Funding for Forget Me Not Choir hits the right notes

The choir has successfully secured funding to employ a full-time Development Coordinator with a £25,000 award from the A'Chruach Fund, enabling the expansion of dementia support services across Mid Argyll.

About the choir
The Forget Me Not Choir was founded in 2019 and supports individuals living with dementia and their carers through weekly singing sessions, public performances, and community outreach across Argyll and Bute. Currently serving 22 members with support from 10 regular volunteers and 7 trustees, the choir meets weekly at Mid Argyll Youth Development Services (MAYDS) premises in Lochgilphead. The organisation provides music therapy benefits, social interaction opportunities, and respite support for carers while raising community awareness about dementia through regular concerts and festival performances.

Challenges
Despite the choir's growing popularity, the organisation faced significant capacity constraints that limited its ability to meet increasing demand. The weekly sessions were operating at near-full capacity, with a waiting list of potential participants unable to access the choir. The founder and Chair was managing all coordination and administration tasks during evenings, weekends, and employer-supported working hours, creating an unsustainable workload.

The organisation had reached a critical juncture where it needed to transition from a purely voluntary model to professional management to ensure long-term sustainability. There was substantial interest from other areas in Argyll and Bute to establish similar choirs, but without dedicated coordination, these opportunities could not be realised. The lack of strategic planning and fundraising capacity threatened the organisation's ability to secure its future and expand its reach to benefit more people affected by dementia.

Funding Application
The organisation initially requested £25,000 from the A’Chruach wind farm fund to support the costs of a full-time Development Coordinator's salary, totalling £34,192. The application was first considered at a local decision-making panel meeting in October 2024, but was deferred to allow for more robust long-term planning. The panel provided constructive feedback requesting a fully costed development plan that proposed a sustainable model for the transition of the choir from a purely voluntary organisation to one that is professionally supported. Following this guidance, the organisation worked with Community Enterprise Scotland's Accelerate programme to develop a comprehensive three-year business plan, including cashflow projections and risk mitigation strategies.

The revised application demonstrated how the coordinator role would be supported by additional funding from Age Scotland (£10,000) and other sources, bringing total secured funding to £56,000 for the expanded programme.

Panel Consideration & Award Decision
The local decision-making panel recognised the exceptional value of the Forget Me Not Choir's work with vulnerable residents in Mid Argyll. With the revised application outlines above, the panel was satisfied with the organisation's comprehensive development planning and robust financial projections.

The panel awarded the full £25,000 without conditions, acknowledging the significant step the organisation was taking from voluntary to professional management. This award formed part of a larger funding package that enabled the choir to establish a sustainable operating model while expanding services to new locations. The decision reflected the panel's confidence in the organisation's governance structure, including specialist support from Third Sector Interface Argyll and Bute, professional accounting services provided pro bono, and strong partnerships with NHS, local authority, and care providers.

The project
The project began by employing a full-time Development Coordinator for one year to oversee day-to-day operations and create a comprehensive development plan for the choir and all related activities. The coordinator's responsibilities included managing existing choir sessions, expanding capacity to accommodate more participants, coordinating outreach performances at festivals and events, and developing additional socialisation opportunities for members.

Key deliverables included producing a long-term sustainability plan, implementing strategic fundraising activities, managing sessional staff and volunteers, developing referral processes with healthcare partners, and exploring new income streams through trading activities such as CD production and care home engagement services. The role also encompassed establishing satellite choirs in Campbeltown and Tarbert, with one day per week allocated to each location. The project aimed to benefit 70 people directly, including choir members, their carers, and family members, whilst building organisational capacity to support future expansion across the region.

Final Thoughts - Broader Implications
This case study demonstrates the importance of supporting community organisations through critical transition periods from voluntary to professional management models. The panel's initial deferral and constructive feedback process enabled the Forget Me Not Choir to strengthen its application significantly, resulting in a more sustainable and impactful project.

The funding decision illustrates effective community grant-making that balances support for grassroots initiatives with requirements for robust planning and accountability. By requiring comprehensive development planning, the panel ensured that the investment would create lasting benefits rather than short-term gains.

The project's success in securing additional funding from multiple sources shows how strategic community grants can act as catalysts for broader fundraising success. The coordinator role is projected to become self-sustaining through trading income and ongoing grant funding, creating a replicable model for similar organisations across rural Scotland.

As Louise Curtis, the Choir's Founder and now full-time Director, noted:

"Receiving the award from A'Chruach was the icing on the cake for the community Forget Me Not Choir.  I learned so much going through the application process, which will help me when moving forward with the Choir’s development in the coming years”

Read more about the Nadara A'Chruach Wind Farm Community Fund