Scotmid Co-operative is inviting community groups and projects from the Inverness and Black Isle area to apply for funding through its community grant scheme.
Scotmid’s community grant scheme awards funding to local projects and organisations that make a difference to their local community.
To be eligible for a Scotmid grant, a group or project must be based in a community served by a Scotmid store. Scotmid has 12 stores in the Inverness and Black Isle area, serving the communities of Glenurquhart, Raigmore, Hilton, Balloan, Culduthel, Smithton, Culloden, Balloch, Munlochy, Beauly, Drumnadrochit and Avoch.
Avoch Amenities Association is one of the most recent community groups that has been supported by Scotmid. The grant of £500 was awarded by Scotmid’s North Regional Committee to help with replacing the banks around the community bowling green. Other projects that Scotmid has previously supported in the area include Highland Youngsters with Diabetes, the Libertie Project and Raigmore Girls Group.
Karen McWilliam, Secretary of the Amenities Association, made the grant application to Scotmid. Karen said: “The bowling green is in the centre of the village and used mainly by the older residents of the community. The banks around the bowling green are disintegrating and without some remedial work, the green would be unplayable which would be a great disappointment. The grant from Scotmid means we can replace the banks with paving slabs and the bowling green will be open next year, which is fantastic.”
Laura Paterson, Scotmid Co-operative Membership and Community Officer for the North area said: “For over 150 years, Scotmid Co-operative has been at the heart of local communities across Scotland. Our community grant scheme is our way of giving back to the local areas that are served by our stores, and we are very proud to have supported hundreds of incredible projects over the years.”
She added: “We are currently encouraging not for profit organisations, community groups and local charities from the Inverness area to pick up a community grant form from their local Scotmid store and apply.”
Scotmid donates around a quarter of a million pounds to local causes through its community grant scheme each year. Applications are encouraged for projects that support children and education, active lifestyles, the environment, health promotion, the elderly, homelessness, Fairtrade, arts and culture, and charity.
Community groups and projects can apply by completing a community grant form from their local Scotmid store or online at www.scotmid.coop. Community groups and projects must meet certain criteria to be considered for funding. The applications are then considered by Scotmid’s North Regional Committee. Scotmid’s North Regional Committee is made up of eight, elected Scotmid members from Perth to the Northern Isles.