Connecting Communities Project Update: a joint initiative between Contin, Jamestown, Tarvie
and Garve & District Communities
The Connecting Communities Project Officer (CCPO) is delighted to share the great news that a recent
funding application to the Paths for all Smarter Choices Smarter Places Fund (SPSCF) has been
approved. The funding award of £50,000 will support running costs for the Connecting Communities
Project in Year 1 in addition to the previously announced Highland Council Community Transport
funding and offer of a Diesel minibus.
It is hoped a funding shortfall for Year 1 totalling £16,142 will be met by the SSE Social Development
Fund (SDF) and or the Highland Council-managed UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). These funding
requests also cover costs for installing Rapid EV charging infrastructure and an electric 8-seater
minibus to enable the shift from diesel to cleaner, and more sustainable transport for the community
and wider public. The outcome of these applications will be announced in April 2024.
It is hoped trial community runs will take place over the summer if part-time drivers and a bookings
administrator can be recruited and trained by that time. If possible these positions will be filled locally.
The posts will be advertised locally and through official channels in late spring, once funding is fully in
place.
In addition, the ability of the Connecting Communities Project to tender for the Garve and District
School Transport Contract is being discussed. In the event this is possible it could provide income over
5 years to support 2 x part-time drivers and other operational costs.
The plan would then be for the community minibus to be available for community use outside the
G&D School transport times between 10 am – 2.30 pm including evenings and weekends. This
affordable door-to-door service will enable residents to access appointments in nearby centres,
shopping, health and recreational trips and may be pre-booked by phone or App. The service will also
support young people wishing to access out-of-school activities, school trips and education. In
addition, the Connecting Communities bus will support active travel and visitors to the area to access
outdoor recreational activities such as hill walking and cycling providing income to sustain the
Connecting Communities Project long term.
We welcome your feedback and will continue to monitor outcomes and adjust the service to suit our
community needs to ensure we are on the right track as the project develops. We thank all our
funders for supporting this fantastic project and look forward to providing future updates!
If you have any comments or ideas, please feel free to get in touch with me by via email at
ewan.bush@garve.org
As ever, we wish to thank our funders: – Foundation Scotland, North Highland Initiative, Supporting Sustainable Travel, SSE Renewables, The Highland Council, The Pebble Trust, Contin Jamestown & Tarvie Projects.