Perth Harbour Supports City's Most Vulnerable

The Perth Harbour Community Fund was created to make a difference and benefit the lives of people living in Perth and Kinross. 

The Fund was first launched in 2021 and made eight awards to groups tackling poverty, stigma and shame, social inclusion, health and wellbeing and organisations that help people become self-dependent and resilient. Earlier this year the Fund made a further nine awards to organisations who use the River Tay to deliver positive outcomes and benefit the lives of the people they engage with. 

Over the last 12 months the Perth City Centre Community Hub’s Connect Perth project have been tackling digital inclusion by offering a space for disadvantaged people and people less familiar with digital technology to get online. 

The project helped service users build their confidence in using digital applications and equipment and assisted people to stay connected with their family and friends and help reduce social isolation.  The digital support also encouraged self-dependence through enabling people to arrange their own travel, pay bills, order shopping and access health & wellbeing support when this was unavailable through traditional physical means. 

Tracey Reilly, Director at Perth City Centre Community Hub, said: “With the £2,000 funding we gratefully received from the Perth Harbour Community Fund we managed to successfully deliver our Connect Perth Digital Support Project to community members from across Perth City Centre at a time when they needed to connect with family and friends most.  We also assisted our service users with accessing much needed online support services and helped them to improve their digital skills during an unprecedented challenging time.” 

Cameron MacPhail, Head of Ports and Harbours for Perth Harbour operators David MacBrayne Limited (DML) said: “The Perth Harbour Community Fund exists to benefit the lives of people living in Perth and Kinross, and we are beginning to see its impact and value. We are excited to see the benefits from the projects we have supported in the last 12 months including creating opportunities for young people, families and people living with multiple challenges.” 

The Perth Harbour Community Fund was created with support from the Perth & Kinross Association of Voluntary Service (PKAVS).  

More information about the Perth Harbour Community Fund can be fund here: perthharbour.co.uk/news/perth-harbour-community-fund/. Perth Harbour has been operated by DML since it was appointed by Perth and Kinross Council in 2018. Since taking over management, the number of ships using the Harbour has risen from 12 in 2017 to 24 in 2020. This figure is expected to increase to 30 by 2022/23.  

DML is one of the largest logistics companies in Scotland. A multi-award-winning ferry operator, harbour and ship management specialist, and is one of Scotland's biggest headquartered firms employing around 1500 people.  

DML, through its main subsidiary companies CalMac Ferries Limited and Solent Gateway Limited, transports more than five million passengers annually and operates 28 UK ports.  

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