CalMac Invests in Coastal Communities

CalMac announces 59 awards to community groups to restart or continue their services since the pandemic.

The CalMac Community Fund, delivered in partnership with Foundation Scotland, exists to benefit the lives of people living in our communities by supporting nonprofit groups achieve their goals. 
 
Today, they announced 59 awards to community groups to restart or continue their services since the pandemic. In particular, the fund aimed to support: 

• Services and activities addressing or reducing social isolation, including encouraging re-engagement with community activity following the pandemic. 
• Services and activities supporting better mental health and improved well-being. 

Since its launch in 2019 the CalMac Community Fund has engaged with over 4,500 people living in the communities served by the ferry service, with a total of 195 charitable community groups receiving funding to deliver:  

• Health and Wellbeing outcomes including improved mental health, improved self-esteem and increased physical activity. 
• Social and Community outcomes including greater access to local community and social activities, development of new friendships and development of new life skills. 
• Education and Skills outcomes including improved teamwork and communication.  
• Employment and Volunteering outcomes including the generation of 903 volunteering hours.  

Recent research has forecasted that for every pound awarded through the CalMac Community Fund, communities' benefit from a social return of £7.32. It is expected to deliver £965,467.88 of value over two years. 
 
CalMac colleagues formed three scoring panels to make recommendations on which projects to make awards to. You can find more information about the successful projects by visiting the funded projects page.