Ward Forum To Look At Funding Opportunities For Communities

The Highland Council’s Cromarty Firth Ward Forum has now been meeting regularly for almost a year and has visited Ardross, Alness, Evanton. Invergordon and Saltburn. A wide variety of topics have been considered ranging from recycling and winter gritting to NHS Health Services in the area.

The next Ward Forum is due to be held at the Averon Leisure Centre in Alness on Thursday 26th June at 7.30pm. One of the key topics on the night will be to find out more about the new ‘Leader’  funding stream to see  what sort of projects might be eligible and how communities can tap into this money.

Ward Manager Helen Ross said: “Leader is an EU/Scottish Government funding programme which is aimed at supporting community and economic development in rural areas.  £6m has been allocated to the Highlands for the next 6 years so it is important that communities, groups and clubs find out what funding opportunities may be available to them.”

She also reminded people that any organisation or community groups can apply for assitance from the Cromarty Firth Discretionary Budget for local projects, with preference given to projects that help to draw in other funding. Application forms are available at the Alness or Invergordon Service Points, or on the Council’s web site at:

http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/yourward/ward07/

Also during the Forum there will be an update from the Ross and Cromarty Disability Access Group.

Anybody is welcome to come along to the Forum which starts at 7.30pm with tea and coffee available from 7pm onwards. Questions can be raise during the evening or in advance by contacting Helen Ross at the Invergordon Service Point, 62 High St, Invergordon, IV18 ODH.  tel. 01349 855524 email helen.ross@highland.gov.uk.