A COMMUNITY has been pledged £3000 to help get its dream of a new youngsters' play park under way.
Keiss Family Community Project welcomed the promise from the ?Dounreay Communities Fund at the weekend which should help secure match funding for a new play park in the village.
Chairwoman of the project Vicky Mackay found out about the boost on Saturday after a day of fundraising at the annual Keiss mini gala.
"We're absolutely ecstatic," she said. "It was good because we had just finished at our stall and had got people consulted with what we're trying to do, then we got this £3000 promise of a boost.
"It's really moving forward now."
Community relations co-ordinator for Dounreay Communities Fund Marie Mackay explained that the proposed funding was approved last month by the Dounreay Stakeholder Group and that it should give the group a helping hand towards its goal.
"The pledge from Dounreay Communities Fund may assist the organisation to obtain match funding towards their community project," she said.
"The pledge will be paid once the full funding has been secured."
The £3000 guarantee adds to the £100 raised at the mini gala from a baking stall and children's entertainment.
Keiss Family Community Project also took the opportunity while the villagers were out enjoying themselves at the weekend to ask for opinions on the potential designs of the proposed new play park - which is being supported by the North of Scotland Newspapers Charity of the Year initiative.
Vicky said that 56 people voted in total and a clear frontrunner emerged, but that the group is holding back the reveal until certain issues are straightened out.
"It was a really positive day and the community is really starting to get behind us now because they can see what is going to happen," she said.
"Lots of valid points were raised and we're just going to try and work some of them into our plans."
While the consultation and planning continues, so does the group's fundraising.
Next Thursday night in Keiss hall there will be a "pudding night" with everyone welcome to come along, explained Vicky.
"It's going to be a fun night of indulgence," she said. "It's basically eat as many puddings as you like."
The group members will be slaving away in their kitchens over the next week to make as many delicious treats as possible, with the entry fee going to the play-park purse.
There will also be a ?pudding quiz on the night with a £10 prize up for grabs.
Copies are also available in Keiss shop, Woody's newsagents in Wick's Bridge Street, the Gift House in Dempster Street, D.R. Simpsons and the Groat office.
