Kyle Community projects get funding after public vote

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Kyle Community Council area locals had the chance to cast their votes on Saturday (17 March 2018) at the first ever ‘Kyle Let’s Decide’ participatory budgeting event held in the Lighthouse Centre, and as a result a wide range of community projects are now set to benefit.

Around 60 people took part in deciding which projects should be supported from the £10,000 funding pot.  £4,000 was made available by the Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh Councillors from their Ward Discretionary Budget and this was boosted by £6,000 from the Scottish Government Community Choices fund. 

Participatory budgeting is a process of allocating funding by empowering local people to decide how funding should be spent.  All applicants gave a 3 minute pitch to make their case for funding and then attendees were asked to vote for the 4 projects that they thought would make the Kyle Community Council area a better place.  A total of 5 out of the 9 projects put forward by community groups have been successful and will now receive funding to help them put their ideas into action.

The successful bids were awarded as follows:

·        Kyle Parent Council – Talking, Learning and Leisure Playground Upgrade - £2,000

·        Lochalsh Youth Community Trust – Just a Habit?  Diversionary Youth Work - £1,940

·        Lochalsh Leisure Centre – Family Fun Hour - £2,000

·        Lochalsh Junior Pipe Band – LJPB Succession Band - £2,000

·        Kyle Public Hall – A Hall Fit for All Accessibility Improvements - £2,000