Supporting Communities Fund 2024/25
Argyll and Bute Council · 5 June 2024
Back to Mid Argyll, Kintyre & the Islands Area Committee — 5 June 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL MAKI AREA COMMITTEE CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S UNIT 5th June 2024 SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES FUND 2024/25 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 Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands. 1.2 The total Supporting Communities Fund budget made available by the Council for allocation in Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands for distribution in 2024/25 is £29,617.50. 1.3 It is recommended that 15 applicants are awarded funding with the funding available. 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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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL MAKI AREA COMMITTEE CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S UNIT 5th June 2024 SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES FUND 2024/25 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 The report details recommendations for the award of the Council’s Supporting Communities Fund (SCF). The Supporting Communities Fund available by Council in Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands for 2024/25 is £29,500. 2.2 The total available for allocation is £29,617.50 due to 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 39 applications from the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands area, requesting over £80,000. 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/my- community/communities-and-partnerships/supporting-communities-fund) Also the SCF Scoring Matrix can be found here Supporting Communities Fund - Scoring Matrix (argyll-bute.gov.uk). A summary of all applications is appended to this report. 15 are recommended to be funded with the funding available. 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 Members are asked to agree that the 15 applications, marked as ‘Award’ or ‘Partial award’ within Appendix 1 are awarded funding from the Supporting Communities Fund totalling £29,617.50. Detailed information about these projects is contained within Appendix 2. 4.0 DETAIL
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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. 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 39 applications received (requesting a total of £83,451.01), 1 was withdrawn. Of the 38 remaining applications, 22 are either new applicants to the fund or have not applied within the last two years. The standard of applications was high. 4.3 Of the applications to the SCF, 15 are recommended to be awarded funding. Three of these are for island based projects. The applications recommended for funding are labelled as ‘Award’ or ‘Partial 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 a life skills course for young people, delivered in partnership with care home residents, to funding a post for a volunteer coordinator for a community garden. 4.5 Unsuccessful applications, due to funds available, 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 £29,617.50 available for allocation is comprised of: • £29,500 from the Council’s Supporting Communities Fund. • Return of unspent funds from projects from the financial periods 2022/23 due to changes to planned activity. 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 2026, if not before depending on project duration. 5.0 CONCLUSION
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5.1 The Supporting Communities Fund application and assessment process has been completed as set out within its guidance (Supporting Communities Fund | Argyll and Bute Council (argyll-bute.gov.uk). 5.2 The recommendations made fully allocate the funding available for financial year 2024/25. 5.3 The 15 projects being put forward for an award will help communities to deliver priority activities in their area in 2024/25. 5.4 All applicants to the fund are supported throughout the process and beyond by the Community Development Team. 5.5 Given that fund is oversubscribed, the team is considering potential changes to the fund for the future and recommendations will come to members to decide. 6.0 IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Policy: n/a 6.2 Financial: Recommendations in the report are limited to the budget allocation available in 2024/25 for the Supporting Communities Fund in Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands. 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: 7 of the applicant projects are island based. 3 of these are being recommended funding. 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 6.9 The Rights of the Child (UNCRC): None
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Pippa Milne Chief Executive Councillor Mark Irvine Policy Lead 5th June 2024 For further information contact: Ailie Law – Community Development Officer Tel. 01546 604707 Email. ailie.law@argyll-bute.gov.uk Amie Dow - Community Development Officer Tel. 01546 604707 Email. amie.dow@argyll-bute.gov.uk Suzanne Mason- Engagement and Communities Lead Tel. 01436 658933 Email. suzanne.mason@argyll-bute.gov.uk APPENDICES Appendix 1- Assessment Score and Recommendations Appendix 2 – Project Summary Sheet
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Appendix 1 – Assessment Score and Recommendations
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Appendix 2 – Project Summary Sheet Applications Received (in order of scoring by Community Development Officer) For submission to Mid Argyll & Kintyre Area Committee for final decision (maximum value £2,500). Ref: 1 Applicant: Achnamara Community Trust Recommended Award: £1100 Assessment Score (out of 10): 8.5 Project Summary: A DDA compliant handrail for the village hall external ramp to ensure safety. Facilitator costs for 4x 2hr free sessions bespoke first responder, defibrillator and first aid training for up to 12 community members each session to promote health and safety and improve response in emergency situations. Commissioning valuation of a piece of land encompassing the Achnamara slip to further the aim of purchasing the slip on behalf of the community in order to increase community strength and allow them to maintain it. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 2 Applicant: Moving On Mid Argyll Recommended Award: £2500 Assessment Score (out of 10): 8.3 Project Summary: Electricity for 1 year to service a new partnership led Food Share and Advice Support Hub, which will give people and agencies such as Social Services and CAB direct access to free food, support, information and advice, whist promoting referrals to other agencies, autonomy and choice. The long-term intention is to develop a service which supports people to find employment, grow and prepare their own food and decrease reliance on food banks. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No Conditions Ref: 3 Applicant: Youth Impact Recommended Award:£1700 Assessment Score (out of 10): 8.3 Project Summary: Staffing costs to deliver four 6 week programmes teaching essential life skills to people aged 16-25 and a mini programme for 11-16 year olds, thus assisting them to achieve their short and long term life goals. Kitchen Hire for 4 sessions to enable attendees to produce an end of programme meal for partners including Women’s Aid and the Job Centre. Consumables and DIY items such for use during programme sessions. The project is delivered in partnership with residents from a local residential home who will assist in teaching living skills. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No Conditions
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Ref: 4 Applicant: Tayvallich Initiative Recommended Award: £2500 Assessment Score (out of 10): 8.2 Project Summary: Village Hall Hire, refreshments, and consultant fees to deliver 6 x consultant led community consultation days to assist the community to establish a vision for the Tayvallich Community Action Plan in order for the community to identify future priorities and how to meet them as a collective. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No Conditions Ref: 5 Applicant: Kilmory Dunadd Camanachd Recommended Award: £2128 Assessment Score (out of 10): 8.1 Project Summary: 24 Shinty Balls, 5 sticks and 5 helmets to allow players to participate who don’t own their own equipment. Attendance fees and expenses for three youth players to attend Shinty development camp, to develop skills, commitment and insure access to camp regardless of financial means. Mini bus hire, to reduce costs for players and reduce environmental impact by players travelling to games together. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No Conditions Ref: 6 Applicant: Islay and Jura Community Enterprises Recommended Award: £2500 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7.5 Project Summary: 40 x sessions of rookie lifeguard training instruction for 10-15 year olds with targeted transport across Islay and Jura, plus open water safety awareness sessions delivered in schools. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 7 Applicant: Ionad Chaluim Chille Ìle/ Islay Gaelic Centre Recommended Award: £2500 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7.5 Project Summary: Hospitality and refreshments, with advertising and administration for intergenerational Gaelic speaking sessions with Bowmore Primary Gaelic Medium education school pupils. The project will save old stories relating to Islay’s Gaelic Heritage for visitors to the island and for future generations and provide a space for many people who no longer interact in Gaelic to reconnect with their Gaelic Heritage. This social and cultural experience will benefit socially isolated Gaelic speakers, allow them to reconnect with their first language with mental health and wellbeing benefits. Intergenerational transmission of the language will take place through the
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introduction and interpretation of stories about Islay’s Gaelic Heritage from older Gaelic speakers to a new generation of younger people in Islay. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 8 Applicant: South Kintyre Development Trust Recommended Award: £2500 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7.4 Project Summary: Staffing costs for Volunteer Coordinator to ensure continuity of Community Growing Spaces through wider volunteer recruitment. This will progress the Kintyre Climate Action project, Gateway Garden and Herb Garden. Groups taking on a raised bed include The Link Club, Grammar School, Aqualibrium Nursery and Bangladeshi Women’s Group. 2 of the 10 beds are wheelchair accessible. The Volunteer Coordinator will also be a gardener with extensive knowledge of growing, assisting the Head Gardener with the general running of the Community Growing Spaces. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 9 Applicant: Carradale Coastal Creatives Recommended Award: £1896 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7.4 Project Summary: Artists’ consumables and equipment, and hall hire, to enable a user led community art group to launch with monthly meetings for 1 year at minimal cost, and host an exhibition of their works, in order to increase artistic skills, use art as a vehicle for therapeutic work, reduce isolation and improve mental health and wellbeing. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No Conditions Ref: 10 Applicant: Tarbert and Skipness Community Trust Recommended Award: £ 2500 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7.4 Project Summary: 3 x community artist led workshops, including tools and creative materials for young people and families in producing a temporary 3D art installation located in a prominent position within Tarbert village, using marine related litter collected by community beach cleans, fixed to a welded steel framework. Workshops will enable specific community groups including schools to develop the art work and provide an opportunity to engage and discuss origins of local marine litter and care of the wider marine environment with participants, with publicity and refreshments for the events. Recommendation: Award (partial award) Conditions: No conditions
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Ref: 11 Applicant: MACC Business Park Recommended Award: £ 2500 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7.4 Project Summary: Continuation of the development of the young STEM leader rocket launch programme to be delivered in accordance with national standard criteria, learners will complete a rocket launch workshop and achieve a certificate. Teachers will learn skills to deliver the STEM programme in future. The programme continues to be supported by Argyll and Bute Council’s Digital Learning team, SSERC Young STEM Leaders and Developing the Young Workforce. Recommendation: Award Conditions: No conditions Ref: 12 Applicant: Campbeltown Picture House Recommended Award: £2000 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7.3 Project Summary: Film screening fees and staffing costs for 320 people to attend ‘Cans Film screenings’ once a month, to enable low income households to view films for the cost of a can of food, whilst supporting the local food bank with donations during their quiet period. The number of screenings is dictated by the number of attendees at each screening Recommendation: Partial award Conditions: Ref: 13 Applicant: MAC Pool Recommended Award: £500 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7.3 Project Summary: Staffing and overheads for half price swimming for 200 swims for people in receipt of benefits, thus increasing access to swimming for those with low income. Staffing and overheads for 500 free swimming sessions for local children who need to learn to swim Swim floats, aids and play equipment to enable equipment loan for those who require them, and to support children’s swimming lessons and play sessions. Recommendation: Partial award Conditions: Ref: 14 Applicant: DOCHAS Carers Centre Recommended Award: £2000 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7.3 Project Summary: Facilitator costs and materials to hold 16 x 2hr clay based art sessions during groups set up for unpaid carers, young carers, people with dementia and neurological conditions in order to promote mental health and wellbeing and encourage engagement with the service. Recommendation: Partial award
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Conditions: Ref: 15 Applicant: Citizens Advice MAKI Recommended Award: £793.50 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7.3 Project Summary: Laptop, stationary, telephone, internet access and room booking for 3hrs per month for 16 months, to support the launch of a Volunteer recruitment project to tackle poverty and increase community capacity building on the islands and in remote areas of Mid Argyll. Recommendation: Partial award Conditions: Ref: 16 Applicant: Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Mid Argyll Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7.2 Project Summary: Staffing and refreshments for a pie and a (non-alcoholic) pint for men’s social group at MS Centre.12 sessions to improve mental wellbeing and tackle isolation, activities include upcycling of a horsebox, transforming it into a mini workshop and memory boosting conversations using photos of old Lochgilphead and Ardrishaig. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 17 Applicant: Craignish Village Hall Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7.2 Project Summary: Lead practitioner fees, materials and refreshments for 5x Lantern Building Workshops, and a Lantern Exhibition featuring factual talks, information boards, and interactive exhibits to raise awareness of protecting the Celtic Rainforest in Argyll. Open to all, but specifically targeting P6-S6 Children to contribute towards their John Muir Trust Award. Recommendation: No Award Conditions: Ref: 18 Applicant: The Community Bureau Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7 Project Summary: Staff hours, volunteer mileage and refreshments for 36 staff led sessions twice a week, 29th July- 1st December to provide training, learning and social activities identified by group members including IT, Literacy, Arts and Crafts, Health and Wellbeing, and Living Skills. To assist and encourage community members who struggle with IT and social media to have a voice. Recommendation: No Award
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Conditions: Ref: 19 Applicant: Live Music Now Scotland Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 7 Project Summary: 8x Musician’s fees, lunch and travel to deliver a 1 hour participatory music performance to 7 care homes and 2x 45minute performances to one primary school in order to bring music to a wider audience, and improve health and wellbeing. Recommendation: No Award Conditions: Ref: 20 Applicant: Inveraray Senior Citizens Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.7 Project Summary: Transport costs for the annual club Coach trip to the Riverside Transport Museum in Glasgow followed by a visit to Dobbies Garden Centre at Braehead, and funding for an evening meal on the return journey for all 29 attendees to reduce isolation, promote wellbeing and provide a change of scenery. Recommendation: No Award Conditions: Ref: 21 Applicant: South Kintyre Seniors Forum Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.7 Project Summary: Day trips for people over sixty years for wellbeing visits to local scientific, natural history and heritage sites, with transportation and occasional overnight accommodation. The group trialled a successful pilot trip to Culloden and will link with other older peoples groups from Helensburgh and Oban. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 22 Applicant: Ford Hall Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.6 Project Summary: A village event for the community to discuss the formation of the Ford Village Community Action Plan, with entertainment and generator hire, locally produced food and barbequing equipment. Items to support continuation of gardening, book club, fitness club, coffee morning and games sessions. Contribution towards a consultant fee for the Community Action Plan. Recommendation: No award Conditions:
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Ref: 23 Applicant: Isle of Jura Development Trust Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.6 Project Summary: Engagement of a consultant to advise a steering group on how to run a community fund for activities on Jura by appealing to financiers, this will expand on the community action plan, enabling community priorities to be funded by the scheme. Jura does not have any community benefit schemes and the Trust is seeking ways to fund future activities to strengthen community capacity. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 24 Applicant: 1st Campbeltown Brownies Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.5 Project Summary: Coach travel costs and tickets for a group of 30 Brownies aged 7-10 years to the Theatre Royal in Glasgow theatre for Aladdin pantomime performance and including a contribution towards a restaurant meal. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 25 Applicant: Ardrishaig Community Trust Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.4 Project Summary: A social group for older people on low incomes and carers to enjoy 30 sessions of games and musical entertainment with soup refreshments to tackle isolation, including ingredients for soup and venue hire. The group was established to assist with the cost of living crisis, rural isolation and getting older people back into circulation after the pandemic. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 26 Applicant: Bruichladdich Hall Committee Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.4 Project Summary: A bluetooth speaker, circuit training equipment and fitness mats, soft play ball pool and balls and a bingo machine to support existing community activities and start new activities in the village hall. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 27
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Applicant: Cairnbaan Community Trust Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.2 Project Summary: IT equipment, promotional banners, stationary, PPE, public liability insurance, website costs and catering to support the trust to start operating and to deliver 3 community events and a school session in order to bring community members together. Recommendation: No Award Conditions: Ref: 28 Applicant: Culture Heritage and Arts Assembly (CHARTS) Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.2 Project Summary: For a workshop facilitator and their expenses, staffing, director, organisational and promotional costs plus materials to deliver the Keeping it Creel: Fishing in Kintyre’ exhibition which includes 4 workshops at Campbeltown museum for brownies and scouts, older people, rural schools and the general public. One activity will be children designing fisherman’s jumpers and older people knitting the designs. Recommendation: No Award Conditions: Ref: 29 Applicant: Kintyre Seasports Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.2 Project Summary: Certified RYA sailing and canoeing training instruction for people on low incomes and disabled people. Barriers to participation in sea-sports such as stigma in receiving financial support are removed via an anonymous application process. All courses for children and adults are disabled accessible and build skills and confidence to participate in local club sessions without support, including driving safety boats, a fun activity as well as vital to support sailing activity for others. When qualified, participants can take others out on the water as they gain experience. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 30 Applicant: Argyll Talking Newspapers Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.1 Project Summary: An upgrade of receiving and listening technology to assist visually impaired people to stay in touch with their communities via talking newspapers and to access digital audio entertainment. A contribution is requested towards the outreach to install an Alexa device and to explain the technology to users, with assistance from the RNIB, social services and families/ carers. Recommendation: No award
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Conditions: Ref: 31 Applicant: Campbeltown Christmas Lights Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6.1 Project Summary: Insurance, LED Festoon Lighting for the Square which will be permanently installed for year round use, and installation wire for the Campbeltown Christmas Light display and annual parade featuring local businesses and service providers. Recommendation: No Award Conditions: Ref: 32 Applicant: Argyll FM Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 6 Project Summary: Equipment, installation, commissioning and data connection costs, plus recruitment and training costs for volunteers and broadcasters in order to deliver a pilot project to future proof the service, improve reception, accessibility and reliability. Hoping to involve young people in the project. Recommendation: No Award Conditions: Ref: 33 Applicant: JamDram Jura Amateur Dramatic society Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 5.9 Project Summary: Scripts, Licence fees, venue hire for 2 productions and purchase of lighting equipment for a newly established amateur drama group on Jura, to offer high quality affordable productions providing community entertainment and the opportunity for skills development of roles on and off stage, including managing lighting, sound and set changes. The group wants to develop play readings, workshops and productions to encourage others to join and develop theatre skills. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 34 Applicant: South Islay Development Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 5.8 Project Summary: A marquee, hall hire and equipment for children’s sports day including awards and volunteer expenses. Recommendation: No Award Conditions:
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Ref: 35 Applicant: West Kintyre Promotions Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 5.7 Project Summary: Inflatable hire from Event Ninja, artists fees and PA equipment, as well as portaloo hire for a fun day at Clachan, a follow up to the React Funday held in Tayinloan last year, this will be a moveable event across West Kintyre with stalls, live music, games and local food and drink in an all-day event, showcasing the very best of West Kintyre communities. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 36 Applicant: Shopper Aide Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 5.6 Project Summary: Staffing and social activity sessions over 14 weeks for Elderberries group to reduce isolation and loneliness for over 60s including people with dementia. The organisation supports South Kintyre to live independently at home via a variety of services including assistance with shopping, transport and social activities. Recommendation: No award Conditions: Ref: 37 Applicant: Kintyre Way Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 5 Project Summary: Contractor fees for 12 days (approximately 2 per month) to develop income generating arms to the organisation in order to reduce dependency on funding streams. Recommendation: No Award Conditions: Ref: 38 Applicant: Cantilena Festival Recommended Award: £0 Assessment Score (out of 10): 4.7 Project Summary: Pop up workshops and evening concerts of chamber music for strings, piano and guitar, promoting community engagement with classical and traditional music. The festival offers a side-by-side opportunity for students from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow to perform alongside professional musicians for audiences in formal, informal and outdoor community settings, continuing this cultural tradition on Islay. Recommendation: No award Conditions: