A BEFRIENDING service for isolated older people in Helensburgh and a vital community facility on the Rosneath peninsula have this week received significant funding boosts.

The National Lottery Community Fund has awarded the Grey Matters - Active Ageing group £10,000 to support its work in reducing loneliness and isolation amongst older people in the area with their activity programme and befriending service.

Meanwhile, Cove Burgh Hall has been assigned £6,471 from the fund, which will be used to carry out essential repairs to the community owned facility which hosts a number of well-used resources and is a focal point for local activity within Cove, Kilcreggan and the wider peninsula.

Ten other organisations in Argyll and Bute have benefitted from the funding announcement, with a total of 246 awards being made - worth almost £11 million.

Grey Matters trustee Barbara Warren said: “This award has enabled us to employ our development manager, Alison Gildea, who has been involved with Grey Matters from the start.

“She is invaluable to the charity and, without her, we would not have achieved the high level of involvement that we have and will continue to provide, ensuring valuable social interaction and wellbeing for all of our members.

“We hope to extend their involvement in the local community further with a significant volunteer programme and our members sharing their expertise throughout Helensburgh and Lomond.”

The National Lottery Community Fund’s Scotland chair, Kate Still, said: “It’s great to see such a variety of projects being funded in Argyll and Bute to help local people adapt and recover from the physical and mental health impacts of Covid-19.

“National Lottery players can be proud to know that the money they raise is making such a difference, connecting local people to others in their communities.”

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