PR-Grant Awards 2016-R2 Published on 1st June 2016


Ten groups are to benefit from the Caithness & North Sutherland Fund’s latest round of grants following the grant body awarding over £165k, recording its largest assessment round commitment since its launch in 2011.

CNSFund Chair Frances Gunn said ‘We are pleased that the Fund is attracting a healthy level of applications which highlights that there is a strong appetite for community development activity within the Dounreay travel to work area. We continue to look forward to supporting worthy projects that help ensure a sustainable future.’ 

One of the groups was Wick Players who was awarded £15k towards cost to carry out improvements to the Players’ club rooms roof.   The local drama group use the premises in Wick to rehearse productions, construct and store scenery as well as house their extensive costume collection. Wick Players also use the building to hold numerous social events and the facility is considered essential to their work.

Allan Bruce, Vice-Chair of Wick Players said “Wick Players are delighted at being able to secure funding from CNSF as the refurbishment programme is essential in securing the long term future of the club.  We have a very old building to maintain and due to the poor condition of the roof, repair bills are increasing year on year. The grant award from CNSF has also helped us to secure some match funding and we are awaiting confirmation from the last one shortly. Completing the roof refurbishment will enable the club to drive down future running costs and continue to invest in modern technologies, enhancing future productions for many years to come.”

The other beneficiaries were; Staxigoe Play Park who saw £30k awarded towards its new play park project.  Reay Golf Course also saw £30k granted towards costs to purchase the clubs golf course greens.  CVS North was granted £25,582 towards costs to commission a three year community project consultancy service that will provide technical support to community groups to help develop their projects.  Timespan-Helmsdale Heritage & Arts Society was awarded £15k towards costs to improve and update its current museums exhibitions to deliver a new exhibition of local and regional relevance.  Caithness Voluntary Group also saw £15k being awarded towards a new community minibus for its Caithness Rural Transport service.  North Lands Creative Glass was granted £14,103 towards costs to undertake its Creative Community Project delivering ‘Room 13’ and ‘Creativity in the 3rd Age’ initiatives that will provide a programme of workshops and outreach projects targeting the younger and older generations.  Thurso Golf Club was awarded £10k towards costs to purchase a new tractor unit and attachments to help maintain and improve the drainage and quality of Thurso golf course.  Lybster Outdoor Bowling Club was granted £7,350 towards cost to undertake a programme of improvement works to the Lybster outdoor bowling green and Latheron Agricultural Society was granted £3,500 towards improvements to the Latheron Show infrastructure that will include a new portacabin, signage and generator.

The CNSFund assesses applications quarterly and the Fund’s 2016 application schedule and how to apply can be found at www.cnsf.org.uk or by contacting the Coordinator David Shearer on enquiries@cnsf.org.uk  Tel: 07841 204 982.