Grant Success – Adapt and Thrive!
During COVID, Pinkston Watersports faced a real threat to our survival. Some poor design by UK Government meant we weren’t eligible for a bounceback Loan (our fantastic bank, CAF Bank were not part of the scheme and the other banks only helped existing customers). Our voluntary trustees rose to the occasion and scoured for possible funders. One Scottish Government Scheme (Adapt and Thrive) looked a possible salvation. This offered a combined grant funding and loan funding package to support organisations.
A proposal was developed which included developing our offering (including the lockers and canoes we now have) but also addressing the capacity issues we face by improving access and storage onto the canal in the North West corner of the site (by the 2nd corner on the long course). An award of £25,000 towards these projects along with a £50,000 loan came at just the right time to secure Pinkston’s future.
Over time our plans what is called the Canalside Cluster have evolved. This is partly due to the costs associated with using a crane to place shipping containers across the canal from North Canal Bank Street making us be a bit more ambitious, including installing decking to improve access and creating a viewing area over the long course. It also reflects the input from Historic Environment Scotland on our plans for the site which is a Scheduled Ancient Monument needing extra permissions.
Although we are still to fully deliver our plans, we have almost paid off the loan which proved critical in our time of need.