As the temperatures begin to drop and the nights draw in, it’s always nice to reflect on how things are going…
Here in the office we’ve been looking back at our funding year so far, considering where we’ve had impact, and of course where there is room for improvement.
What’s been funded
Over the past few months we’ve had a wide variety of applications coming in, from funding for new Community Hall doors, to visitor maps, a pump track, and contribution towards a valuable Mental Health Hive. Our biggest overarching theme however has been improvements to community assets. We invite you to read on to see what some of our groups have been up to….
Chanonry Sailing Club
Chanonry Sailing Club were successful in securing a CISP grant to appoint a Technical Partner to assess the condition of their current slipway and to propose a realistic, costed programme of work to renovate, and if possible enhance the current slipway. The first phase of this project will ensure its some 250 members are able to continue to access the water and take part in the many of the water sports on offer in the area.
Chanonry Slipway
Reay Golf Club
Improvements were at the forefront of Reay Golf Club’s mind too, with a grant awarded to fund renowned golf course architect Mackenzie & Ebert to review the course in detail and agree a way ahead to see where this proactive club can take its stunning course, offering more to club members and visiting golfers alike. With 230+ regular members, and more than 800 visitor rounds of golf delivered each year, we’re excited to see how this project progresses.
Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust
With the colder days coming we’ve seen some Winter proofing applications come in too. The Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust are looking forward to creating a cosier atmosphere in their Community Bothy and Food Larder, after securing funding to insulate the roof. Not only will this project take the chill off the old stone building, it will also continue to help alleviate social isolation and food insecurity and make the bothy a more welcoming space for the many local groups who use it including the Kyle of Sutherlands Men’s Shed, Kyle Fisheries and others.
Our first Islands application
This quarter also saw us welcome our first application from the Shetland Isles!
The Shetland Hyperbaric Centre got in touch to see if we could assist in re-establishing the facility.
“The oxygen chamber is at present in an old, unheated and uninsulated building, unused for 12 years, which we aim to refurbish to a warm, welcoming state. Users will not therefore have to travel to the mainland for treatment, a very expensive and time-consuming process.”
We were of course delighted to assist and have awarded a grant to renovate the existing toilet, to make it a warmer and more welcoming space for users, many of whom are disabled.
We look forward to hearing from all these groups in the coming months to celebrate their wins and progress and learn more about the impact our granting is having.
Feeling inspired?
We love to see groups striving for improvement and taking pride in their communities’ assets. If you have a project you would like help funding, please get in touch. Our Community Infrastructure Support Programme offers grants of up to £2000 to support community groups in the areas of:
- Community Infrastructure
- Energy Reduction
- Community Facilities Support
Although our grant awarding is currently paused, we are still accepting applications for review in January 2026.
To learn more about this programme, check out https://www.northhighlandinitiative.co.uk/cisp/
We look forward to hearing from you!
