Cash boost for Assynt Leisure
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The Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland has awarded £5,000 to Assynt Leisure – a grant which takes to £36,500 the total the group has received from the Foundation over the years.
The grant goes towards the salary of the group’s learning centre development manager to deliver support specifically to disadvantaged members of the community.
The learning centre provides support to three groups: young adults with chronic learning/mental health issues; adults who are temporarily incapacitated through physical or mental ill-health and the elderly.
Learning centre co-ordinator Mrs Jane Young said: “We were absolutely delighted to learn of this award as we were very worried if there would be anyone at all to manage the learning centre. This grant will enable us to try for match funding to cover the remainder of the salary cost.”
Opened in 2002, the leisure centre has a sports hall, gym facilities, a youth cafe area and an IT suite. It has a membership of 750 out of a local population of 1,250.
Mary Craig OBE, the Chief Executive of the Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland, said: “I am delighted that we have been able to support this group once again. Assynt suffers from significant social problems, poor transport links and a lack of opportunities. The centre is tackling head-on these negative issues and offering a range of activities and services to improve the quality of life of residents, including those who are disadvantaged.”
Assynt Leisure is one of 40 groups throughout Scotland celebrating a funding boost this month, with grants totalling more than £200,000 having been made in the Foundation’s June awards round.
The Foundation awarded a total of £188,995 through its standard grants programme, the Henry Duncan Awards, and £15,729 through its capacity building awards scheme, which helps charities to get professional advice.
Mary Craig added: “These are difficult times financially for many charities, and I am delighted that we have been able to award them much-needed funds. Eighty per cent of the Henry Duncan Awards will help charities with salaries and running costs. Without assistance like this, many would struggle to survive.”
The community group which runs the leisure, youth and learning centre in Lochinver has secured yet another funding boost from an independent grant-making trust.
