COMMUNITY GATEWAY TEAM AND LEADER ORGANISE AND HOST “MEET THE FUNDER” EVENTS

The Comhairle’s Community Gateway service and Outer Hebrides LEADER team – both integral parts of the Development Department’s Economic and Community Development service – co-hosted a series of ‘Meet the Funder’ events across the Outer Hebrides recently.

The ‘Meet the Funder’ events were held on 22 May in Barvas & Brue Community Centre; 23 May in Balivanich Community Centre; and 24 May in Castlebay Community Centre – where a wide range of national and local funding-bodies met with a large number of groups and individuals to discuss funding options for community-based projects.

Major organisations such as BIG Lottery, Heritage Lottery Fund, Sports Scotland and Children In Need were in attendance at the events. These organisations have assisted with major projects-of-scale across the Outer Hebrides over recent years, in addition to providing equipment and support to many local community initiatives.  Other funders in attendance were: Community Energy Scotland; Scottish Government Rural Payments Inspections Directorate; Highland & Islands Enterprise; Business Gateway; the Forestry Commission; and a range of other support agencies such as Community Ownership Support Scotland and Co-Ceangal Innse Gall.

The ‘Meet the Funder’ days drew praise from individuals and community groups attending, and the events were felt to have clarified which funder(s) can provide funding for which type(s) of community projects. Funders were impressed with the numbers of people attending, and the range of organisations they represented, as well as their dedication, commitment and quality of community projects in the Outer Hebrides.

A BIG Lottery spokesperson commented:

“We have been delighted at the response to our Big Information Days in the Western Isles.   With such an impressive turnout we’ve been able to speak to a number of people about their project ideas while offering advice on potential sources of Lottery funding. Groups that were unable to attend can still contact our Information and Enquiries line on 0300 123 7110 and speak to one of our team about their project.”

In all, over one-hundred potential projects across the Outer Hebrides were discussed over the three days – which is very encouraging indeed for communities throughout the area.

A range of Comhairle Capital Grant schemes for community groups was also highlighted at the events, and Comhairle staff were on-hand to provide advice about these on-the-day.

The Comhairle’s Community Gateway team administers Capital Grant schemes for community-based projects. Together with LEADER staff and other colleagues in Economic development nearly 200 community projects across the islands have been supported in the past four years, during the current Capital Programme.

That investment has helped to lever additional external funding of over £12m into the local economy during this period.

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