Various community groups and organisations have benefitted as Members of Highland Council’s City of Inverness and Area Committee gave their approval to Inverness Common Good Fund applications.
Leader of Inverness and Area Councillor Ian Brown said: “The Inverness Common Good Fund supports projects and activities that provide a direct benefit to the citizens of Inverness and I am very pleased that we have been able to support some excellent projects that will assist a wide spectrum of our community.”
Eight projects have been awarded funding support of over £10,000. The following grants have been awarded:
- £15,800 to Isabel Fraser Residential Home towards a garden room (an outside space for residents and families).
- £11,850 for Inverness Foodstuff towards the Sanctuary Project (Providing Dignity for Homeless Persons in Inverness).
- £15,800 to St. Columba Church of Scotland towards St Columba Community Rooms for South Inverness providing shared community facilities through affordable rooms, accessible toilets, hospitality space, family activities, youth provision, older people’s connections, volunteering, school links, and community group use.
- £10,073 for 3rd Inverness (Crown) Scout Group for the refurbishment of the Scout Hall.
- £30,000 to New Start Highland to sustain and strengthen the Inverness Foodbank.
Inverness BID Ltd has also been awarded £10,005 towards the Inverness City Partnership (In Action) Street Scene (Autumn 2026 and Spring 2027). Street Scene forms part of the wider Safe Inverness and Inverness Community Partnership initiatives. Inverness BID were also awarded £1,600 for public noticeboards and civic information.
Members also agreed to award Inverness Fringe Festival £15,000 to support the planned Inverness Fringe event.
Inverness Common Good Fund Sub-Committee annual report
The work of the Inverness Common Good Fund (ICGF) Sub-Committee for the financial year 2025/26 covering civic hospitality, city promotions, partnership working and town twinning has been scrutinised by Members of the City of Inverness Area Committee.
ICGF expenditure in support of the Victorian Market, Town House, tenancy management and Community Empowerment Act Consultations was also scrutinised.
Councillor Brown added: “I would like to thank the Members of the Inverness Common Good Fund Sub-Committee for the extensive work that they carry out in assessing Inverness Common Good Fund applications to bring recommendations to Members of the City of Inverness Area Committee. Their work and diligence are greatly appreciated.”
Throughout 2025/26 seventy-six ICGF grants were awarded representing a total £538,693 funding for a range of grants addressing for example, poverty and inequality, conferences, partnership working, city promotions, ICGF properties and Town Twinning.
A diverse range of organisations benefited from £213,295 poverty and inequality awards representing a cross sector of recipient age groups, covering sport, community, environmental, cultural, health and wellbeing, accessibility and the arts interests.
Nineteen civic hospitality events were also supported by ICGF at the Town House and Members noted the efforts being made to reduce the number of recurring civic events to reduce costs.
Five conference support grants were awarded during 2025/26 totalling £25,688 for the:
- Northern Meeting Solo Piping Competition;
- Scottish Intergenerational Conference & Excellence Awards 2025.
- Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup Final 2025 and the Shinty -Hurling International 2025.
- Highland Renewables Sustainable Summit & Highland Renewables Network Exhibition.
- Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards 20th Year.
Ten partnership working grants totalling £180,350 were awarded to Inverness BID for partnership projects and to Visit Inverness Loch Ness (£20,000) for Business Tourism. Three other grants totalling £32,700 were awarded to The Oxygen Works, Inverness Angling Club and Visit Inverness Loch Ness
Members noted and continued to support the delegated powers and work of the Inverness Common Good Fund Sub-Committee.