Community minded sisters seek £3000 funding for Reay youth project
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Two Reay sisters involved in various community projects in their area are seeking funding to create a special garden for local children.
Nicky Herd (34) and her sister Natasha Clugston (29) set up a youth group called Reay Young-Stars CIC to help engage youngsters in Reay with activities to enjoy outside of school.
Natasha said: "We realised that after Covid lockdowns and once our own children had began nursery and school that there really wasn't a lot for the younger people of Reay to enjoy outwith school. The previous toddler group had stopped running so we took the decision to start up a new stay-and-play group 0-5years (Little Stars) and an after-school club 5-12years (Big Stars)."
The project started in July 2022 and has gone from strength-to-strength to become a Community Interest Company that received council funding for a major project helping children better understand where food comes from and the impact of sustainability.
"We have recently distributed over 30 food parcels, Tesco vouchers and offered assistance to people struggling with remaining warm with the cost of living crisis. We have been able to work with other organisations in order to offer further assistance and to be able to direct those to the correct service," added Natasha.
The sisters are also in the process of acquiring permissions and funding to set up a community sharing shed/larder within the village and have held events, with more planned, for Reay residents of all ages.
Now Nicky and Natasha have managed to get to round three of a funding initiative by Youth Highland called Young Grant Makers and hope to source £3000 to upgrade a small garden area to the rear or Reay Hall and the border around the car park. "The young people are keen to make their own fairy garden around the apple tree area," said Nicky.
"This area will also require a new ground weed control sheet, new bark chips to be applied and a border fence to surround an apple tree. The funding will be used to carry out gardening activities such as planting flowers and to make bug houses."
The sisters say that the youngsters in their group are hoping to use the space to grow their own vegetables and fruit. It will also allow them to create their own garden ornaments and have a sense of ownership of the outdoor area as well as some gardening experience, they add.
In the longer term, locals will be able to access these areas, take fruits and vegetables and enjoy the work of the young people. Reay Young-Stars members intend to make their own bug and fairy houses and seek craft items to decorate these. "If the young people can have the resources that they have requested, they will have more sense of ownership and pride in the area," said Natasha.
If you wish to vote for Reay Young-Stars please click this link forms.office.com/e/g4i1SdDMer and make it your first choice in the Young Grant Makers. Voting closes on May 31.
Further info on Reay Young-Stars can be found on its Facebook page or by emailing reayyoungstars@gmail.com
Young Grant Makers is a pot of funding contributed to by The National Lottery, HADP (Highland Drugs and Alcohol Partnership) and The Corra Foundation, administered by Youth Highland. Young people from across the Highlands can apply for up to £3000.
Two successful applications have been awarded to young people in Caithness so far with a combined total of £5880.
