In view of the current situation (January 2021) we are re-launching the Coigach Crisis Fund which was originally made available in March 2020.
This Confidential fund is to help Coigach residents who are in immediate need as a result of the ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic. The emergency fund is to help with basic household expenses and to ensure anyone who has lost their income recently has access to funds swiftly. Payment will be made directly to your bank account. We will aim to make payments within 24 hours of receipt and approval of an application, though in some situations we may require further information and full board approval.
Many people in Coigach are self-employed, have a variety of jobs and may rely on tourism for their primary source of income. We understand that government assistance may be available but in the meantime this fund generated by our community-owned wind turbine is here to tide you over if you do not have savings or a means of support for basic essentials.
The fund may be used for:
- Basic household expenses – food, toiletries, medicines, cleaning materials (not alcohol or tobacco)
- Fuel – including electricity, coal etc and petrol/diesel for essential journeys
- Phone & broadband bills
- Rent/mortgage payments (for your main home)
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HOW TO APPLY FOR COIGACH CRISIS FUND:
Please download the Coigach Crisis Fund form 2021 here and email the completed form to info@coigachcommunity.org.uk. If you have any difficulty, please phone Julia Campbell 01854 622 379 or 07745205433, you can also contact me by messenger. Although many of you know me personally, please be assured your application will be treated with strictest confidence and I will advise you as best I can. If you prefer, you may speak to Ann Marie Firth-Bernard (LDO) or one of CCDC’s directors: Iain Muir, Iain Scott, Ben Walton, Seumas Hitchings, Ann (Ali Beag) Macleod, Sheila Green, Jen Nutkins, Robin Irvine or Richard Williams.
Details of funding available is on the form.
If you know someone who does not have online access or who will have difficulty with this, please tell them to phone Julia 622 379 or Ann Marie 622 389 and we can make other arrangements.
Information on assistance from other sources:
The Highland Council have undated their website and emergency funding package to include self-catering business. For further information on how to apply click here: Highland Council Covid-19 Self-catering Business Grant Highland Council are also first point of contact for The Scottish Government’s recently announced Covid-19 Small Business Grant For further information from Highland Council on housing benefit and council tax reduction, click here: Highland Council Housing Benefit You may also contact the Welfare Support Team 0800 090 1004 or email Welfare.support@highland.gov.uk If you are self-employed, and eligible for assistance HMRC will contact you. If you have lost your employment and have savings of less than £16,000 you may also apply for Universal Credit