Ardrossan and Arran groups helped by CalMac Community Fund

The CalMac Community Fund has announced a fresh round of awards of up to £2,000 each to local causes across Ardrossan and Arran.

Charity groups helping to support those in need by tackling poverty, social isolation, providing community transport and improving wellbeing within their communities have benefited from funding from the ferry company. Since it was set up in 2019, the CalMac Community Fund has made 258 awards benefiting over 11,000 people.

The Three Towns and District Men’s Shed provides recreational facilities and advance the social needs, health and wellbeing of men of all ages and backgrounds. An award from the Fund will allow the group to purchase a 3D printer.

Pictured: The Three Towns and District Men's Shed.

Corrie Primary School will use their award to ensure that the whole school engages in swimming lessons. The group believes that swimming is a vital life skill, but also an important tool to encourage a fun, healthy lifestyle, with all the health and safety benefits that being able to swim brings for their island community.

Pictured: Corrie Primary pupils with Alan Tannahill, Brodick port assistant.

The Arran Pioneer Project will use their award to buy the compost, seeds, plants, tools and garden sundries that are required across all community garden sites for the season.

Simon Ross-Gill on behalf of Arran Pioneer Project said: “The CalMac Community Fund will have a huge impact on the work of volunteers growing food at community gardens around Arran during the 2023 season. The activities at the gardens bring people together to reduce social isolation and have a positive impact on the wellbeing not only of the volunteers, but everyone who enjoys the gardens and produce grown there, while also allowing people to access the space and learn the skills to grow healthy fresh produce for themselves and their communities.”

St Peter’s Children’s Centre, Kilmory Bus, Isle of Arran Music School and Arran Community Land Initiative were also successful.

Gordon McKillop, CalMac’s Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, said: “We made a conscious effort to understand the challenges our communities are facing and shaped a Fund to react to those needs. We know the cost-of-living crisis is shifting the poverty line at a time when communities are rebounding from the pandemic.

“CalMac is engrained in Clyde and Hebridean life and we have a responsibility to ensuring life thrives. Our Community Fund continues to deliver impactful outcomes and we are excited to see the difference made by these new awards.”

Helen Wray, Head of Programmes at Foundation Scotland, said: “At Foundation Scotland we are proud to continue to work in partnership with CalMac to manage their Community Fund. The importance of supporting small grassroots community groups and charities to meet the needs and rise in demand they are seeing in their local communities is hugely important particularly as the cost of living is rising and more people are struggling. It is always impressive how local communities respond to changing needs and this funding will make a real difference to the lives of people living in Clyde and Hebrides communities.”

Pictured: The Three Town Growers.