tsiMORAY opens fund for community groups

MORAY community groups and public sector organisations are being invited to apply now for cash to kick-start projects.

Grants of between £200 and £2000 are up for grabs through #YOUCHOOSE4. A total of £32,000 is available in tsiMORAY’s latest round of Participatory Budgeting (PB) across two themes – Be Healthy and Connecting Communities through CHIME (Connections, Hope, Identity, Meaning and Empowerment).

Groups can submit their project ideas online through tsiMORAY’s website. The closing date for applications is October 21.

At the #YOUCHOOSE4 launch on Tuesday, September 10, held at Elgin Town Hall, four groups which had received funding through the previous round described how their projects have benefited people of all ages in Moray.

Newly formed Moray Arts Development Engagement impressed the audience with its creativity through the innovative S.PIN project, which combined physical spinning and artistic printmaking.

Keith-based REAP gave details on its Moray Grow Smart project, which took community gardening to youngsters in schools.

And Moray Food Plus presented on two of its projects: cooking sessions in partnership with Sacro, and Nourish sessions where it worked with Moray Rape Crisis. This work helped individuals, groups and families, informed the development of new services, and planted the seed for the Oakwood community garden.

Elidh Brown, project lead for #YOUCHOOSE4, said: "The launch went really well. It’s great to hear that PB is helping community organisations work with more people and partners, shape new services and gain the credible track record required to secure further funding."

Following talks by Moray Wellbeing Hub, Scottish Recovery Network, Scottish Community Development Centre (on Scotland’s PB Charter) and Moray Council, the event was rounded off with a workshop.

#YOUCHOOSE4 is a collaboration between tsiMORAY, Moray Wellbeing Hub, Health and Social Care Moray, Moray Alcohol and Drugs Partnership, and Scottish Recovery Network.

The applicant toolkit can be downloaded at www.tsimoray.org.uk/youchoose4.

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