£417,912 of funding for 14 Community Projects in Caithness

Caithness Members have approved £417,912 worth of funding bids aimed at supporting economic regeneration and sustainable development across the north.

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

Area committees are awarded devolved allocations according to approved formulae and decision making on which projects should receive funding sits with elected Members. The total allocation for the Caithness Committee is £552,010

Following discussions held earlier today (Monday 6 February) as part of the Caithness Committee, the 14 successful applicants were announced and are as follows –

• Caithness KLICS - £19,954 to cover staffing costs
• Friends of North Baths – £12,997 for repairs and maintenance
• Home-Start Caithness - £41,485 to employ a volunteer co-ordinator
• Staxigoe Community Football Pitch * - £36,307 for pitch improvements
• Pennyland School Parent Council * - £39,380 to create a wellbeing path
• Pultneytown People’s Project - £36,178 for staff to run a Prepare For Work Club
• Sinclair Bay Trust * - £3,096 to install notice boards
• Caithness Voluntary Group - £42,533 to support Here For Caithness project
• Staxigoe & Papigoe Community Group ** - £41,267 for upgrade to community hall
• Lyth Arts Centre* - £25,000 for art-based wellbeing activities
• Caithness Mental Health Support* - £16,770 for extension to services
• Reay Hall SCIO - £53,000 for hall refurbishments
• Wick Development Trust - £39,943 for Wick Campsite upgrades
• Thurso Youth Club SCIO - £10,000 for phase 2 refurbishments

*Requires confirmation of match funding before project starts
**also subject to a building warrant being in place

Members also agreed that the balance of £134,098 goes to top up funding for the refurbishment of Chapel Road toilets in Wick following an increase in costs.

Councillor Ron Gunn, Chair of the Caithness Committee, extended his congratulations to the successful projects and said: “We are delighted to be able to confirm funding support these very worthy local projects, many of which are being spearheaded by voluntary groups.

“Although each project is unique, the people behind them all share an ambition and real commitment to bring about lasting improvements to benefit not only their local communities but also for the many visitors to Caithness.

He added: “My fellow councillors and I wish everyone involved all the best as the hard work starts and they move forward with their plans. I would also like to thank our staff who have done a lot of hard work in a short timescale to bring these projects forward.”