Volunteers needed to form steering group to manage funding to community projects in Inverness neighbourhood

A new project is seeking to build relationships with local people and increase involvement in decision-making in an Inverness area.

“Your Place – Your Point” is an initiative by Merkinch and South Kessock Community ActionGroup and aims to empower local groups to pitch for funds to support activities and learning programmes which will positively impact children, families and young people in the community.

This comes after funding of £30,000 has been allocated from the Scottish Government’s Whole Family Wellbeing Programme to support a Participatory Budgeting process which will resource activities and projects for children, families and young people in the neighbourhood.

Now the group, supported by Highland Council, Police Scotland, HTSI and Youth Highland, is looking for 20 local volunteers working or living in Merkinch and South Kessock to form a steering group.

Community Action Group Chairperson, Chief Inspector Judy Hill, Area Commander for Inverness, said “The project needs to be supported by a steering group to ensure the funding decisions which are made truly reflect and respond to the needs of our local community.”

The group has already carried out a consultation with more than 400 local children and young people.

The funding criteria will seek to resource activities and projects which are aligned to six priorities that children and young people have identified as being important to them. These include a wider range of activities and learning programmes, access to safe spaces and trusted adults, youth-led initiatives and activities and services which reduce harm and risk-taking.

You can apply to be a part of the steering group online .

For more information about this opportunity, you can contact Kevin Ditcham at Police Scotland at insightengagement@scotland.police.uk.

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