Shona Campbell, CalMac Customer Engagement Manager with Tom Paton, Mairi Macleod and Amy Rigg of Cycling Without Age -
Charity groups in the Western Isles are being urged to apply soon to the CalMac Community Fund.
Last year, a number of local groups successfully applied to the Fund, including Cycling Without Age – Lewis and Harris, The Failte Centre, and Stramash Stornoway are beginning to deliver outcomes,
The Fàilte Centre offers a range of services for toddlers, men’s cancer groups and dementia groups to name a few while Stramash Stornoway create opportunities for young people to develop and express their musical talents.
Cycling Without Age received an award to purchase a trishaw. This has allowed the group and their 40 volunteers to reduce social isolation among the community’s elderly population.
Amy Rigg, volunteer at Cycling Without Age, said: “The last few years have been particularly challenging for Care Home residents, and they have perhaps felt the effects of social isolation more than most.
“This project gives them the opportunity to once again navigate the outdoors, feel the wind in their hair and be active participants in their local community -
CalMac’s customer engagement team manager, Shona Campbell, based in Stornoway, said: “It really was a truly humbling experience to visit these two great charities and see the amount of work each volunteer has put in to ensuring our communities can still engage and feel included.
“It makes me extremely proud to work for CalMac and see the difference our Community Fund is making to people’s lives.”
Since its launch in 2019 the CalMac Community Fund has helped 195 groups and supported more than 11,000 people during challenging circumstances.
Gordon McKillop, corporate social responsibility nanager for CalMac, said: “We are pleased with the difference our fund has made so far and we hope to support more impactful projects that benefit the lives of people living in our communities."
Eligible organisations can apply for an award between £500 and £2,000. The Fund will be open until 6 January 2023.
The next application check point is 14 November 2022 and groups that apply before then will be considered for an award in December 2022. More information can be found at calmac.co.uk/community-
CalMac offers funding to community groups
6 November 2022
Alannah and Karen Logue from Stramash Stornoway