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