Lochaber Area Committee support a place based funding approach to play provision
Lochaber Area Committee Members met on Monday 7 February and agreed funds received from the Scottish Government’s play park renewal fund of £37,919 would be split equally between Ward 11 Caol and Mallaig and Ward 21 Fort William and Ardnamurchan.
A Play Provision funding round incorporating additional place-based funds – with £35,658 available - will open shortly to allow communities in Fort William and Ardnamurchan to apply for grants up to a maximum of £7,000 for play provision improvements or facilities.
The additional funding which has been made available for the whole of Lochaber play provision is vital to the well-being of local communities. A place based approach to improving the play provision across Fort William and Ardnamurchan will also add to this sense of well-being. Partnership working, community involvement and utilising local knowledge to identify possibilities to reflect the needs and wants of young people living in Lochaber will allow for the best outcomes. The Council encourages all those who meet the criteria for funding to submit an application.
The Fort William and Ardnamurchan Play Provision funding round will open on 11th February 2022 and the closing date is 11th March 2022. Play area provision and details of how to apply for funding can be found here. It is anticipated that a maximum of applications can be supported.
The Highland Council can support local communities by signposting them to additional funding opportunities and advising them on suitable equipment choices, site layout and inclusive provisions. The Council where required can also monitor equipment installations.
Play areas do not always have to include equipment such as swings and slides, they can be designed using the existing natural surroundings and introduce additional landscape features such as mounds, crawling tunnels and boulders or they can be hard standing area with painted graphics for playing the likes of hopscotch, snakes and ladders.
For more information about how to get involved with upgrading local play areas across Highland, please contact: amenity.services@highland.gov.uk.
The application form is the same one used for the Highland Council Ward Discretionary Fund and can be found on the Highland Council Website here:
Grants - Ward Discretionary Fund (external link) or search ‘Grants for Communities’ at www.highland.gov.uk (external link)
Anyone requiring further advice or guidance on the grant application process can contact Derek Manson, Asst. Ward Manager for Ross, Skye and Lochaber at derek.manson@highland.gov.uk.