A Community Regeneration Fund award of £50,000, approved by members of Highland Council’s Isle of Skye and Raasay Committee, is to help Skye and Lochalsh Young Carers.
It will help the group towards achieving their long-held ambition for new premises. Members were asked to agree to the award of £50,000 to the Young Carers New Build – Design Stage 4 project, subject to approval of a £70,000 funding proposal submitted for the Scottish Government’s Islands Programme 2025/26.
Chair of the Skye and Raasay committee and Education Chair, Cllr John Finlayson, said: “I am delighted to see this funding approved for the Skye and Lochalsh Young Carers, a vital service which works closely with local schools and families and provides essential additional support to young people who in many cases may have substantial caring duties.
“Since it was established in 2000 the SLYC has assisted dozens of young carers and their families. Many of them might otherwise have been shouldering enormous levels of responsibility unknown and in silence.
“These young people who provide a caring role at home are a resilient and incredible group. They have had a long-held ambition to establish a permanent home for the group in Portree, and these funds will help them towards realising their goal of a new, safe, accessible, and fun space to call their own.
“The Council working with local members has previously supported the group with Community Regeneration Funding and I am delighted that this latest financial support is contributing to the work of this vital service in Skye and Lochalsh.”
The final design phase for the Young Carers new build project – led by the Skye and Lochalsh Community Care Forum – will support the completion of the detailed building warrant drawings and tendering documentation for the capital phase of the build.
The total value of the work for this project is £129,735.
The balance of £9,735 is the subject of a current application to Skye Renewables.
Previously an award of £37,548 was made in April 2024 by the CRF Strategic sub-group, to go towards an earlier phase of the design. This funding was provided through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The Committee also noted the following Ward 10 Discretionary Budget applications approved since their last meeting.
- CFINE - Fairshare in Highland - £1,100.00
- Rag Tag Textiles Ltd - £999.00
- Seall - Festival of Small Halls - £500.00
- Kyleakin Local History Society - £2,000.00
Community Regeneration Funding is an umbrella term for a number of funds that are available for communities/organisations to access in Highland. It currently comprises elements of the Highland Coastal Communities Fund (HCCF) and the Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP), both of which are Scottish Government Funding streams to support economic regeneration and sustainable development in Highland. Area Committees are awarded devolved allocations according to approved formulae and decision making on which projects should receive funding sits with elected members.
The full report is available to read here (item 5): https://www.highland.gov.uk/meetings/meeting/5275/isle_of_skye_and_raasay_committee/attachment/86088