Groups share £120k Meliora funding

A total of 23 groups from will receive a share of a £120,000 fund from Inverclyde Council’s Meliora community fund following a public vote.

The local authority established the fund as part of its flagship Meliora festival to celebrate local communities after two years of Covid-19 restrictions.

This funding will be used to enhance the range of Meliora Festival events already taking place, including the local celebrations around the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee across

Inverclyde in June.

Community organisations from across the six Inverclyde localities were invited to apply for a maximum of £5,000 to provide an event within their area to encourage people to come together and celebrate togetherness in the ‘pursuit of betterment’, which is the meaning of Meliora.

The six Inverclyde localities are: Greenock East & Central; Greenock South & South West; Greenock West & Gourock; Port Glasgow; Kilmacolm & Quarrier’s Village; and Inverkip & Wemyss Bay.

A total of 38 groups applied for funding to the value of £152,487.00.

These funding applications were then put to a public vote with members of the community encouraged to choose the activities that they would like within their locality.

More than 1,300 people voted online and via paper-based votes supported by Inverclyde Council.

The organisations with the greatest votes within their locality will now receive a share of the £120,000 Meliora Community Fund and are listed below.

The fund is part of the local authority’s summer Meliora Festival which kicks off in May with the Gourock Highland Games followed by the British Pipe Band Championships, Scotland v England girls’ under-15s international football match, Inverclyde Warrior 5k obstacle course and an arts and culture weekend at the Beacon Arts Centre featuring events, workshops, experiences and live performances from big-name stars.

Inverclyde Meliora Community Fund 2022 events:

East and Central

Successful Applications – with the highest community votes in this locality

• Gibshill Family Fun Day in partnership with Gibshill Family Centre
• Crown Care Centre: Celebratory afternoon for the Queens Platinum Jubilee
• Man On! and Morton in the Community
• Auchmountain Halls Fun Day

Greenock South and South West

Successful Applications – with the highest community votes in this locality

• Brancthon Community Centre and Kerr’s Journey Community Fun Day
• Community Cultural Festival, Youth Connections
• Ravenscraig Sports Hub Family Sports Day
• Cowdenknowes Residents’ Association: Fun Day

Greenock West & Gourock

Successful Applications – with the highest community votes in this locality

• 1st Gourock Scouts Jubilee event
• Gourock Primary Jubilee event
• Lyle Gateway and Your Voice: Community Event
• Inverclyde Cricket Club Family Cricket Fun Day
• St Columba’s: Garden Workshops
• Greenock Medical Aid: Community events

Port Glasgow

Successful Applications – with the highest community votes in this locality

• Clune Park Committee and Toddlers’ Group: Community events @ Clune Park
• Charm Group and Upper Port Family Group: Port Glasgow Fun Day
• Parklea Branching Out: Spring/Summer Events
• Comet Festival Parade

Inverkip and Wemyss Bay

Successful Applications – with the highest community votes in this locality

• Inverkip Community Initiative and Inverkip Church: The Kip Fest 2022
• Wemyss Bay Community Association Gala Day

Kilmacolm and Quarriers Village

Successful Applications – with the highest community votes in this locality

• Kilmacolm Community Council: Jubilee Village Fete
• Kilmacolm & Port Glasgow Agricultural Society Ltd and The Ark on the Clyde CIC: Educational/Heritage Area at our Annual Show at The Knapps
• Abbeyfield Strathgryffe Society Ltd: Garden Party Event

Find out more about Meliora Festival events at: Meliora Festival – Discover Inverclyde