More Scots projects to receive backing from community ownership fund

A HIGHLAND village, near one of Scotland’s most recognisable castles, has been awarded UK Government funding, announced as part of the 2023 spring Budget, delivered by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Dornie – by Eilean Donan castle, near Kyle of Lochalsh – is to receive £280,000 for a community hub to be run by the local Dornie & District Community Trust.

The hub plan is one of five Scots applications to have been recognised by ‘Round two, window two’ funding from the UK Government’s Community Ownership Fund.

The other successful Scots bids were: Forres Town Hall – An Enterprising Community Venue (Forres Area Community Trust, £300,000), Inveraray Pier (Inspire Inveraray, £44,332), Redevelopment of the former New Farm Loch Community Centre (Take A Bow Development Trust, £200,000) and The Aberfeldy Sports Club (The Aberfeldy Sports Club, £300,000).

The ‘windows’ refer to the timings of the second round adjudications: to allow time for the judging to take place.

It means winners too from Scotland from ‘Round two, window one’ funding: Sunnyside Pavilion (Falkirk Rugby Football and Sports Club , £115,000), The Heart (Heart of Newhaven Community, Edinburgh £300,000), Langside Sports Club – clubhouse and pavilion renovation (Langside Sports Club, £100,000) and Lochranza Country Inn (North Arran Community Benefit Society Ltd).

Last year, there were Scots successes from round one of the funding pot: Vogrie Hall refurbishment (St David’s Brass Band, Gorebridge, £127,251), Callander Visitor Information Centre (Callander Community Development Trust Ltd, £124,843), New Galloway Town Hall SOS Save Our Space (Local Initiatives in New Galloway, £175,000), Rannoch Hub (Rannoch Community Trust, £250,000), The Old Forge Community Benefit Society: a community owned-pub (The Old Forge Community Benefit Society Limited, Knoydart, £219,096) and Whithorn Rebuild Renewing the old Town Hall, The Whithorn Trust, £300,000).

The BBC, here, is reporting the Inverary project is a bid to purchase a local pier that once was home to the boat featured in the BBC comedy series, The Vital Spark.

Pictured: Westminster, London, Picture credit: Place Design Scotland

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