Existing funding in the National Park

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.