Nairnshire charity calls for public votes in bid to win £70k in funds to expand their activities
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A CHARITY providing cycling opportunities to young people and adults with disabilities and other access needs is calling for public support in a bid to win £70,000 of funding.
Highland Cycle Ability Centre, based in Cawdor and supported by the Watermill Foundation Ltd, is one of 15 groups in Scotland in the running for a share of the National Lottery’s scheme, The People’s Projects.
If successful, the Cycle Centre plans to use the funding to pay for extra staff positions, to purchase new adaptive cycles for the disabled and to extend their opening hours.
The funding will also allow them to expand on their outreach events, which are specially designed to help those who cannot visit the centre find out more and get involved.
Brian Mavin, general manager at the Highland Cycle Ability Centre, said: “The People’s Projects has given us an amazing opportunity to raise awareness and support for our work and, with your help, secure this additional much-needed funding.
“If we win, our project will make a real difference to our local community by bringing cycling to the disabled.
“We now need local people to get behind us, to show their support and vote.”
Local resident James said that he has found visiting the charity and making use of the services it provides has made a great difference to his life.
He said: “Struggling with mobility issues, I find that cycling here at the Highland Cycle Ability Centre allows me to keep my joints moving.
“This in turn, keeps my mind active and keeps me fit.
“Cycling here takes place in the most amazing, scenic facilities”.
In Scotland, the nine projects with the most public votes will receive grants of up to £70,000.
This funding will help make a real difference to people’s lives, particularly in these difficult times.
The runner’s up will be offered up to £10,000 towards their project, bringing the total funding up for grabs for communities across the UK to over £4 million.
David Knott, chief executive of The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “The People’s Projects delivers much-needed funding to the heart of communities and showcases the incredible efforts of hard-working projects across the UK. The short-listed groups are truly inspirational, each delivering life-changing support to their community in different ways. It is now time for the public to have their say in how vital National Lottery funding is used in their area to make a difference to people’s lives, particularly in these challenging times.”
Highland Cycle Ability Centre are the only charity in the Highlands in the run for the funding this year.
Voting is now open at www.thepeoplesprojects.org.uk and will close on Friday, May 26.
