Western Isles' charities benefit from CalMac Community Fund

The CalMac Community Fund has announced a fresh round of awards of up to £2,000 each to more than 40 local causes across the west coast and Western Isles.

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 The Fund has made 258 awards benefiting over 11,000 people.

Awards include: the Failte Centre in Stornoway, which is used by local clubs to hire, including a lunch club for older people, an autism support group, a dementia support group, baby and toddler groups, and various church groups. Over 800 people attend the clubs and, including those who hire the function rooms for private parties and other events, about 22,000 per year use the centre. The Fund will support the centre with operating costs to continue to benefit the lives of people using the centre.

The Fund will also support the Shed Project to pilot a work experience and life-skill-building programme for young people on Lewis. This will complement the traditional offering in school, which has currently been paused in Stornoway. The group state that unemployment in young people on Lewis is higher than other comparable economies elsewhere in Scotland.

Matthew MacNeil, Youth and Schools Development Manager, said: “The Pilot Project at The Shed are so appreciative of the support received this year from the CalMac Community Fund.

“The award that CalMac have made has enabled us to work in partnership with the management team and Community Education department at the Nicolson Institute/Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, collaborating with the business community and local employers to provide a programme of life skills for pupils in S5-6.”

Other successful groups include Seann Eolaich; Urras Coimhearsnachd Bhràdhagair agus Àrnoil; Cairdean og Allt nan Gall; Stress Monkey Club CIC; Tong Recreation Association; Breasclete Junior Youth Club; Lewis and Harris Youth Football Association; Horshader Community Development Trust; Ness Sports and Recreation Association; P2B Community Association; Stornoway Running and Athletics Club.

Pictured are Shona Campbell from Caledonian MacBrayne with Donald McKee of Failte.

In Skye, the Fund will support Portree Youth Club to hire a Youth Worker to lead the project's activities and engage young people who identified a need for a non-sports or arts group to meet and socialise. The impact of the project would be an enhancement of a new service provision for young people being offered in a remote island location with a dearth of similar activities available. The youth club intends to offer opportunities for young people to connect and reduce social isolation.

Other successful groups in Skye include: Dunvegan and District Senior Citizens Club; Bun-Sgoil Shleite; SEALL; Uig Church of Scotland and Rag Tag and Textile.

In Ullapool, the Fund made an award to An Talla Solais to provide creative projects in the community – including with schools, individuals with physical/mental health needs, those in care settings and other voluntary groups. The Fund will support the group by delivering six mindfulness and creativity workshops to combat loneliness and social isolation.

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.”