Grant to Kyle trust will create four jobs

The £250,000 grant awarded to the Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust by the Scottish Government’s Aspiring Communities Fund will create four new jobs.

Eleven community organisations in the Highlands and Islands have been granted a total of £1.5 million to develop and deliver long-term solutions to tackle poverty, based on local priorities and needs

The Aspiring Communities Fund, which levers in European Social Funds, was launched by the Scottish Government in 2017 to help reduce poverty and enable inclusive growth in disadvantaged and fragile communities across Scotland.

The £249,168 award is for a period of 21 months.

Trust manager, David Watson said: “We were delighted to be able to announce this significant funding approval which will create four new employment opportunities.

“The trust will again work with Sutherland Community Planning Partnership to deliver a project that will enhance resilience and improve the economic and social health of some of the most remote and fragile communities in Scotland. This project has been informed by a period of intense community engagement undertaken by KoSDT in 2018/19. However, given the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, much of this data will have to be revisited as priorities within our communities will have changed significantly over the past few months.

“The funding will be used to employ one full time project coordinator, one full time project officer, and two part time project officers who will work with a wide range of community and statutory stakeholders across Sutherland to develop projects and initiatives that will create lasting benefits as we look to recover from the effects of Covid 19.”

See related article: Kyle of Sutherland Trust awarded nearly £250,000 to tackle local poverty

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