EIGHTEEN CHARITIES AND COMMUNITY groups have benefited from a total of £15,000 through tsiMoray’s ‘Canny Wi’ Cash’ initiative.
The groups receiving funding cover a wide range of projects that help to promote healthier adults and older people throughout the region.
Canny Wi’ Cash is a participatory budgeting initiative facilitated by tsiMORAY that allows the community groups and people affected by the decisions to decide which projects should receive funding.
Community, voluntary or not-for-profit organisations were encouraged to apply for small grants from £100 up to a maximum of £1500 to support activities that focused on early intervention or preventative work when it comes to adult health.
The groups were then invited to decision-making events in late August where they could view anonymous project proposals and vote for the ones they would most like to see become a reality.
Martin Robertson, Development Officer for tsiMORAY said: “We were very impressed by the sheer number of high-quality proposals we received from local groups.
“We are delighted to provide a total of £15,000 to support these 18 projects, and I hope this funding helps their plans to become a reality. What is most important though is the community affected by the decisions were able to decide which projects would be most valuable to them.”
One of the groups who have benefited previously is T Time from Cullen, a luncheon and social group for older people. A spokesperson for the group said: “The money provided a Christmas meal to 105 people in our community. They were so grateful for this opportunity. We catered for pensioners, widows and for two care homes who all said this was a real bonus at Christmas.”
This year was the second in which the initiative has been operating in Moray with a total of £60,000 now awarded to small community-led groups.
Grants were awarded to:
- The Lampie Hoose where the money will be used to buy a music centre and CDs to facilitate activities for those with early dementia.
- Moray Coast Table Tennis Club to buy some much needed equipment and to assist in expanding their membership to include children and adults aged from 10 to 80 year olds.
- Inspirational Colours to pay for venue hire, art and craft supplies, tea and coffee and social activities for those with mental health conditions.
- Happy Hanovers to purchase games equipment which will allow group members to take part in gentle activities and to promote social inclusion for tenants of sheltered housing.
- Buckie BALL Group where the money will be used to improve and extend the exercise programme, purchase a hands-free microphone for dance instructors and provide transport for their social outing.
- Elgin Stroke Friends to pay for a day out to the Boyndie Centre and put on a Christmas party event for members.
- Moray Retired Person’s Friendship group where the grant will be used to pay for hall hire for a full year’s worth of meetings.
- Bishopmill BALL Group where the funding will purchase kurling sets, bowls sets, boccia, skittles, adjustable indoor nets and games sets, street bowls and a secure storage unit.
- Elgin Youth Café to host four tea parties and four cooking programmes aimed specifically at older people.
- Lossiemouth Bowls Group where the funds will be used to repair, paint and maintain the clubhouse, replace kitchen equipment and purchase new equipment to maintain the green.
- Speyside Car Share Scheme to help cover the phone costs which facilitate the service and to cover volunteer expenses for the 30+ volunteers required to keep the service running.
- Castlehill Veg, Getting Incredible where the money will be used to purchase garden tools, raised beds, a storage shed, seeds, netting and canes so that people of all ages and abilities can grow food in public spaces for members of the community to help themselves to.
- Grant Hall, Rothes to purchase new catering equipment so that community groups can utilise the kitchen as well as the installation of induction loop systems for the deaf and hard-of-hearing.
- Cullen BALL Group to fund a variety of workshops including exercise sessions, talks, craft sessions and more to allow for a of varied programme of activity for older people.
- NHS Retirement Fellowship Group where the funds will be used to pay for venue hire for 10 month’s worth of meetings and to invite an interesting variety of speakers to the events.
- Moray Mental Health where the grant will pay for regular bus trips from April through to October to allow accessibility to the group’s drop in sessions and to fund a regular newsletter.
- Dallas Senior Citizens Network where the grant will pay for a summer outing, Christmas party and two day trips.
- Portgordon Lunch Club to purchase games equipment which will allow the group of mixed physical ability to take part in regular games to sustain members’ health and wellbeing.
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