Funds boost for projects across the north
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HERITAGE works in Ross-shire have been awarded grants to support ongoing initiatives aimed at improving life in a range of community settings.
The Coigach and Assynt Living Landscape Partnership (CALLP) Community Grants Scheme awarded sums totalling £27,000 to a variety of groups.
These include Ullapool Museum, which was awarded £5000 to support the transfer, documentation and publication of collections related to the Coigach area, as well as volunteer training to carry out the work.
The Isle Martin Trust was awarded the same sum for employment of a part-time ferry operator as well as to help the training and mentoring of volunteers.
And Drumbeg Development Association received £3800 to create displays and interpretation to mark the 140th anniversary of the opening of the local school, including creation of a dry-stone seat made from stones collected from the old school building.
Other funds went to projects monitoring bat numbers, identification of lichens and workshops for Gaelic learners.
Boyd Alexander, project manager for the Coigach and Assynt Living Landscape, said: "This year’s awards demonstrate the wealth of natural and cultural heritage that can be found in Coigach and Assynt.
"We’re delighted to be able to provide support for such a great range of projects where a relatively small amount of funding can make a huge difference.
"There are a limited number of sources of funding at the moment and this scheme provides a very valuable and targeted source of funding to enable small projects to happen that might not otherwise get off the ground."
The CALLP Community Grants Scheme offers grants to community projects that complement those taking place through the wider landscape partnership scheme and provide benefit to people living within the project area.
Grants of up to £5000 are available to organisations and £1000 to individuals.
Grants are awarded up to a maximum of 75 per cent of the total project cost and applications for the next round of funding will open in January 2019.
The Coigach and Assynt Living Landscape Partnership Scheme aims to bring environmental and economic benefits to the Coigach and Assynt regions of north-west Scotland, with the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund.
It is made up of 14 partner organisations, of which the Scottish Wildlife Trust is the lead partner. Collectively these partners are committed to delivering a programme of 28 individual projects by September 2021.
