A new £1 million community fund, the Cairngorms 2030 Communities Fund, is now open for small grant applications within the Cairngorms National Park area and will run for the next two years.
The program invites applications from organizations and individuals planning projects that strengthen communities, support nature and biodiversity, improve outdoor well-being, or help respond and adapt to climate change.
According to an article by Angus World, applicants can apply for small grants ranging from £500 to £5,000, with all funding decisions finalized within three weeks.
A panel met nine times during the spring and summer to design the entire process, establishing the eligibility criteria and application methods.
The panel decided to split the funding into three tiers, consisting of small, medium, and large grants.
While the small grants fund is currently active, medium grants of £5,000 to £50,000 and large grants of £50,000 to £100,000 will open in November.
Panel members recommended establishing a smaller forum to make decisions on the medium and large grants.
Recruitment for this forum is currently underway, and the public participation charity Involve will independently select the successful applicants.
Once recruited, forum members will receive compensation for their time and support from the Park Authority grants team.
Cairngorms 2030 Program Head David Clyne commented on the work involved in creating the fund. “Designing a fund from scratch is no mean feat, so it was great to see the panellists bring so much energy and enthusiasm to the task,” Clyne said.
“What they’ve come up with is different to anything we’ve done before,” Clyne stated. “The rolling small grants process aims to offer quick wins to community projects and I can’t wait to hear about the first successful applications – especially if they’re from people who’ve never been involved in something like this before.”
Those who have not applied for funding before are particularly encouraged to submit their proposals. Additional details and applications for the grants forum are available on the CNPA website.
For outdoor recreation professionals and local operators, this £1 million fund presents an opportunity to secure financial backing for initiatives that enhance regional infrastructure and visitor experiences.
