Members agree to repurpose funding to help more projects in Badenoch & Strathspey

Two worthwhile community projects in Badenoch and Strathspey have been awarded new funding following a special meeting of the Area Committee yesterday (13 February 2023). 

A decision on funding for the projects had been deferred from last week’s full Area Committee meeting to ensure all members were present during the decision-making process. 

Yesterday, members at the special meeting of the Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee, unanimously approved the repurposing of funding from the Ward’s COVID-19 Fund and Place Based Investment Fund for two specific projects. 

They agreed to repurpose £4,068 from the Ward’s COVID-19 Fund to help Cairngorm Mountain Trust’s school skiing project and £10,000 from its Place Based Investment Fund to help Kingussie Camanachd Club complete the second phase of its Market Stance Playing Field Upgrade. 

The School Skiing Project provides an opportunity for primary seven school pupils across Badenoch and Strathspey to learn how to ski. It will support P7 school children from all primary schools in Badenoch & Strathspey. Today’s fresh cash injection by Badenoch & Strathspey Area Committee will be used to fund travel costs. 

The Market Stance Playing Fields will regenerate the sporting activities of groups in Kingussie, and the increased physical activity will have a clear positive improvement on people’s “wellbeing” both physically and socially. 

It was agreed at a meeting of the Highland Council on 7 January 2021 that Wards with unspent COVID-19 funds could decide to spend this on projects that would assist children and adults post-COVID, especially within deprived areas. Members also agreed to help community projects with any Ward 20 Place Based Investment Fund underspend.  

Chair of the Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee, Cllr Russell Jones, said: “We are delighted to have been able to approve the repurposing of funds from the COVID-19 and Place Based Investment Fund to assist two fantastic projects within the ward. 

“Both projects will deliver tangible benefits to not only our young people but our communities in Badenoch and Strathspey.” 

He added: “The School Skiing Project and the Camanachd Project both represent hope and positivity going forward. The health, wellbeing and social benefits they will deliver are crucial as we continue our recovery from COVID-19.”

Background

School Skiing Project 

The School Skiing Association (BSSSA) is a volunteer organisation working with schools to co-ordinate an opportunity for primary aged children in Badenoch & Strathspey to ski or snowboard. Cairngorm Mountain Scotland Ltd (CMSL) has pledged to support the BSSSA and will provide a means for all local children to experience snow sports on the mountain and have offered to cover the costs of ski passes and equipment hire for school children participating in the project who require it. 

The ski tuition costs for the project are being covered by BSSSA. The tuition provided is fully inclusive recognising that the needs of pupils can vary, the tuition programme will cater for all pupils offering bespoke support, dependant on need, including those with learning or physical disabilities. 

BSSSA will meet any additional expense in staffing or equipment required for participants with additional needs. Members today unanimously agreed to repurpose £4,068 from the Ward’s COVID-19 budget and to award it to the Cairngorm Mountain Trust. 

Camanachd Club Project 

This multipurpose Playing Field will be used for a wide range of sports and by people of all ages for walking, recreation and physical activity and therefore has a clear link to addressing the four harms of COVID-19. 

The approval of today’s £10,000 of funding will go towards phase 2 of the project and help erect high sports fencing around the boundary perimeter and install sports floodlighting. It will also assist with the purchase of a second-hand sit on mower. 

The project, which totals £173,259, has also received support from SportScotland, Community Ownership Fund, community and club fundraising and Highland Council’s Place Based Investment Programme.