"The aim of the Fund is to offer financial assistance to local projects which will increase the resilience, sustainability and well-being of the community of Colonsay and Oronsay"
Kevin Byrne's Brief History of The Fund's Creation
The island is very fortunate in that a thriving member of our economic sector, MOWI (formerly Marine Harvest), generously made £10,000 per annum available for community purposes since 2017, to be administered by Colonsay Community Council in consultation with the donor. A sub-committee was formed and after much research it was concluded that the sum should form the basis of a Community Benefit Fund. The criteria governing that fund were circulated and were adopted at a public meeting on 13th July 2017. It should be noted that the criteria were, by design, quite wide and it was fully anticipated that they may be subject to modification in the light of experience; any such modification would be by the Community Council and agreed at a formal meeting, open to the public.
The initial sub-committee consisted of Kevin Byrne (for CCC), with Richard Buttrick, Caitlin McNeill, Sue Dance, Chris Nisbet and Dannie Onn (all of whom provide continuity from the original group), to be joined by volunteers Seamus McNeill, Liz McNicholl, Keir Johnston, Rhona Robinson, Helen Mann and Gavin Clark.
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The intention was that the process would be open, transparent and that in due course all willing members of the community could play a part in the administration of this fund. The basic structure is so designed that additional funds from other sources could be administered in the same way, should they become available.
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Since then, the Fund has undergone several changes, undergoing an assessment by the Community Council sanctioned Review Group to adapt the Fund to best fit the needs of the community. The changes made to its ethos, and the guidelines for Applications can be found throughout this website. The current incarnation of the fund incorporates a 5 person panel, chaired by one of the sitting Community Council members, accepting applications from any and all community members so that the MOWI funding for Colonsay and Oronsay can be put to the best use to serve the community.
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