£1500 for Ness Cemetery Committee - 11 years after it was the very first recipient of a CIF grant! Find out how CIF could help you!

Ness Cemetery Committee has received a Community Investment Fund award of £1500 towards the grass cutting maintenance at the old cemetery on Swainbost Machair, to ensure safe access for visitors. Ness Cemetery Committee was awarded this through our CIF Maintenance Fund which is aimed at supporting local organisations with maintenance projects across the estate, such as such as grass cutting, gate repairs, installing stiles or signage etc.

What is the Community Investment Fund? 

CIF supports projects which address the issues, needs and aspirations of the community of the Galson Estate Trust area, and is aimed at organisations that provide or seek to provide activities or services that focus on developing skills, improving health and wellbeing, relieving poverty, protecting the environment, engaging local people to become more active in the community,  promoting and protecting the rich heritage and culture of the area, and developing, revitalising and growing industry sectors. We set up the Community Investment Fund in October 2014 to invest funds generated from the Ballantrushal wind turbines back into the Galson Estate community. The fund has awarded over £600,000 to more than 150 projects over the last 11 years; the very first CIF grant was awarded to Ness Cemetery Association for £1,000 in 2014.

We now have a new CIF section on our website, detailing each of the available funding options available;

Small Grant: Small Grants of up to £2,000 are easy to apply for, with a simple application process and minimal paperwork making it a quick and hassle-free way to kick-start your project!

Development Grant: The Development Grant is a more flexible type of assistance that can be tailored to suit specific development projects above £2,000.

Support for Growth: Our Growth Fund is there to support local organisations to grow and put them on a route to self-sufficiency over a three-year period. Through a combination of funding and ongoing business support, we want to ensure that key organisations and businesses in the Galson Estate Trust area have access to the support they need in order to prosper.

Maintenance Fund: Our Maintenance Fund is aimed at supporting local organisations with regular maintenance projects, such as grass cutting, gate repairs, installing stiles or signage etc.

Hardship Fund: We are committed to supporting professionals working with the most vulnerable members of our estate community. Medical staff, social workers, health visitors, teachers, and charity workers are welcome to contact us for help in providing essential items that cannot be sourced through other public initiatives. We offer discreet, confidential support tailored to individual needs. Previous assistance has included items such as groceries, clothing, shoes, dehumidifiers, and mattresses.

Transport Grant: We offer funding of up to 80% towards transport costs for schools and youth clubs from within the Galson Estate Trust area. Whether it is to attend competitions or for island school trips, we can provide financial support towards travel costs. 

On the website you will also find information about how to promote your CIF award, making it as easy as possible to spread the good news!