Your Cash Your Caithness – Community groups celebrate after funding is awarded following public vote

The winning groups along with Wards manager Alex Macmanus ( right ) and Wick and East Caithness Highland Councillor and Civic Leader for Caithness Willie Mackay ( left ) who compered the event .

Local people in Caithness cast their votes on Saturday (27th January 2018) at a Highland Council participatory budgeting event held in Thurso High School.

Eleven out of the 18 projects bidding for £15,000.00 of community funding were successfully voted for by over 100 people who registered to vote on the day.

Applicants were given a 3 minute slot to sell their project with a further 2 minutes allocated to allow any questions from the audience.

The event was chaired by the Caithness Civic Leader and Wick and East Caithness Councillor Willie Mackay.

Councillor Mackay said: “I am really pleased and delighted to see so many people turn out to take part in the fourth “Your Cash, Your Caithness” participatory budgeting event in Thurso High School. We had 18 groups giving presentations to a community audience, who then voted for them on their merits.  The event handed out just over £15,000.00 to local good causes.

“I firmly believe handing decision making to the community it is a great way to support community empowerment and helps build community cohesion.  This event is an opportunity for Caithness groups to meet new people and find out what is happening locally. 

“This process is all about handing decision-making back to the community and its part of our localism agenda, which has seen devolving of further powers from the Highland Council to Caithness. 

“Congratulations to the winning teams; I look forward to seeing how you use the money and our thanks to everyone who made the day such a success.”

The successful bids voted for by the audience are as follows:

• Staxigoe Community Football Pitch – Community football pitch - £1,500
• Caithness Pony Club – Cross country jumps - £1,500
• Thurso Youth Club – provision of youth facilities and services - £1,500
• Berriedale & Dunbeath Community Council  - flower and welcome sign displays - £1,500
• John O’Groats Development Trust – John O’Groats book festival - £1,050
• Thurso Heritage Society – building refurbishment - £1,500
• M Miller Geise farm – woodland  walk  - £1,450
• The Wick Society – Visual heritage - £1,400
• 2nd Thurso Scout Group – Thurso/Brilon/Paderborn exchange 2018 - £1,500
• Hearing and Sight care – I.T. intergenerational pilot - £1,500
• Caithness Deaf Club – B.S.L. interaction and inclusion - £1,000