More charities benefit from Perth Harbour Community Fund

The Fund was created by harbour operator David MacBrayne Limited (DML) to make a difference and benefit the lives of people living in Perth and Kinross.

It launched in 2021 and initially made eight awards to groups tackling poverty, stigma and shame, promoting social inclusion and health and wellbeing, and organisations that help people become self-dependent and resilient.

This year, the Perth Harbour Community Fund is making nine awards to non-profit organisations who use the River Tay to deliver positive outcomes and benefit the lives of the people they engage with. Including, but not limited to:

• Organisations who use the river for recreation and sport.

• Organisations who use the river for education and learning.

• Organisations who use the rivers surroundings and walkways.

• Organisations who commit to the environmental upkeep of the river.

The Fund will enable Plus Perth and Kinross' mentors with experience and skills of working with people who have been under the psychiatric system to deliver walking groups, engaging vulnerable people while ensuring the environmental upkeep of the River.

Perth Parrots Floorball Club 'HangOUT' project will deliver activities engaging LGBTIQ+ people. The project supported by the Fund will remove costs to participation, reduce social isolation and build confidence and connections.

Taymara will deliver River Tay trips to young people and their families affected by severe ill health or are living with a learning disability.

Upper Tay Paths Group will create information points along their pathways and river walkways encouraging people to learn about Aberfeldy while enjoying the benefits of the outdoors.

The Fund will support Mindspace's Recovery College which offers a range of diverse groups and activities to enable people to develop their understanding and awareness of their unique mental health challenges and to find the means of best managing these.

The Carse Canoe Club will purchase more equipment to meet the increasing demand for the club's services while their participants can enjoy the benefits of increased physical activity.

Perth Sailing Club will purchase a winch which will provide sustainability to allow activities to occur, with members undergoing training, to ensure maximum service given to club members and the wider community.

The Perth Coastal Rowing Club will develop their participants skills through a series of training programmes which will in turn improve their physical and mental wellbeing.

Finally, the Fund will support the growth of Perth Sea Cadets by enabling their capacity to increase the number of volunteers trained to support the young participants.

Cameron MacPhail, Head of Ports and Harbours for DML, said: "The Perth Harbour Community Fund allows us to connect with our community in a unique and impactful manner. We are pleased to present nine awards to deserving groups, and we are excited to see the benefits from the projects we have supported this year."

The Perth Harbour Community Fund was created with support from the Perth & Kinross Association of Voluntary Service (PKAVS).

Lori Hughes, Partnership and Communities Manager for PKAVS, said: "PKAVS is delighted to have had the opportunity to support the second tranche of the Perth Harbour Community Fund. The variety of groups and organisations awarded funding to deliver positive outcomes and benefits using the River Tay will bring a diverse range of new opportunities and supports for people and communities across Perth and Kinross".

Perth Harbour has been operated by DML since it was appointed by Perth and Kinross Council in 2018. Since taking over management, the number of ships using the Harbour has risen from 12 in 2017 to 24 in 2020. This figure is expected to increase to 30 by 2022/23.

DML is one of the largest logistics companies in Scotland. A multi-award-winning ferry operator, harbour and ship management specialist, and is one of Scotland's biggest headquartered firms employing around 1500 people.

DML, through its main subsidiary companies CalMac Ferries Limited and Solent Gateway Limited, transports more than five million passengers annually and operates 28 UK ports.