Community projects secure Community Development Fund support

Two community projects have secured funding from the Council's Community Development Fund (CDF), following a meeting of the CDF sub-committee this week.

St Andrews Community Association had requested £23,517 for a project to upgrade St Andrews Community Centre, with Stronsay Community Association requesting support of £41,256 to upgrade Stronsay Community Centre.

The upgrading of the St Andrews Community Centre would see the hall extended to include additional storage space, an upgrading of the heating and water systems and the purchase of new tables for meetings and gatherings. The total estimated cost of the project is £47,034.

The project has also attracted funding from Awards for All and The Robertson Trust.

The upgrading of the Stronsay Community Centre would see the facility extended, providing additional storage space and enhanced technology and facilities for the various users thereby increasing the appeal and sustainability of the facility for years to come. The total estimated cost of the project is £82,656.

Councillor James Stockan is Leader of Orkney Islands Council. He said: "The support available through the Community Development Fund is greatly valued by our local community - it has part-funded numerous projects in these islands, all of which have made local life better in some way. I congratulate these project so on their success and look forward to seeing them progress.

The Council's Community Development Fund was established in 1999 to support a wide range of local projects. The fund is drawn down from the Council's Strategic Reserves Fund and has supported a wide range of local community projects over the last twenty years.

Grant assistance of up to 50%, up to a maximum CDF grant of £100,000 is available towards projects with capital projects of at least £5000.

A key feature of the Community Development Fund is the flexibility of the eligibility criteria, which gives local community groups scope to develop a wide range of project proposals.

Any formally constituted community group can apply - in the past community councils, development trusts, community associations, heritage societies and many other local community groups have successfully bid for funding.

For more information on the fund contact the Council's Economic Development Service on 01856886666, emailing the Council's Economic Development service or dropping into the Business Gateway Service at 14 Queen Street, KIRKWALL.