Badenoch and Strathspey projects boosted by £30k discretionary fund
Members of Highland Council’s Badenoch and Strathspey committee have put on the record their support for local community projects.
They have listed the 29 community projects that have benefited from more than £30,000 of ward discretionary funding since 2023.
In the 2023/24 financial year 14 were funded, with another 15 in 2024/25.
All council area receive a discretionary budget, and it is for ward councillors to consider what they wish to commit funds to, in line with Highland Council objectives and outcomes.
A further 24 projects were also supported through the Place Based Investment Fund, Covid Fund, Regeneration Fund and Play Park Allocation of Scottish Government Funding.
Councillor Russell Jones, chair of the Badenoch and Strathspey committee, said: “It is extremely rewarding to know that our ward funding has supported more than 50 community projects in the last two years.
“These projects of all sizes ranged from sporting equipment, winter clothing and changing room refurbishment, to museum exhibitions, access guides and community food provision.”
A diverse range of community projects were funded including the Badenoch and Strathspey Access Panel’s project to update and redistribute the disabled access guide for the area, the Cairngorm Mountain Trust’s project to support children from six local locals in learning to ski and the provision of winter jackets and waterproof shoes in Grantown and Kingussie.
Two large projects were also completed in Aviemore and Newtonmore, which resulted in the community led refurbishment of two local play parks.
Councillor Jones continued: “We are always pleased to work with local organisations and groups to support projects that mean so much to our communities in Badenoch and Strathspey and I would encourage eligible community groups to apply for funding from the 2025/26 ward discretionary fund allocation.
“Small grants are available from our ward discretionary budget and larger grants are available from other sources such as the Community Regeneration Fund.
“We are always keen to fund as many projects as we can from the funding budget to make positive changes for our communities.”
The cashpot available for 2025/26 is £14,381 and funds are currently available for applications from eligible community groups.
The approved Ward Discretionary Fund applications for 2023/24 and 2024/25 were:
2023/24
Grantown Museum and Heritage Trust: Landseer – A Highland Romance - £1500
Riverside Bowling Club: Refurbishment of football changing rooms - £500
Newtonmore Winter Lights Association: Community storage and repairs - £990
Newtonmore Business Association: Centenary Garden Project Consultation - £750
Strathspey Works: Grantown Remakery - £880
Newtonmore Camanachd Club: Safety padding for club house - £964
Kingussie Parish Church: Winter jackets and waterproof shoes for pupils - £2000
Cairngorm Mountain Trust: Badenoch and Strathspey Skiing School - £2568
Newtonmore Tennis Club: Purchase of table tennis table - £126.08
Grantown Grammar School: Winter jackets and waterproof shoes for pupils - £2000
Newtonmore Business Association: Community defibrillator - £1000
Badenoch Shinty Memories: Social activities - £850
Feis Spe: Gaelic names and legends of mountains and landscape - £900
Badenoch & Strathspey Food Hub: Supporting food poverty - £971.92
2024/25
Newtonmore Tennis Club: Introducing Pickleball - £670
Ellanwood Road Play Area: Sprinter board replacement - £500
Mossie Road Play Area: Replace timber boards on climbing unit - £300
Dulaig Play Area: Replacement slide - £1200
Newtonmore Association: Leaflet reprint - £820
Nethy Bridge & Vicinity Community Council: Grass cutting equipment - £2000
Newtonmore Community Woodland & Development Trust: Wildflower panels - £1500
Newtonmore Community Woodland & Development Trust: Wildcat Trail bridge installation - £1000
Aviemore Community Enterprise Co Ltd: Outdoor classroom link path - £1800
Kingussie Parish Church: Weekly lunch for pupils - £2000
Feis Spe: February Feis Day 2025 - £600
Kincraig & Vicinity Community Council: Football goal posts - £200
Grantown Outdoor Bowling Club: Net Zero technology - £500
Grantown YMCA Community Centre: Community storage - £500
Badenoch & Strathspey Access Panel: Update disabled access guide - £791