Cairngorms Local Action Group announces latest funding awards

The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) is helping to fund new projects in the Park via the Cairngorms Local Action Group.They are:

Backwoods Productions has been awarded £3,000 to support this year’s ‘Insider Festival’. The funding is aimed at helping organizers of the event to support local emerging talent, showcase local food and drink and to help the Festival to become sustainable in the near future.

The Heritage and Archaeological Research Practice has secured £2,842 for its ‘Archaeology of the Munros’ project which will help develop a range of aspects within the project including providing historical and archaeological survey skills and site recording training for volunteers; creating a heritage trail of local cultural sites associated with the relevant Munro in that area; promote heritage tourism in different areas of the Cairngorms National Park and encourage community groups to be actively involved.

Mar Orienteering Club will use its £3,000 grant towards the hosting of the Scottish Orienteering Championships next year. The funding will help to create maps which will be used during the 4-day competition in June 2012.

Community Violence and Abuse Support Services receives £3,000 for their Summer Programme 2011, which will give children and young people the chance to take part in a higher level of the John Muir Award. Women taking part in the Programme will also be supported to produce a third book (aimed at children aged 8 to 14), which tells the story of a child living with abuse. Children will also be involved in the production of the book which will allow them to consider their own experiences and work through issues around violence and abuse, through the safety of storytelling.

Feis Spe Ltd gets £2,600 for Feisan a Mhonaidh Ruaidh, building on the achievements of the last two years of the Feisan of the last 20 years of Feis Spe, extending the operation to include the areas covered by the newly extended Cairngorms National Park boundary.

Carn Dearg Mountaineering Club will use the £5,000 awarded to the Club to upgrade the well used Carn Dearg Mountaineering hut by making it more habitable and energy efficient.

Carr-Bridge Primary School Parent Council Committee gets £2,000 towards the cost of providing a climbing wall for use by the primary school pupils, helping to promote physical activity.

Grantown Museum and Heritage Trust has been given £5,000 to carry out a feasibility study to enable the Trust to move forward with the next phase at Grantown Museum. The ultimate goal is the creation of an innovative home for the museum’s collections and for the Grantown Museum to become economically viable and a recognised leader in its field.

Ballater Royal Deeside Limited intends to recruit a Ballater Learning Centre Coordinator and has been awarded £5,000 for the purpose. The project aims to provide community and business learning for upper Deeside and the coordinator will carry out a needs assessment as well as undertake the marketing and promotion of the centre and prepare a business plan.

Ballater and Royal Deeside Limited has also been awarded £2,000 to negotiate a 30 year lease on the Ballater Caravan Park with the option to purchase. This funding will help meet legal fees and the setting up of a subsidiary trading company.

Braemar Community Council Ltd has been awarded £3,000 towards the cost of continuing to build on the work undertaken so far to turn Braemar Castle into a sustainable visitor attraction.

Carr-Bridge Village Committee has secured £2,500 towards the cost of refurbishing and modernising the hall including the installation of a new sewer connection and roof repairs

Cairngorms Local Action Group EU funds are now fully committed however there are still some non-EU funds available. The next deadline for applications is 22 August 2011. For more information contact Patricia Methven on tel: 01479 870515 or via email