Here is how to apply for community share of new £3m funding pot

Islands Programme funding to finance capital projects for island communities has been made available for local authorities to bid into in the financial year 2024-25.

 

The investment has been allocated for locally designed critical island infrastructure projects and forms part of the Scottish Government’s National Islands Plan, a strategy aimed at improving the quality of life for island communities.

 

Shovel ready projects have been encouraged to come forward and submit an Expression of Interest before Monday July 1, 2024. 

 

Successful projects will then be invited to submit a full funding application in August. 

 

It is expected that final funding decisions will be announced in the autumn with projects ready to commence before the end of the calendar year.

 

Highland Council has said applications from constituted community organisations are welcome and must evidence how they will deliver against the strategic objectives identified in the National Islands Plan.

 

Applicants can apply for up to 100 per cent of project costs but must demonstrate that there is a need for this level of intervention, and that match funding options have been explored. 

 

Projects will need to evidence they will be in a position to start contracts before the end of December 2024. 

 

Whilst there are no set grant request thresholds, applicants have been told to only apply for the amount that is required for their project to be delivered.

 

Expression of Interest forms can be requested from the Community Regeneration Funding team by emailing communityregenerationfund@highland.gov.uk. 

 

The £3 million currently on offer for infrastructure was first announced by the Scottish Government at the end of May as part of a wider £5 million investment in island communities.

 

The funding is said to reflect the First Minister’s four priorities of eradicating child poverty, growing Scotland’s economy, investing in green energy and infrastructure and improving public services. 

 

In May last year, £4.1 million Islands Programme funding was awarded to 13 community projects including worker accommodation on the Isle of Mull, a new bike park on the Isle of Arran and a Community Care Hub on Tiree.

 

The Scottish Government published the National Islands Plan in December 2019 which laid out 13 strategic objectives including addressing depopulation, sustainable economic development, improving transport services and better housing provision.

 

First Minister John Swinney said: “I have made it clear that I will be First Minister for everyone in Scotland – including our island communities who face a number of unique challenges but have enormous potential.

 

“Islanders have been clear that more needs to be done to help them fulfil their ambitions and that is why we are developing a new National islands Plan, to be published next year.

 

“We will listen to island communities, and speak with local authorities to ensure the new plan meets their needs.

 

“In the meantime, we will continue to invest in our Islands Programme, which over the last three financial years, has distributed over £12 million to support 61 projects on 50 islands.”