Caithness Map :: Links to Site Map Great value Unlimited Broadband from an award winning provider  

 

Highland Communities Are To Benefit From Over £800k Regeneration Funding Awarded To Rural Projects

5th September 2024

The Highland Strategic Local Action Group who met during August, considered, and agreed funding for 49 projects submitted to the Community Led Local Development fund (CLLD), which makes up part of The Highland Council Community Regeneration Funding (CRF) programme.

Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans, said: "It is the third year in a row that we have been successful in securing a large allocation of CLLD funding from the Scottish Government. With this year's approvals, over 150 projects are benefitting from the CLLD programme in Highland, representing an investment of £2.8m in our rural communities. This funding is essential to support grass roots economic regeneration, allowing communities to grow and develop new opportunities".

CRF is an umbrella term used to cover multiple external funding programmes administered by The Highland Council. Decisions on which projects are to receive CLLD funding are taken by the Highland Strategic Local Action Group. This decision-making group is made up of third sector representatives, public agencies, and private organisations.

This latest round of CRF was heavily oversubscribed which evidences the level of innovation and dynamism of Highland rural communities. A total of 100 applications were received with grant request amounts far exceeding the amount of funding available to award. 49 applications were approved funding totalling just over £827,000 of revenue and capital investment for rural areas across Highland.

A wide range of projects were approved funding, including feasibility studies and development phases for capital projects as well as development support to improve community facilities and amenities.

In 2024/25 the Scottish Government made a budget commitment to invest £12.2 million in rural and islands communities to continue to support CLLD. This funding has been released in tranches with tranche one totalling £6.65 million distributed to Local Action Groups across Scotland. A further announcement is expected later this year to determine an equitable distribution of remaining funding across rural and island Scotland within the financial year.

The projects approved funding are listed below:

Portree and Braes Community Trust

Helipad Improvement Works

£11,037.02

Embo Trust

Embo Community Centre Solar Panels - Final Phase

£6,346.00

Tain & District Bike Track Association CIC

Tain Bike Track Re-Build

£20,440.00

Staffin Community Trust

Staffin Community Harbour Units

£14,625.00

Keiss amenities Association

Lighting Replacement

£11,349.60

Nairn Community and Arts Centre

Phase 2 - Environment & Energy Sustainability Project

£22,253.90

Columba 1400

Staffin Leadership Centre - Improving Community Access

£24,977.69

Glendale Community Hall Association

Exterior Painting of Glendale Community Hall

£11,177.25

Kinlochbervie Community Company

Phase 1 Regeneration of Seaweed Industry in NW2045 area.

£23,805.20

Wick Community Hub SCIO

Sensory Space at Wick Community Hub

£19,085.98

Communities Housing Trust

Borrodale School Renovation Project

£25,000.00

Bettyhill Village Hall

Conversion to a SCIO and feasibility study on modernisation

£14,214.00

Wester Loch Ewe Community Council

Wester Loch Ewe Local Place Plan, Phases 2&3

£8,100.00

Lochaber Action on Disability

Community Cafe Kitchen upgrade

£17,189.34

Glendale Community Hall Association

Upgrade of Glendale Community Hall Toilets

£5,719.00

Edinbane & Communities Company

Demolition of former Edinbane shop

£24,000.00

Wester Ross Biosphere

Community led tourism: ‘Press Pause' Mini Programme - Wester Ross Biosphere

£19,907.00

North Kessock Village Hall

Safe, secure and inclusive access to the village hall

£24,879.50

Highland Wool CIC

Knitting strong foundations for the Highlands & Islands wool industry

£10,000.00

Skye Camanachd SCIO

Community Hub Stand at Pairc nan Laoch

£25,000.00

Inver Hall

Making Every Penny Count

£14,858.00

Dunbeath & District Centre
Phase 2 Development - Jigsaw Project
£21,981.00

Dunvegan Community Trust SCIO

Dunvegan Community Action Plan Project

£5,000.00

Dunvegan Community Trust SCIO

Dunvegan Affordable Community Housing Project

£12,570.00

Arisaig Community Trust

Church Buy-out Feasibility Study

£15,804.30

Assynt Leisure

Indoor Soft Play Climbing Frame with Parent & toddler group support

£12,512.00

Culbokie Community Trust

Business and Community Units - Tender Development

£9,996.00

Morvern Community Woodlands

Woodland Crofts Feasibility Study

£24,792.00

Go Golspie Development Trust

Refurbishing Front entrance, cleaner's cupboard and storage spaces and creating a new office area within Fountain Road Hall

£13,904.00

Nairn River Enterprise (Green Hive)

Rewiring Seaman’s Hall

£19,135.68

Kinlochewe Village Hall

Bouldering Wall

£25,000.00

Kinlochewe Village Hall

Toilets Refurbishment

£25,000.00

Glenuig Community Association

Glenuig Inn Community Buyout

£10,296.00

Assynt Development Trust

Clashnessie Falls Footpath

£25,000.00

Broadford and Strath Community Company

Renovation of Old Broadford Public Toilets – Preparatory Works

£6,136.00

Torridon District Community Association

Improving Access to Local Services

£6,115.00

Coigach Community Development Company

Badentarbet Estate for Coigach

£14,400.00

Radio Skye

Youth SPACE Studio

£10,408.09

Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust

Net Zero Housing Phase 1

£25,000.00

Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust

Eigg Contractor Accommodation

£25,000.00

Lochalsh and Skye Swimming Pool Association

Lochalsh Leisure Centre – Restart Project

£25,000.00

Dementia Friendly Communities Ltd, known as Connecting Communities

Helmsdale Youth Club

£9,025.33

Scoraig Community Centre Group

Scoraig Community Centre Refurbishment

£25,000.00

Community of Raasay Retail Association

Raasay Free Presbyterian Church – purchase and renovation into a new community shop

£5,629.66

Stratherick and Foyers Community Trust

Improve toilet facilities at the Wildside Centre

£22,000.00

Scourie Community Development Company

Repopulating Scourie – RIBA Stage 4 - Phase One Affordable Housing

£21,968.00

Portree and Braes Community Trust

Website Re-design for Income Generation and Accessibility

£8,761.00

Nairn Museum

Exhibiting Nairnshire: Renovating the Galleries of Nairn Museum

£15,172.00

Glen Urquhart Rural Community Association

Demolition of Hall Cottage

£ 23,000.00

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

14/4/2025
Council's In-house Bus Service expands into CaithnessThumbnail for article : Council's In-house Bus Service expands into Caithness
The Highland Council is pleased to announce that from Monday 21 April it's in-house bus team will be delivering the 918 Wick to Berriedale service.   This is the first venture for the in-house bus company outside of the Inverness area since the successful introduction and launch of Highland Council Buses.  
14/4/2025
The closure of radio teleswitching explained
The Radio Teleswitching Service (RTS) is due to end on Monday 30 June 2025.   If your electricity meter uses RTS, it must be replaced.  
9/4/2025
Convener thanks those who took part in Highland Visitor Levy Consultation and confirms next steps
Following the conclusion of the public consultation on the possible introduction of a visitor levy for the Highlands, the Council Convener has thanked everyone who submitted responses and confirmed the next steps to be taken.   The Council held a series of webinars, community drop-in events, face to face public sessions and business events as part of the consultation process.  
2/4/2025
Highland screen industry attracts over £3.5M growth in direct film spendThumbnail for article : Highland screen industry attracts over £3.5M growth in direct film spend
Continuing with the trend over the past few years, Highland has seen the highest ever direct spend recorded for filming in The Highland Council region.  In 2024, figures surpassed previous years to reach over £3.5million in direct spend.  
2/4/2025
Highland Council Charitable Trusts award over £100,000 to schools and community groups
At the recently held meeting of the Educational Trusts Sub Committee, the trustees made awards of over £105,000 to a wide variety of individuals and organisations from The Highland Council Charitable Trusts.   The awards ranged from a few hundred pounds to £10,000.  
31/3/2025
Highland council Increasing charges from 1 April
Highland Council is implementing several changes to service charges in 2025: Council Rent Charges: An 8% increase has been agreed for council homes to address rising costs and fund housing improvements.  The average weekly rent for council homes will rise to £82.84, which is still below the national average.  
28/3/2025
Highland Councillors Accept £490,00 pay increase - 22% Rise taking total to £2.3million
Highland Council have agreed to boost senior councillor pay by between £5-11k this year.   The move adds almost £500k to the councillor wage bill, bringing it to a new total of £2.3 million.  
24/3/2025
Councillors to consider Highland Investment Plan update
Highland Councillors will be asked to consider a new approach on the future of the Highland Investment Plan (HIP).   Approval is being sought for the allocation of funding for the first phase of proposed projects for 2024/25 to 2029/30 which will help improve local public facilities and sustain local communities and population.  
21/3/2025
Key appointments form core leadership team at Inverness Castle Experience
The Inverness Castle Experience is delighted to announce the appointment of three senior roles, adding to its leadership team ahead of its highly anticipated opening later this summer.   The Inverness Castle project is part of the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal, which is a joint initiative supported by up to £315m investment from the UK and Scottish governments, The Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and University of the Highlands and Islands, aimed at stimulating sustainable regional economic growth.  
21/3/2025
Highland Coincillors approve ambitious Talent Strategy to foster growth and innovation
Members of today's Corporate Resources Committee (Thursday, 20 March) were presented with and approved the organisation’s Talent Strategy and Talent Action Plan These have been designed to support initiatives to grow and retain talent within the Council, ensuring a sustainable workforce for the future.   The Talent Action Plan includes initiatives such as developing apprenticeship programmes, enhancing diversity and inclusion, and promoting flexible work models.