11 Merkinch and South Kessock community projects in Inverness need your votes
People living in the Merkinch and South Kessock areas of Inverness have the chance to vote for a range of projects they would like to see happen in their local area.
A total of 11 bids for funding are being made, with a public vote deciding which will be successful.
It forms part of an approach to funding called Particpatory Budgeting on which Highland Community Planning Partnership, Highland Third Sector Interface, Youth Highland, Scottish Community Development Centre and Police Scotland are working together.
The project aims to improve local democracy, ensuring that communities are more engaged with decision-making to improve safety and wellbeing.
Local people will have a say over how £30,000 is spent in the local area as part of the Your Place, Your Point initiative funded by Highland's share of the Scottish Government's Whole Family Wellbeing Fund.
The projects vying for the Merkinch and South Kessock cash are:
1. Community Connections: Youth Highland will deliver an Introduction to Youth Work and Introduction to CLD training in Merkinch for community members, people working with or supporting young people and young leaders, to help them understand and recognise how professional practices can be a part of helping young people respond to the issues they face.
2. Community Engagement: TLC Inverness would like to provide toddler play and learn groups and a Teen Warm Space.
3. The Clay Studio has lodged three separate bids, looking for cash for After School Placements - expanding its Thursday After School Club by providing five additional places specifically for Merkinch Primary School pupils in P4-7; a Youth Cafe - expanding its weekly youth club for young people in S1 and above by opening on Friday after school; and general funding for the running of the youth club.
4. KidzRock: Rokzkool Academy, which runs a variety of music and art classes for children and young people with a focus on having fun, social skills and building confidence, wants to offer free places to more young people.
5. Team Cuisine (Cooking Classes): New Start Highland wants to create a fun and educational way of teaching families to cook healthy, nutritious meals they can enjoy together.
6. Merkinch Primary Holiday Clubs/ After School Clubs/ Breakfast Cafe/ After School Clubs: Merkinch Primary Positive Community Relationships Hub aims to purchase resources to provide children at the various clubs with more activities including interactive story sessions for children and their families.
7. Merkinch Football Academy: The academy would like to extend and develop the project to provide more opportunities for young people taking part in football skills training and matches as well as benefiting from one to one mentoring and confidence building.
8. Inverness Street Art Project: The project would look to identify and propose a series of sites on walls and fixtures around the city then liaise with property owners and Highland Council to ask if they can produce public art in those spaces, involving P6/7 children from Merkinch Primary.
9. Pathways to Outdoor Activties: Aban Outdoor Ltd, which already runs the local Aban Mountaineering Club and Bike Club aimed at teenagers in S1 and upwards, wants to create a stronger pathway for younger children in P7 to start with the group.
People can vote for as many projects as they like.
Votes can be registered online here, where there is also more information on each of the individual projects. Online voting closes at noon on Saturday.
Votes can also be made in person this Saturday at Merkinch Community Centre between noon and 3pm (in-person voting closes at 2.15pm). Lunch will also be provided for those coming along to this event.
