Council provides funding
for community run projects
Over £190,000 worth of grant money to local community groups has been agreed by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Sustainable Development Committee in a move to support community led projects.
The money, which will be split between four community groups throughout the Western Isles, comes from two community support funds and will be used to support building alterations and maintenance and renewable projects, including refurbishment of the Callanish Centre and the Back Football and Recreation Club as well as building works at the Benbecula Community Centre and the procurement and installation of community wind turbines by Sealladh na Beinne Moire.
Chair of the Sustainable Development Committee Archie Campbell welcomed the decision, saying: ‘This is great news for our community groups. We have some excellent facilities in our islands but in order to maintain the high standards of these facilities funding is required from time to time. This funding which has been released will be of enormous benefit to the groups and to the relevant communities.’
Back Football and Recreation Club has been awarded £50,000 from the Community Regeneration Challenge Fund in order to assist with upgrading toilets, remodelling the kitchen and partitioning the main hall to create a more dextrous space which will allow flexibility for community use.
A further £50,000 has been awarded to the Benbecula Community Association in order to help complete the external works, such as parking and lighting of the popular new Community Centre.
The Visitor Centre at Callanish has received £41,150 from the same fund to expand the kitchen and toilet facilities and maintain the high quality experience for visitors.
Community Group ‘Sealladh na Beinne Moire’ has been awarded £50,000 from the Community Renewables Support Fund in order to purchase and install nine 20kW wind turbines within the community, and enabling the group to create the islands’ first Energy Supply Company.
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