Funding boost to regenerate Inverness community projects
Members of the City of Inverness Area Committee have approved Deprived Area Funding applications for: Merkinch Partnership £59,000; Merkinch Enterprise £18,750; Inverness Blitz (Highland Wildcats) £9,500; Arts in Merkinch £30,000; and The Conservation Volunteers Scotland £18,480.
Leader of the City of Inverness Area, Councillor Ian Brown welcomed the funding approval for the community projects, he said: “The difference that these organisations can make working among our local communities can have a real impact on the quality of life of many individuals especially our young people, the unemployed and vulnerable. I welcome the positive impact that the projects will make for many people and am delighted that we are able to support these initiatives through the Deprived Area Fund.”
Funding for the Merkinch Partnership Community Building Blocks Project will help the Partnership to deliver a range of projects aimed at working with unemployed people to move them into the labour market; training and developing local volunteers and working with local people to build capacity and skill and encourage community leadership.
The Merkinch Enterprise Community Training for the Unemployed project aims to Promote Training Skills through the provision of a dedicated Information Technology Training Programme for the Merkinch and wider Inverness Area including Dalneigh.
Inverness Blitz (Highland Wildcats) Positive Life Pathways project uses American Football to engage young people in positive activities. A Youth Development Officer working with schools and other organisations will identify young people aged 14 - 18 years old living in deprived areas of Inverness who experience social isolation and attempt to help them work to change their lives in a positive way.
Arts in Merkinch aim to promote the social, physical, emotional and economic health of the local community by developing skills and providing access to the arts and cultural activities.
The Conservation Volunteers Scotland Inverness Green Gym based at Merkinch Local Nature Reserve aims to support long term unemployed people and those with physical and mental health issues with a sympathetic and supportive environment in order to progress towards a full engagement in society.
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