Wide range of Aberdeenshire projects share £400,000 in Coastal Communities Challenge funding
Aberdeenshire Council has awarded more than £400,000 to a wide range of projects through its Coastal Communities Challenge Fund which will create new jobs and hundreds of new volunteering opportunities.
The fund distributes revenues generated by Crown Estate Scotland, with applications being assessed and approved by NESFLAG – the North East Scotland Fisheries Local Action Group – a cross-sector partnership comprising representatives from Aberdeenshire’s coastal and fishing sectors.
The council receives a proportion of this income annually to be used for coastal benefits such as support for local projects or initiatives and, while the level of funding varies by year, it has been allocated nearly £3.8million over the past six years.
Grants are targeted at community groups, third sector organisations and small businesses around Aberdeenshire’s coastline which can fund a range of activities with positive economic, social or environmental impacts. Each of the four coastal administrative areas also receives an allocation of around £100,000 to support local projects.
The council yesterday (Thurs, Nov 27) endorsed grant recommendations made by NESFLAG to support the following projects:
Invercairn Heritage Trail – Phase 1 (B)
Invercairn Community Support Group - Creation of heritage trail connecting Inverallochy, Cairnbulg, St Combs and Charleston - £17,941
Fraserburgh All Weather Sports Facility Renewable Energy Generation
Fraserburgh All Weather Sports Facility - Installation of a solar PV and battery system to enhance new energy efficient floodlights - £29,117
Maggie's Hoosie Preservation
Maggie’s Hoosie - Restoration of exterior - £19,556
The New Gallery
Museum of Scottish Lighthouses - Creation of a new gallery space within the former stores buildings – £49,999
A Free Shared Landing Winch for Small Boat Fishermen
Fraserburgh Harbour Commissioners - Installation of an electric davit for use by inshore fishermen - £26,393
The Fruit Mart
Community Food Initiatives North East (CFINE) - Upgrades and refurbishment to the Fruit Mart building - £35,574
Go Sailing
Peterhead Sailing Club - Refurbishment of safety boat for Peterhead Sailing Club – £10,278
Balmedie Path Reinstatement & Balmedie Country Park Benches
Belhelvie Community Council - Restoration of path and installation of new benches in Balmedie - £12,113
Bervie Brow Bunker Infrastructure for Access
Bervie Brow Research Station and Reserve Limited - Installation of new door, toilets and other visitor enabling works within cold war bunker £21,399
GCRC 10th Anniversary
Gourdon Coastal Rowing Club - Purchase of equipment including oars, trailer and safety gear - £11,150
Mill of Benholm Path Restoration
Mill of Benholm Enterprise - Restoration of circular path through historic woodland - £33,264
EGCP Turning the Plastic Tide
EGCP Limited - Delivery of a 12-month community and educational beach litter programme - £31,929
It’s anticipated that supported projects will deliver a wide range of outputs and outcomes including:
• 1,605 volunteer opportunities
• 2 new facilities created
• 7 existing facilities enhanced
• 2 FTE jobs created
• 8,547m of active travel route created or enhanced
• 23,587 new visitors or customers
• £40,000 increased revenue to sustain organisations
Welcoming the funding awards, ISC chair Cllr Alan Turner said: “Once again we are seeing just how invaluable the Crown Estate Scotland funding is to our communities, supporting a wide and diverse range of projects and initiatives around the Aberdeenshire coastline. Over recent years we have seen firsthand the positive impacts such grants have had on communities within our coastal areas and as we’ve seen from those previous funding rounds, the successful projects continue to deliver an array of social, environmental and economic benefits. I would always encourage interested parties to get in touch as soon as possible to discuss potential new activities and initiatives.”
More information about the Coastal Communities Challenge Fund can be found on the Council’s website at www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/business/business-support/funding/cccf/