Scottish Sea Farms makes another £100,000 available in grants for 2013
Four community groups – including Lochcarron Sailing Club, Oban Lorne RFC, a Parent Carers Group in Oban, and an arts project in Knoydart – are the happy recipients of Heart of the Community grants from Scottish Sea Farms this month (January 2013). This first round of financial grants marks the start of a year where the aquaculture company has pledged to help numerous local projects with a pot of £100,000 available for suitable good causes in 2013.
Lochcarron Sailing Club will receive £3,000 towards refurbishing sail boats for junior sailors, with Oban Lorne Rugby Club set to receive over £3,000 for training equipment and to help develop rugby for girls in the area. The Parent Carers Group at North Argyll Carers Centre will receive over £3,500 to provide a regular soft play session for disabled children and their parents as well as supporting families in the area with special needs. Knoydart Arts Promotions will receive a grant of approximately £2,000 towards the ‘Natural Festival’, a three day event in 2013.
Over 11,650 individuals across Scotland benefited from the Scottish Sea Farms initiative in 2012 with a total of 29 charities and community projects helped by the Heart of the Community Trust. Cash grants totalling over £100,000 were allocated to those who had applied to the Trust.
Jim Gallagher, Managing Director of Scottish Sea Farms, commented: “We launched the Heart of the Community Trust to support community projects that will deliver lasting change to local communities and allow them to grow and develop. Awards have already been made to help fund projects in the areas of health and health promotion, education and life-long learning, personal development and various community projects that bring long term benefits. We want to hear from more groups and charities in need of financial support this year and would urge them to look at our website for details.”
Scottish Sea Farms first launched the scheme in April 2011 and charities and groups are encouraged to apply throughout the year.
Previous successful applicants have included Lochcarron Playgroup in Wester Ross; Orkney Athletic Club; Dumfries Young Curlers; Eadar Glinn Care Home in the Highlands and Barcaldine Primary School, near Oban. Local pipe bands, summer and winter festivals, sports projects and children’s activity clubs are also among those who have benefited. More details of recipients can be found on the company website www.scottishseafarms.com together with application forms for the Heart of The Community Trust and full details of the criteria required.
