argyll and Bute.
Immediate positive verbal feedback was given by Education Scotland Inspectors, on the breadth and
quality of work across the two organisations. The full published report is anticipated within 6 weeks. 
Joint webinars with NHS Public Health 
NHS Public Health and Community Development have followed up work with the Area Community
Planning Groups by offering 4 webinars to community activists across the 4 administrative areas.
Approximately 60 community members, staff and members of the voluntary sector have attended
the sessions in January 2024. 
This was an opportunity to further explore the use of the reports and statistics in preparing grant
applications with the Community Development Team as part of these sessions. 
New Gaelic Development Officer started:  
Mairi MacLennan has recently started as the Council’s Gaelic Development officer, joining the
Community Development team. Mairi’s role will be looking to build on the language learning and
rich heritage of Gaelic in Argyll and Bute. This includes developing opportunities for new learners
and speakers of Gaelic to use their language / new skills in different settings.
Much of Mari’s work will be in partnership with existing language and learning groups; schools,
colleges and national organisations. If you want to say hello or learn more, feel free to email     
Mairi.MacLennan2@argyll-bute.gov.uk