Communities Fund - session two resources

This document contains an overview of 20 long-term projects focused on improving the Cairngorms. These projects aim to transform landscapes to benefit nature, empower local communities to shape their future, make travel easier, safer, and greener throughout the area, and build healthier, happier communities centered on wellbeing. Key initiatives include restoring peatlands, expanding woodlands, engaging communities in climate learning, developing sustainable travel options, and promoting outdoor health, all supported by a programme for research and sharing knowledge.

This document contains an overview of funding in the Cairngorms National Park. It explains that Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) funds, which took over from European Union funding in 2020, are distributed by the Scottish Government to rural communities. The Cairngorms National Park is one of 22 areas receiving a share, with about £9.3 million allocated for 2026/27 across all areas, and £300,000 specifically for the Cairngorms National Park's CLLD fund, shaped by community action and government priorities. The Park Authority focuses on funding aligned with the National Park Partnership Plan, while councils also have their own budgets. Other local funds come from sources like windfarms, local trusts, and large employers. Challenges in rural funding include difficulty covering running costs, the need for constant reapplication for annual funds, national funds not always understanding rural impact, and a lack of flexibility in many funding streams that don't consider local geography or community needs.

This document contains information about the C2030 Communities fund, which will distribute £1 million in grants by 30 September 2028. This fund is designed to support locally led projects that help people and nature thrive together in the Cairngorms National Park, working towards a vision of the National Park as an exemplar by 2030. Projects must align with four key themes: empowering communities, transforming transport, restoring and enhancing landscapes, and improving people's health and wellbeing, all while contributing to the National Park's journey towards net zero. While the Park Authority is accountable for the funding, a panel with broad freedom will shape the fund's operation, ensuring it meets requirements from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) and benefits various groups including community members, farmers, local businesses, young people, and under-represented groups.