Kincardine and Deeside Befriending have been shortlisted to become one of the latest recipients of funding from Scotmid Co-operative’s Community Connect initiative – potentially being awarded up to £15,000.
Community Connect was launched in 2017 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 – Kincardine and Deeside Befriending are one of three good cause groups, who have been short-listed by a Scotmid member selection panel to receive a financial award. Scotmid members will decide on how the pot of £25,000 is awarded.
The group with the most votes will receive £15,000 and the two runners-up will each receive £5,000. Scotmid members can cast their votes in store from the 8-22 September or attend the Ordinary General Meeting which will be held in Brechin on 1 October.
The other short-listed Good Cause Groups are Highland Hospice and Brechin City Hall Users Group.
Kincardine and Deeside Befriending work to benefit older people in the community who are experiencing loneliness and social isolation. The charity plan to use Community Connect funding to cover volunteer travel expenses as they travel to visit around 100 older adults each year, in their own homes and during the fun outings they have.
The charity will be aiming to follow in the footsteps in neighbouring good cause group, Home-Start Kincardine who won Community Connect’s top award of £15,000 in May.
Liz Treasure, senior coordinator Kincardine and Deeside Befriending said: “It is a real honour to have been shortlisted for a Community Connect award given the fact that so many small charities applied to be considered.
“So we’re really excited about that and the help the funding will give us towards covering volunteer’s travel expenses.
“Our charity serves a very rural community, so to be able to go out and help older people who live in difficult to access areas is extremely important and this funding will provide us with a cushion to be able to do that.”
Scotmid members collect votes by swiping their Community Connect card after every in-store purchase.
Image (left to right): Trish Hughes, Liz Treasure, Rodney Payne, Peter Mutch, Mary Mutch, Meg McIntosh