Dunoon Area Alliance Community Development Trust is delighted to announce significant funding success that will support community-led action for wellbeing across the town over the next three years. Funding has been recommended from the Scottish Government Investing in Communities Fund and awarded from the National Lottery Communities Fund Community-Led Fund to support initiatives that will run from April 2023 to March 2026.
Dunoon Area Alliance was established in 2017 by SURF, Scotland's Regeneration Forum, as part of their place based Alliance for Action programme with the aim of bringing together community members, organisations and agencies with an interest in the regeneration of our town. Action has ranged from active travel development including Dunoon Bothy project; communication developments including a Town Team network, weekly e-newsletters and What’s On Dunoon website; micro-enterprise networking through Dunoon & Cowal Co-works and Dunoon Covid Business Directory; heritage initiatives including Forward Dunoon App and American Years Revisited project; and community engagement through Community Conversation and Soup-er Sunday events.
In 2021, to strengthen partnership action on community priorities, DAA was established as Dunoon's Community Development Trust, a Scottish Incorporated Charitable Organisation (SCIO). This new structure was set up to ensure that Dunoon has a community-led body able to take the lead on sustainable regeneration action on local priority themes. The establishment of the development trust has enabled DAA to access funding for a number of new initiatives and partnership action, including Grow Food Grow Dunoon at Kirn Primary School and We Are Building Beach Hut research project.
Since 2018 SURF has supported Dunoon Area Alliance through a part-time Facilitator post, held by Ann Campbell. With this post due to conclude at the end of March 2023, the Development Trust’s board members prioritised work to seek funding that would support continued and expanded regeneration activities.
We are now delighted to announce that two significant funding applications have been recommended for support and recruitment for three positions will begin over the coming months.
The Scottish Government Investing in Communities Fund has recommended that funding be provided over three years to support Dunoon Area Alliance to Connect Dunoon for Wellbeing. This will include the continued development of partnership working, the expansion of local information sharing and communication, alongside community engagement in the development of a Local Place Plan.
The National Lottery Communities Fund will also provide funding over three years for Community-led Action for Wellbeing. This will support volunteer involvement in a range of activities that improve our community while enhancing individual wellbeing.
Dunoon Area Alliance aims to inform, engage and inspire its members to work together to support the sustainable regeneration of Dunoon. Members of the DAA share information, support one another and work together to develop action on priorities as identified through engagement with our community. Membership of the Trust is free and open to anyone who lives, works or studies in Cowal. Community groups, organisations and agencies can also become Associate Members of the Trust.
Further information:
Scottish Government Investing in Communities Fund
The Investing in Communities Fund (ICF) is a community focussed fund supporting organisations based in the places they serve delivering activity across all four of the following areas for action, that reflect the strategic context:
tackling poverty and inequality, including child poverty
developing and sustaining place based approaches
community-led regeneration
ensuring a just transition to net zero
National Lottery Communities Fund
Through our Community Led funding we aim to support communities to improve the places in which they live and the wellbeing of those most in need.
