Cromarty Community Rowing Club has been short-listed to become one of the latest recipients of funding from Scotmid Co-operative’s Community Connect initiative – potentially being awarded £15,000 in order to build and store new boats in order to help the organisation grow.
Community Connect was launched last year and enables Scotmid members to award good cause groups in their local area with funding of up to £15,000, generated via the sale of single use carrier bags.
In Scotmid’s North Member Region – encompassing Inverness, Dundee, Aberdeen and Perth – Home-Start Kincardine are one of three good cause groups, who have been short-listed by a Scotmid member selection panel to receive a financial award of either £15,000, £7,500 or £2,500.
The other short-listed Good Cause Groups are The Strathmore Rugby Club Community Trust and Home-Start Kincardine.
Scotmid members collect votes by swiping their Community Connect card after every in-store purchase and then cast their votes for their preferred good cause group either in-store or at Scotmid’s North Region Annual General Meeting in Inverness in April.
Established in 2016, Cromarty Community Rowing Club now have 204 members including 30 youth rowers – that’s an incredible 24% of the town’s population participating with the organisation.
The club’s activities involve participation from local members aged eight to 79 and they aim to use Community Connect funding to build a new home to store two skiff boats and equipment.
A new building would enable the club’s boats to be secure and also provide a hub for all of the adults and young people to gather, arrange training and enjoy being part of the organisation.
Robert Hogg, Cromarty Community Rowing Club’s Community Boat Builder, said: “The progress we have made is way beyond what we could have ever expected.
“It has really galvanised our whole community and the rowing club has been a huge success.
“We’re delighted to have made the short-list for the Community Connect awards and the funding will make a huge difference towards helping us grow and improve the club.”