Community life all over Argyll and Bute has received a boost after 94 community groups were awarded a total of £140,000 in Third Sector grants in 2014.

The Third Sector Grants programme is aimed at supporting communities and vulnerable people, and helping to kick start new projects and events. The council is always keen to encourage new groups with fresh ideas to apply for the grants.

Now, community groups are being encouraged  to apply for Argyll and Bute Council’s Third Sector Grants for 2015.  The deadline for the return of completed application forms for a decision at the April Area Committee meeting is Monday 2 February 2015.

In Helensburgh and Lomond, £35,000 grant funding supported 18 groups and organisations in 2014, including  Rosneath and Clynder Senior Citizens Association, Helensburgh and Lomond Autism/Asperger's Society, Cove and Kilcreggan Youth Café, and West of Scotland Military Wives Choir.

Anna Rogers, of West of Scotland Military Wives Choir, said, “Receiving a Third Sector Grant has helped to ease the financial strain of running a successful and worthwhile community choir in Helensburgh.  The choir acts as an amazing support network with many lasting friendships being forged along the way.  We are thankful the Council was able to help support us with this grant so that the choir can continue to thrive within our local community.”

The £35,000 grant funding made available to the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands area supported 26 groups and organisations this year, including the Loch Fyne Viking Festival organised by Tarbert Mooring and Berth Holders Association, Moving On-Mid Argyll (Mo-Ma), Islay Youth Pipers, and Shopper- Aide. 

Susan Paterson, of Shopper-Aide, said, “The Third Sector Grant helped us immensely as it allowed us to provide expenses for our volunteers without whom we cannot work to help older people in Kintyre to remain in their own homes and live as independently as they can for as long as possible.”

In Oban, Lorn and The Isles £35,000 grant funding has supported 22 groups and organisations to date this year, including Tiree Music Festival, Oban Disability Forum,  New Start Oban, Luing Social Committee and Mendelssohn on Mull Trust.

A spokesperson for Mendelssohn on Mull Trust said, “Argyll and Bute Council's Third Sector Grant is helping to fund a new programme of island-wide music workshops which are now taking place on a regular basis. This is creating access to high quality music tuition for the children on the Isle of Mull and the results are already visible and extremely encouraging.”

The £35,000 grant funding allocated to Bute and Cowal has supported 28 groups in the area this year, including Bute Advice Centre, Sandbank Senior Citizens Club, Beachwatch Bute and Starter Pack Cowal.

Glenda Wilson, of Starter Pack Plus, said, “Starter Packs Plus is a voluntary organisation run by the churches in Cowal to help support vulnerable individuals and families. The Third Sector Grant has allowed us to provide new toasters, kettles and cleaning materials as well as helping us to keep our volunteers safe by meeting our Insurance costs, without which we could not run the project.  Our project began in November 2008, and on average we respond to between 60 and 70 referrals annually.”

Application forms are available from the Kirkmichael Centre, Kintyre Community Centre, Lochgilphead Community Centre, Lorn Community Learning Centre, the Moat Centre, Bute, or Dunoon Community Learning Centre or they can be accessed using the following link:

www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/council-and-government/third-sector-grants 

 Advice and support on funding is available from the Council’s Community Development and Social Enterprise teams. For further information or guidance please phone 01436 657608 or email communitydevelopment@argyll-bute.gcsx.gov.uk