Twelve Community Projects Awarded Over £272,000 in First Round of Highland's Reuse and Repair Fund

20th February 2026

In 2025, The Highland Council launched The Reuse and Repair Fund, with members agreeing to secure £500,000 across a two-year period for community groups across Highland.

Round 1 of the fund is now closed, with 12 projects across Highland securing funding, totalling £272,366.

Projects are expected to deliver on the priority themes: Community-led waste reduction and skills for sustainable living. The successful projects range from reuse centres to skills cafes and workshop and skills programmes focusing on capacity building.

Vice Chair of the Communities and Place Committee, Councillor Hugh Morrison said: "This first round of the Reuse and Repair Fund highlights the talent, creativity and determination that exists within communities across Highland. These projects will help people develop practical skills, reduce waste, and contribute to a more circular local economy. It's inspiring to see so many groups leading the way in delivering sustainable, community-led solutions."

The approved projects are listed below:

New Start highland
Reuse Revolution
£49,330.00

Rag Tag and Textile
RagTag's Skills Cafe
£11,082.00

Thurso Community Development Trust
"Beyond the Bin" Upcycling Workshop Programme
£5,625

Inverness Darkroom
Futureproofing: Make the Inverness Darkroom Sustainable
£2,000

Lochaber Environmental Group
Fort William Bike Shed
£26,304

Lochaber Environmental Group
Fort William Repair Cafe
£2,270

Green Hive
Developing and diversifying local social enterprise activities to support reuse and repair in Nairn
£24,906

Lochbroom & Ullapool Community Trust Ltd (LUCT)
New Broom Depot
£46,239

Transition Black Isle
Black Isle Repair Café (BIRC)
£4,820

ILM Highland
Rescued and Ready
£40,700

Strathspey Works- Grantown Remakery
Revive and Reuse - in the Circular Economy
£29,350

Golspie Youth Action Group
GYP Circular Economy Project - Phase one
£29,740

The funded projects will empower communities to extend the life of materials through reuse, repair and upcycling; alongside providing communities with workshops and initiatives that can teach individuals to repair, mend and creative reuse skills.

The fund will re-open for round 2 in April 2026. Please keep an eye out for updates or keep up to date on our Connect with Opportunities page on BeConnected. Visit: https://highland.communitychoices.scot

If you have another project or idea that you are looking to deliver, please add your proposal to the BeConnected map.

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

16/7/2026 : Local Authority

Highland Small Grants Programme Reopens with Expanded Support for Community Organisations

The Highland Local Action Group (LAG) is re-opening the Highland Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) Small Grants Programme following a review of the remaining funding.   Community and voluntary organisations across rural Highland are being invited to apply for grants of up to £10,000.  

14/7/2026 : Local Authority

 
Do you want a say in the future development of Highland?

Share your ideas and help shape the places, spaces and communities of tomorrow.   The Highland Council is inviting people to share their ideas relating to the development or long-term land use in Highland.  

8/7/2026 : Local Authority

Traffic restrictions for Belladrum Festival 2026

Motorists are being advised of a series of temporary road closures, speed limits and traffic restrictions that will be in place to support the safe running of the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival 2026.   The Highland Council has introduced a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order to manage traffic and reduce disruption in the area around Kiltarlity and Belladrum during the event period.  

2/7/2026 : Local Authority

A New Pay Deal For England's Teachers But Scottish Teach Are Still Better Paid But Councils Are Landed With The Problem

teachers in Scotland are generally still paid more than teachers in England, although the gap varies depending on experience and location.   The UK Government has announced a two-year pay deal for teachers in England: 3.5% from September 2026 3.0% from September 2027 This is a cumulative increase of around 6.6% over two years.  

26/6/2026 : Local Authority

The Highland Council agree next steps for Visitor Levy scheme

The Highland Council has agreed to continue working with the tourism industry to co-design a draft Visitor Levy scheme for the Highlands.   It follows the Council securing greater flexibility from The Scottish Government on how a Visitor Levy could be applied and administered, after feedback from accommodation providers and industry groups across the Highlands about a percentage-based charge.  

26/6/2026 : Local Authority

Highland Wealth Fund to create lasting legacy from renewable energy development

The Highland Council has agreed plans to establish a Highland Wealth Fund to create a lasting legacy from renewable energy development and support long-term benefits for communities across the region.   Inspired by the principles of the Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund, the new partnership-led fund will support strategic, regional, area and local priority projects, helping to ensure that the opportunities created by the energy transition deliver lasting value for current and future generations.  

25/6/2026 : Local Authority

Apply For Education Maintenance Allowance If you are 16 to 19 years old

If you are 16 to 19 years old, at school or college, and come from a low-income household you may be able to get financial help from an Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA).   EMA is a weekly allowance of £30 per week, paid during term time.  

22/6/2026 : Local Authority

 
Highland Council launches new platform to improve online engagement

The Highland Council has today (Monday 22 June) launched a new online engagement platform which will transform how residents, communities and visitors engage with consultations.   The easy-to-use platform allows anyone to quickly see what projects and proposals are open for consultation and engagement.  

22/6/2026 : Local Authority

A Tale of Two Schools - Is Thurso Next? As Moray Council Shelves £100million school plan for Buckie

When Moray Council officially shelved plans for a new Buckie High School, it sent a shockwave through communities across the north of Scotland.  The message was clear: in the current economic climate, even the most desperate promises of new school builds can vanish overnight when balanced against a massive budget deficit.  

19/6/2026 : Local Authority

 
Highland creatives help shape UK City of Culture 2029 bid

Cultural artists and creators from across the Highlands have gathered at Strathpeffer Pavilion to share their ideas and ambitions for the Inverness-Highland bid for UK City of Culture 2029.   The bid, which is being taken forward under the name Beò 2029 the Gaelic word for living brought together around 80 creative practitioners from across the region for a cultural conversation exploring what culture means in the Highlands, what stories the region wants to tell, and the legacy for the future.