Rural projects receive government funding

FIVE PROJECTS by community organisations in Shetland have been successful in attracting funding from the Scottish Government.

They are part of a long list of 180 rural projects across Scotland that are due to share a total of £3 million under the Rural & Island Communities: Ideas into Action initiative.

Burra based arts organisation Gaada has been awarded £18,000 towards design work to improve “their current building to create a sustainable, accessible and fit-for-purpose visual arts workshop and project space”.

This will support disabled and non-disabled members of the local community to participate in the visual arts with specialist support, the funding decision said.

Other local projects successful in this round of funding were:

• Ability Shetland for providing a fortnightly Saturday Club for children with additional support needs (£3,750),
• Sandwick Carnegie Hall towards opening the village hall every Friday between December – March to offer a warm, dry place for people who need support with hot food/drinks and who are struggling with their energy bills (£5,000);
• Shetland Church of Scotland to create new opportunities for social activities and support signposting through the extension and expansion of their ‘Tea, coffee and company’ programme (£5,000);
• Shetland Rape Crisis to develop the outbuilding of their garden premises to create a specialist space co-designed and used by young survivors of sexual harm (£5,000).

Advertisement1 of 10

Scottish rural affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon said: “This investment comes at a critical time for our rural and island communities, who are disproportionately impacted by the cost of living crisis compared to the rest of the country.

“I wish all the successful community groups well as they now look to take forward these projects and make a positive difference to their local areas.”