Communities were invited to apply for Community Regeneration Funding, an umbrella term for accessible funding streams which comprise the Highland Coastal Communities Fund and the Place Based Investment Programme.

Total funds available - £366,861.40 (mix of capital and revenue funding programmes).

Following discussions held as part of the Area Committee, the successful applicants were announced and are as follows –

• The Howard Doris Centre - Developing a Community Wellbeing Hub £59,335
• Torridon District Association - Torridon and Kinlochewe Development Officer £30,000
• Dornie & District Community Hall Committee - Improvements to toilets £38,440
• Gairloch Community Council with Gairloch Area Development Ltd - Gairloch Community Place Plan £22,817
• Plockton & District Community Trust - Tourism Place Plan £15,000
• Coigach Community Development Company - Homes for Coigach £57,942
• Lochbroom and Ullapool Community Trust - Lael Mountain Bike Project Pre Construction Phase £33,180
• Strathpeffer Residents’ Association - Construction of Strathpeffer Community Park inclusive children’s play area Phase 2 £59,335
• Dornie Moorings Association - Moorings & Pontoon Project – Phase 1 £30,910
• Toybox Children’s Centre - Vital Community Childcare £12,500

Chair of the Committee, Councillor Liz Kraft said: “We are delighted to be able to confirm funding support for these very worthy local projects, many of which are being taken forward by hard working community volunteers.

“My fellow councillors and I wish everyone involved all the best as they now move forward with their plans. I would also like to thank our staff who have worked with the groups to bring these projects forward.”

In total, Ward 5 Members awarded £359,459.00 of available Community Regeneration Funding, leaving a balance of £7,402.40. Members agreed to ringfence these remaining funds within the 2023/24 allocation to deliver area priorities, or to support existing projects with budget pressures. This will be subject to full applications being brought to a future committee meeting.

Elsewhere in Caithness, Committee Members considered and assessed applications submitted to the area’s Community Regeneration Fund.

Total funds available this time for Caithness projects is £354,412.98 which is a mix of capital and revenue from the individual funding programmes.

Below is a list of the successful applicants and the amount of their awards for their projects put forward.

Successful Applications:

• Caithness KLICS SCIO – Staff costs - £11,244.80
• Dunbeath Community Centre – Dunbeath Play Park - £28,940.66
• Home Start Caithness – Volunteer coordinator and family hub (Revenue element £3,615)
• Thrumster Community Development Association - Tennis Court Resurfacing - £9,500.22
• Reay Golf Club - Greenkeeping and Coaching Facility – £75,000.00
• Staxigoe Community Football Pitch – Pitch access and extension - £33,871.00
• High Life Highland Youth Development Thurso - Young People’s Project 2024.25 - £29,831.00
• Association of Northern Trails Scotland - Embarking on the North Coast Trail - £20,000.00
• Association of Northern Trails Scotland - Stepping Up on the JOGT - £8,000.00
• John O’Groats Mill Trust - John O’Groats Mill - £50,000.00

The following applications were deferred in order for the applicants to provide more detailed information about the projects, alternative funding sources and their future sustainability to assist the Committee to make an informed decision.

• John O’ Groats Development Trust – Hall refurbishment - £25,000.00
• Home Start Caithness – capital element of application – £68,336.00
• Thurso Community Café – Helping Hub - £27,520.00
• Thurso on Board - Thurso on Board: Business Planning - £9,500.00
• Wick Harbour Authority - Phase 1 of the Harbour Entrance Improvement Works - £100,000

Chair of the Committee, Councillor Ron Gunn said: “The number of applications for these funds demonstrates the local need for and importance of directing funding to the heart of community-led projects.

“On behalf of the Area Committee, I would like to thank all the applicants involved, many of which are community volunteers. We wish the projects awarded funding today the best of luck as they move forward with their plans.”