Community projects benefit from ward funding in Badenoch and Strathspey
Members of the Badenoch and Strathspey Committee have this week noted the 29 community projects that have benefited from more than £30,000 of Ward Discretionary Funding since 2023.
14 projects were supported in the 2023/24 financial year and 15 in 2024/25. All Council Wards receive a discretionary budget, and it is for Ward Councillors to consider what they wish to commit funds to, in line with Highland Council objectives and outcomes.
A further 24 projects were also supported through the Place Based Investment Fund, Covid Fund, Regeneration Fund and Play Park Allocation of Scottish Government Funding.
Councillor Russell Jones, Chair of the Badenoch and Strathspey Committee, said: “It is extremely rewarding to know that our ward funding has supported more than 50 community projects in the last two years. These projects of all sizes ranged from sporting equipment, winter clothing and changing room refurbishment, to museum exhibitions, access guides and community food provision.”
A diverse range of community projects were funded including the Badenoch and Strathspey Access Panel’s project to update and redistribute the disabled access guide for the area, the Cairngorm Mountain Trust’s project to support children from six local locals in learning to ski and the provision of winter jackets and waterproof shoes in Grantown and Kingussie. Two large projects were also completed in Aviemore and Newtonmore which resulted in the community led refurbishment of two local play parks.
Councillor Jones continued: “We are always pleased to work with local organisations and groups to support projects that mean so much to our communities in Badenoch and Strathspey and I would encourage eligible community groups to apply for funding from the 2025/26 Ward Discretionary Fund allocation. Small grants are available from our ward discretionary budget and larger grants are available from other sources such as the Community Regeneration Fund. We are always keen to fund as many projects as we can from the funding budget to make positive changes for our communities.”
The Ward Discretionary Fund allocation for 2025/26 is £14,381 and funds are currently available for applications from eligible community groups. The guidance notes and application form for community groups and bodies to use when applying to the Ward Discretionary Fund can be found at this link.
The approved Ward Discretionary Fund applications for 2023/24 and 2024/25 were:
2023/24
- Grantown Museum and Heritage Trust: Landseer – A Highland Romance - £1500
- Riverside Bowling Club: Refurbishment of football changing rooms - £500
- Newtonmore Winter Lights Association: Community storage and repairs - £990
- Newtonmore Business Association: Centenary Garden Project Consultation - £750
- Strathspey Works: Grantown Remakery - £880
- Newtonmore Camanachd Club: Safety padding for club house - £964
- Kingussie Parish Church: Winter jackets and waterproof shoes for pupils - £2000
- Cairngorm Mountain Trust: Badenoch and Strathspey Skiing School - £2568
- Newtonmore Tennis Club: Purchase of table tennis table - £126.08
- Grantown Grammar School: Winter jackets and waterproof shoes for pupils - £2000
- Newtonmore Business Association: Community defibrillator - £1000
- Badenoch Shinty Memories: Social activities - £850
- Feis Spe: Gaelic names and legends of mountains and landscape - £900
- Badenoch & Strathspey Food Hub: Supporting food poverty - £971.92
2024/25
- Newtonmore Tennis Club: Introducing Pickleball - £670
- Ellanwood Road Play Area: Sprinter board replacement - £500
- Mossie Road Play Area: Replace timber boards on climbing unit - £300
- Dulaig Play Area: Replacement slide - £1200
- Newtonmore Association: Leaflet reprint - £820
- Nethy Bridge & Vicinity Community Council: Grass cutting equipment - £2000
- Newtonmore Community Woodland & Development Trust: Wildflower panels - £1500
- Newtonmore Community Woodland & Development Trust: Wildcat Trail bridge installation - £1000
- Aviemore Community Enterprise Co Ltd: Outdoor classroom link path - £1800
- Kingussie Parish Church: Weekly lunch for pupils - £2000
- Feis Spe: February Feis Day 2025 - £600
- Kincraig & Vicinity Community Council: Football goal posts - £200
- Grantown Outdoor Bowling Club: Net Zero technology - £500
- Grantown YMCA Community Centre: Community storage - £500
- Badenoch & Strathspey Access Panel: Update disabled access guide - £791
A full list of funding awards can be found in the committee report at item 9.