10 Sutherland Groups Among Highland Organisations To Benefit From Community Regeneration Funding Towards Revenue Projects

4th October 2023

A funding boost of nearly £1million of revenue investment is set to benefit rural areas across Highland.

The Highland Strategic Local Action Group who met during September, considered, and agreed funding for revenue projects submitted to the first round of the 2023/24 Community Regeneration Fund.

75 applications were considered, and of these, 61 were approved.

Chair of the Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Cllr Ken Gowans said: "Community Regeneration Funding (CRF) is an umbrella term used to cover multiple external funding programmes administered by the Highland Council. This first round was specifically to fund revenue projects financed from the Community-Led Local Development programme (CLLD). Although managed within the umbrella term Community Regeneration Funding, the CLLD programme builds on the legacy of the EU LEADER funding programme. Decisions on which projects are to receive funding is taken by a Local Action Group made up of third sector representatives, public agencies, and private organisations."

He added: "A wide spectrum of projects were approved during this round, including feasibility studies and development phases for capital projects such as affordable housing schemes and visitor management facilities; revenue support for mental health services, youth work programmes and cost of living initiatives; revenue support for existing community transport schemes; and development support to improve community facilities and amenities."

He continued: "It is fantastic that we have been successful in securing a large allocation of CLLD funding from the Scottish Government again this year. Last year, 48 projects benefitted from the CLLD programme meaning that, with this years' approvals, £2m of additional funding has been invested in our rural communities over the last couple of years. This latest round of revenue funding provides essential support for local jobs and allows Highland communities to grow and develop new opportunities, all of which bring positive actions addressing the issues faced by our rural communities."

The Community-Led Local Development programme is financed by the Scottish Government to encourage economic, social, and environmental development in rural areas. For 2023-24, £11.6 million of funding has been committed to support projects throughout Scotland including island communities. In addition to the £1m of revenue funding already committed this year, the Highland Council has been awarded a further £400k of CLLD funding towards capital projects and this will be distributed with the remaining Community Regeneration Fund later this year.

Kyle of Sutherland Hub
The Hub - community resource building
The funding is required to continue the appointment of an architect and specialist consultants' team to develop all technical drawings and statutory requirements to submit a building warrant application for the construction of an extension to the community resource building, following the submission of a planning application
£41,276

Scottish Wildlife Trust
Little Assynt Tree Nursery
Scottish Wildlife Trust established Little Assynt Tree Nursery in 2012 to address a distinct shortage of local, native tree suppliers to enable the creation and enhancement of native woodland across the Coigach and Assynt Living Landscape. They commissioned a feasibility study with the ambition of the tree nursery becoming a cost-neutral enterprise however they do not have the internal business expertise and capacity required to achieve this. This application therefore is to procure the services of a consultant to develop a business plan. Having external capacity support, will also enable SWT to explore potential investment opportunities, options for modernising the off-grid capability, and scaling-up to offer more volunteer opportunities.
£18,970

Sutherland
Sutherland Transport
Integrated rural Transport project
Overall project is to establish an integrated transport service across the whole of Sutherland County. Delivered in three phases, this application is to deliver phase two which is to take the information gathered from the surveys and consultations from phase one and devise a transport plan that will address the needs of the individual communities and establish an improved transport infrastructure.
£33,400

Go Golspie Development Trust
Increasing Capacity and Resilience within Go Golspie
This is to fund an existing Development Manager post for a further 4-months to continue the work of delivering projects in the area. Post pandemic and cost of living crisis has meant that some projects have not been able to generate enough income and have incurred additional costs meaning that there are pressures on finances which has slowed down the opportunity for projects to be sustainable - funding for this post will finish end of October. This funding is to help address a fund gap for the post, allow time for projects to generate further income and explore new opportunities, and reduce the risk of ongoing projects not being able to be delivered.
£13,500

Brora Development Trust
Brora's Healthy School Holiday Project
Brora Development Trust is seeking funding to make vouchers available to parents/carers of 250 children in early learning, primary and high school in Brora during the school holidays over the forthcoming academic year. In addition, funding is required to stock the two local food units over the winter period as relying on donations alone is no longer sustainable.
£11,600

Go Golspie Development Trust
Existing and Additional Transport services
This is to fund an existing post and additional transport service, to support more people by increasing minibus and/or car trips. The costs associated for the post includes the co-ordination of bookings, manage drivers, and additional administration duties. Costs also include running costs to cover the expansion of the service. The additional hours/expansion will support the work associated with the recently opened YMCA building in Golspie for example. There are plans to operate the facility as a warm hub over the winter meaning that there will be more demand on the community transport service. They are also getting requests for other activities including the MIDAS minibus training.
£9,080

Kinlochbervie Community Company
Loch Clash Regeneration Phase 2
Kinlochbervie Loch Clash Stopover was developed to accommodate the demand for campervan and motorhome parking. It opened in 2016 and produces a modest income. Income goes toward maintaining the site (costs have increased due to the cost of living) and any profits, invested into community projects. This application is to develop phase 2 of the project which has identified 4 elements - improve the campervan area addressing issues on the site (grey water); upgrading the picnic site; creation of accessible paths from the campervan site; restoration of the net shed into a washer/dryer and toilet facility. The consultant will assess options appraisals, community/stakeholder engagement, cost plan and schedule, environmental assessments, project briefs & potential funders.
£14,540

Scourie Community Development Company
Gearing Up
Project is to continue with the services of a consultant to manage the housing project to construct 8 affordable homes and safe parking area (phase 1) to the geographically disadvantaged, remote, rural Scourie community. The work will involve technical designs (RIBA stage 4), preparation of tenders for construction, apply for funding for the construction phase.
£7,695

Assynt Development Trust
Lochinver Glebe Housing Development Design Work - Phases 3 & 4a
The overall aim is to build affordable housing in Lochinver. This is a phased project, and it is currently in the design/planning/technical phase of the development complying with the various RIBA stages before construction.The stage 3 works (this application), based on stage 1-2 initial designs (completed), involve:Phase 1 housing - work to submission of a full planning application for a first phase of creation of 10-12 housing units, along with further detailed costing, specification and design development. Phases 2 & 3 housing - work to submission of an outline planning application (planning in principle application) for further phased development of around 30 units.
£46,160

Scourie Community Development Company
Scourie Rocks
Scourie Rocks will be a new purpose built visitor attraction in the village of Scourie on the NC500. Over the last few months, the SCDC Board have been working with a consultant to establish the feasibility to raise the capital needed to build and establish Scourie Rocks. This application is to further develop the business plan, timelines and put partnership agreements in place.
£30,000

See the full Highland list of projects HERE