Cairngorms 2030 Communities Fund

We welcome applications from: 

• Constituted community groups and organisations 
• Informal groups 
• Individuals 
• Social enterprises 
• Community businesses 
• Partnerships and collaborative projects 

If you're unsure whether your project is eligible the team are always happy to speak to anyone who is interested.

This fund is not intended for: 

• Organisations with access to significant alternative funding for the same project 
• Projects with no clear benefit to communities within the Cairngorms National Park 
• Projects whose primary purpose is private financial gain 
• Projects where another national fund exists for that specific purpose, for example through Community Energy Scotland or the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme 

Organisations that operate commercially while delivering genuine community benefit are welcome to apply. 

We are particularly interested in projects that: 

• Deliver community, climate and nature benefits
• Build local capacity for climate action
• Leave a lasting climate legacy
• Encourage participation in climate and nature projects
• Share the benefits of climate action widely
• Support the ambitions of Cairngorms 2030 (examples below)

The key question we ask when assessing applications is: 

Will this project deliver meaningful and lasting benefits for the Cairngorms National Park, its people, and its communities in the face of a changing climate?

The fund will not support: 

• Expenditure on assets or buildings outwith the boundaries of the National Park
• Existing staff posts or organisational costs, unless they are calculated through full cost recovery (we can't fund existing staff to keep doing what they are already doing, but if staff and the organisation are taking on additional or different duties, you can calculate how much that costs the organisation and include that in the project costs)
• Repairs to private homes
• Legal and/or statutory responsibilities - anything that would be paid for regardless of whether the project went ahead (e.g., rent, utilities, building maintenance)
• Promoting the causes or beliefs of political or faith organisations
• Recoverable VAT
• Costs for any activity that has taken place before a grant is awarded
• Costs for installing artificial grass or plants 

Any profit made from the project must be reinvested in the communities of the National Park.

We know local community members are keen to take action after the recent wildfires in the National Park. We are committed to wildfire response and are exploring options for how we can coordinate further support for individuals, communities and organisations in this area, as part of our broader work on climate resilience. As a result, applications to the Cairngorms 2030 Communities Fund relating to that will be diverted.

Small grant applications will be processed by the Park Authority grants team against the following criteria: 

• The project aligns with at least one Cairngorms 2030 theme (examples below)
• The activity takes place within the Cairngorms National Park
• The project delivers clear community benefit
• The project supports equity, diversity and inclusion
• The project demonstrates capacity building, skills development and legacy 

Grant payments will normally be made in one of the following ways: 

• 50% at the start of the project and 50% on completion, or 
• 100% in advance where appropriate evidence and payment terms are provided 

Projects should be completed and fully spent by September 2028. 

Before payment, we will ask applicants to: 

• Complete a supplier form 
• Confirm bank account details 
• Provide invoices, receipts and proof of payment where required 

An amount of funds are ringfenced for equity, diversity and inclusion projects. This includes the nine protected characteristics under UK law: 

• Age
• Disability
• Gender reassignment
• Marriage and civil partnership
• Pregnancy and maternity
• Race
• Religion or belief
• Sex
• Sexual orientation

And experiences chosen by our community panel:

• Rural isolation and geographic remoteness
• Limited access to services
• Young people aged under 30

Projects that transform the way land is managed and used to benefit nature.

Examples include, but are not limited to: 

• Enhancing habitats for wildlife  
• Community woodland projects
• Nature-based solutions that reduce flood risk 

Projects that empower communities to shape the future of their local area.

Activities could include things like: 

• Education around nature and climate change
• Focussed opportunities for underrepresented groups, such as youth groups or disabled people
• Workshops on how communities can work together to adapt to the challenges of climate change

Projects that make getting around the Cairngorms easier, safer and greener.

This might be things like: 

• Community walking and cycling projects
• Improving access to active travel
• Finding ways to help people rely less on cars 

Projects that foster healthier, happier communities with wellbeing at their heart.

This could include ideas like: 

• Nature as a tool for mental health support
• Reducing isolation in rural communities
• Connecting people to nature through art, music or other creative activities