Highland Council opens applications for a new Reuse & Repair Fund

4th November 2025

The Highland Council is encouraging community groups and organisations to apply for a share of £500,000 that has been made available through a new Highland Reuse & Repair Fund.

Chair of the Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans said: "I am very pleased to be able to announce the opening of this new fund.

The investment will enable communities both to develop new approaches and to build on existing community initiatives that increase levels of reuse and facilitate repairs.

"Whilst achieving a positive impact on the environment from reducing carbon emissions associated with waste is a key strategic priority for Highland Council, this fund will also have a positive socio-economic outcome. Building skills and capacity within local groups and increasing the availability of upcycled goods within communities will be of particular benefit to those affected by the cost-of-living crisis."

Projects are expected to meet at least ONE of the following priority themes:

Community-led Waste Reduction:
Empowering communities to extend the life of materials through reuse, repair and upcycling.
Skills for Sustainable Living:
Supporting workshops and initiatives that teach repair, mending and creative reuse skills - building local capacity and reducing household costs.
Examples of types of projects that could be supported include:

Establishing local repair cafes, reuse hubs, and upcycling workshops
Hosting community swap and reuse events
Creative upcycling and circular economy projects
Skills for sustainable living workshops
Development of community tool libraries and resource hubs
Intergenerational learning and traditional skills sharing
Applications are welcomed from constituted community groups; public sector bodies; charities; voluntary and social enterprises; co-operatives and community ownership initiatives and development trusts.

This is a competitive process, so the Council is highlighting that projects with secured match funding or in-kind contributions are likely to score higher during assessment. Applicants can apply for funding for both capital and revenue costs.

The minimum grant support available is £2,000 and the maximum will be £50,000.

The Council is operating a rolling application process to apply to the Reuse & Repair Fund. There will be 2 funding rounds this financial year, with more to follow in 2026-27. The key dates are as follows:

Round 1 - Submit by 12 noon on 1st December 2025.

Round 2 - Submit by 12 noon on 6th March 2026.

The fund will close on 6th March and reopen in April 2026. Projects will have a 12-month period from the offer of a grant in which to spend the allocated funds.

For full information, application form and further guidance please visit -

How to apply | Highland Reuse and Repair Fund | The Highland Council
https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/283/community_life_and_leisure/1158/highland_reuse_and_repair_fund/3

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

Yesterday : Local Authority

 
Highland's Growth Ambitions: Billions in Investment Promised, But Can the Numbers Really Add Up?

Highland Council has set out an ambitious vision for the economic future of the Highlands, with the possibility of attracting between £10 billion and £16 billion of public and private investment over the next 25 years.   On paper, it is an impressive prospect.  

Yesterday : Local Authority

Caithness Committee approves six Community Regeneration Fund applications - £237,155

The Caithness Area Committee which met (Monday 2 November 2026) has approved six applications submitted to the Community Regeneration Fund (CRF).   This approval securing significant investment to support local projects that will benefit communities across the north.  

31/10/2026 : Local Authority

Caithness at the Sharp End: Broadband, Buses and Public Services Under Pressure

From the loss of a direct bus link to Inverness to uncertainty over rural broadband, a difficult council budget and the future of community organisations, the past week has provided plenty for Caithness residents to think about.  But there have also been celebrations, local achievements and signs of community spirit.  

31/10/2026 : Local Authority

 
Highland Council Faces a £39.2 Million Budget Gap: Will Council Taxpayers and Services Pay the Price?

Highland Council is facing another difficult financial challenge, with councillors being told that a further £39.2 million in savings must be found over the next three years to balance the authority's finances.   The announcement, made at the full council meeting on 29 October 2026, represents a substantial deterioration in the financial outlook.  

30/10/2026 : Local Authority

 
Highland Council Visitor Levy Consultation In-person Events Announced

Residents, businesses, community groups and visitors are encouraged to continue to take part in a series of public engagement events to learn more about the proposed Highland Visitor Levy and how they can contribute to the statutory public consultation.   In addition to the online webinars held earlier in the process, a programme of in-person events will continue throughout November.  

30/10/2026 : Local Authority

The Highland Council agrees budget engagement programme

Members of the public, community groups, the business sector and young people will be invited to share their views on how The Highland Council balances its budget and plans spend over the next three years.   The Council needs to find £39.2 million of additional savings over the next three years to deliver a balanced financial plan, driven largely by the impact of rising costs and the ongoing impact of wider economic events.  

29/10/2026 : Local Authority

The Hidden Cost of a 1% Capital Budget Cut: Could Scotland's Schools, Roads and Highland Investment Plans Be Affected?

The Chancellor's decision to reduce departmental capital budgets by 1% could have consequences well beyond Westminster.  Scotland faces a reduction in capital funding, while Highland Council is embarking on a £2.1 billion investment programme that includes a proposed £100 million education campus in Thurso.  

28/10/2026 : Local Authority

When Fuel Prices Rise, Who Pays the Bill for Public Services?

Councils, the NHS and other public bodies face a difficult choice when rising diesel and energy costs threaten the contractors they depend on.  School transport in rural Scotland illustrates the problem.  

27/10/2026 : Local Authority

Gaelic Spending Under Scrutiny: Can Highland Council Afford Another Post While Jobs Are Under Pressure?

The council has legal responsibilities to support Gaelic, but with budgets stretched and services facing difficult choices.  Residents are entitled to ask how priorities are decided across the Highlands.  

24/10/2026 : Local Authority

 
Libraries, Leisure Centres and Local Culture Face Growing Pressure as Council Charges Rise

Audit Scotland warns that cuts to community services could deepen inequalities, while councils lack the evidence to measure the full consequences.   Scotland’s councils are spending less on culture and leisure services while asking the public to pay more to use them, raising questions about the future of libraries, swimming pools, sports facilities, museums and other important parts of community life.