PROJECTS BEING PLANNED by several Moray groups will be bidding once again for a share of funds available from the Scottish Government funded scheme ‘Money for Moray’.

On Saturday community groups and projects will state their case at the Grant Hall in Rothes, with each hoping to leave with the promise of up to £4000.

The cash will be allocated to those who, in the view of the gathered audience, have a project that is aimed at new or additional measures to tackle social isolation. That is being defined as when an individual experiences a lack or absence of contact from such as family and friends, community access or services.

Representatives from each group seeking funding will give a short presentation on their proposals – and when all have done so it will be for those members of the public present to vote for the projects they believe are the most deserving.

Money for Moray is a participatory budgeting scheme pioneered in Moray last year – it is now being used across Scotland in around two-thirds of local authority areas, as a means of communities making democratic decisions about funding for themselves.

The Money for Moray Working Group ran a successful participatory budgeting scheme in 2016, culminating in two public events in May and June that allocated £120,000 of funds to 34 projects that will benefit the local economy of rural areas in Moray.

Doors at the Grant Hall will open at 9.30am on Saturday (March 25) for a 10am start. Each applicant will be given two minutes to present their project.

Those attending will be expected to remain through all presentations – lunch will be provided free of charge during the vote count.