Funding boost for small community groups across Shetland
Twelve small community groups are to receive grants of up to £5,000 from the first round of a new-look funding scheme run by Shetland Charitable Trust.
One of the more unusual projects is by Transition Turriefield, the Sandness-based vegetable-growing enterprise, which is to get £5,000 to assist with the first year of its Grow Shetland Project to help people grow their own food.
Grants of £5,000 are also going to three local groups dedicated to providing hot meals or a weekly day care service to elderly and other vulnerable people throughout the South Mainland.
The innovative drama group Brenna Players is receiving £5,000 to expand drama production into new areas and Shetland Samaritans will receive a £4,000 boost to strengthen and promote its free help service.
The combined Tingwall, Scalloway and Burra junior football club TSB will get £2,375 to buy new youth goals and repair existing ones.
On the music scene, Shetland Folk Society’s Young Fiddler of the Year competition in September will be supported by a £2,300 grant and the music social group The Bop Shop gets £2,196 for film and sound equipment.
These awards (see full list below) come from the trust’s Small Grant Scheme, which helps groups with a turnover of less than £50,000 a year and focuses on projects seeking to reduce inequality and social exclusion in island life, which is now the principle aim of all the charitable trust’s grant schemes.
Charitable trust chairman Dr Andrew Cooper said: “It is fine to see so many people in Shetland willing to give of their time as volunteers to make all these great ideas spring to life. The trust is delighted to do its bit to help.”
The funding pot for the Small Grant Scheme in 2021/22 was increased from £30,000 to £100,000 to help small groups overcome funding challenges or to extend their helping hand to more people in the community.
The initial round has resulted in awards totalling £39,470, allowing trustees to launch a second round which is open to applications from 26th April until 7th June. Details are on the trust’s website.
Meanwhile, larger charitable organisations have the chance to apply each year to the trust’s Main Grant Scheme, which this year is paying out £8.3m to 26 local projects and organisations.
Ends
For more information, contact John Robertson on 07775 407 796 or email noostmedia@gmail.com
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Shetland Charitable Trust Small Grant Scheme 2021/22
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Organisation |
Grant amount £ |
Purpose |
|
Brenna Players |
5,000 |
To develop capacity to expand local drama into new areas. |
|
Dunrossness Inter Church Fellowship |
5,000 |
To provide a weekly day care service for house bound, or otherwise socially isolated, elderly people within the South Mainland |
|
Gulberwick, Quarff and Cunningsburgh Community Council |
5,000 |
To provide a weekly free hot meal to vulnerable and lonely members of the community during the coronavirus pandemic |
|
Islesburgh Sixty-Plus Group |
1,224 |
To provide social, recreational and educational activities for people in the sixty plus age group. |
|
Shetland Folk Society |
2,300 |
To assist in staging the annual Young Fiddler of the Year Competition in September 2021. |
|
Shetland Samaritans |
4,000 |
To provide the Samaritans’ service free to all in Shetland who need to use it and to promote this service to those in the wider community by going to shows and other charity events. |
|
South Mainland Community Association – Senior Citizens |
5,000 |
(1) To provide monthly meetings for senior citizens in the district to allow them to meet together and socialise. (2) To provide a weekly free hot meal to vulnerable and lonely members of the community during the coronavirus pandemic |
|
The Bop Shop |
2,196 |
To purchase new equipment including chairs, tables, a projector, a projector screen and sound mixer for community use. |
|
TSB Junior Football Club |
2,375 |
To purchase new youth goals for use at Fraser Park and repairs to existing youth goals at both Fraser Park and Hamnavoe all for club and community use. |
|
Transition Turrifield |
5,000 |
To part fund year one of the Shetland wide Grow Shetland Project to support more individuals and groups to grow their own food. |
|
Whiteness and Weisdale Good Companions |
500 |
To assist with the running costs of the club which offers a Summer outing/meal and Christmas meal. |
|
Yell Senior Leisure Club |
1,875 |
To assist with running costs of the club which offers senior citizens the opportunity to meet together, socialise and participate in activities. |
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TOTAL |
39,470 |
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