Alness and Invergordon Rowing Club given funding boost from Port of Cromarty Firth

The Alness and Invergordon Rowing Club has been given a generous grant from the Port of Cromarty Firth (POCF) to help fund their new community initiative.

A sum of £1241 from the Port’s Community Sponsorship Programme will help the club to buy a new gazebo to take to regattas and social events. 

The new project, which will establish the rowing club within the local community, aims to reduce stress and anxiety, improve fitness and wellbeing, and build new friendships. Members will row in the Cromarty Firth and attend socials with other rowing clubs and communities. 

The club is one of a number of organisations and projects to benefit from the Port of Cromarty Firth’s Community Sponsorship Programme, which supports local initiatives and enables community development.

Chair Person of the Alness and Invergordon Rowing Club, Sylva Rybanska, said: “Alness and Invergordon Rowing Club would like to thank to Cromarty Firth Port Authority through their Community Sponsorship Programme for the amazing generosity, support and belief in our project and as a club in whole.

“This will help to promote our Alness and Invergordon Rowing Club and highlight the good support that Cromarty Firth Port Authority do for surrounding local communities.”

The club hopes to also raise funds to build the St. Ayles Skiff and source equipment and materials for the construction. The local community will be invited to get involved with the project and support the building process.

PoCF Marketing and Pr Manager, Alex Johnson, said: “The Port takes great pride in seeing how the Community Sponsorship Programme can help develop fantastic local projects within the community.

“The soon to be established Allness and Invergordon Rowing Club will bring many health benefits for its members, particularly through socialising and keeping fit, in turn building self-confidence.”

The Community Sponsorship Programme aspires to improve, safeguard and develop Cromarty Firth communities, for the benefit of the local people.

Community projects, schools or local charities based in one of the nine communities that border the Cromarty Firth are welcome to apply for support.  They can do so by submitting an application form stating the project’s objectives, aspirations and the benefits to the community, along with a letter/email of support from their local Community Council. 

Projects must be collaborative and meet one of four eligibility criteria:

• Skills development, employability or job creation, 
• Vessel crew or passenger support, 
• Environmental protection or enhancement, 
• Events or projects which encourage inter-community collaboration.

Application forms are available on the Port of Cromarty Firth website or from cfpa@cfpa.co.uk.