Communities and Cultural Heritage Fund

Community led projects have been at the heart of the Cairngorms Trust. The Cairngorms National Park Authority through Voluntary Action Badenoch and Strathspey and Marr Area Partnership have worked with most communities in the National Park to develop and update their Community Action Plan to identify the communities’ priorities and issues that are important to them. Helping envision a longer-term vision for up to ten years, with more detailed activity across the four specified themes:

1. A culturally vibrant community
2. A socially connected community
3. A climate conscious community
4. An economically thriving community

Click here to find out more about creating a Community Action Plan and here to find your Community Action Plan.

The Communities and Cultural Heritage Fund is designed to support communities to deliver their Community Action Plan priorities and address current needs within the context of the National Park Partnership Plan 2022-27. 

Who can apply?

The fund is open to Community Councils, Community Development Trusts and other community organisations (constituted and non-constituted) located in the Cairngorms National Park. 

We also welcome applications from Community Interest Companies, sole traders, and micro-businesses located inside / out with the National Park whose project beneficiaries must be communities in the National Park.

What will it fund?

The fund aims to support two of the themes in the Community Action Plan.

• A culturally vibrant community – projects that support and celebrate the unique identity and heritage of communities e.g. community spaces, features, buildings, people, traditions.
• A socially connected community – projects that support communities to be happy, healthy, accessible and inclusive e.g. improving facilities, amenities, spaces, events and housing.

Projects must benefit communities within the National Park boundary and should link to key priorities in the National Park Partnership Plan 2022-27 specifically B2, B3, B4, B5, B7, B8, B10, C3, C4, C10.

The Communities and Cultural Heritage Fund can cover the costs of a mix of revenue and capital projects. 

Eligible revenue costs might include consultancy fees for feasibility studies, designs for projects, running costs for events and activities, travel and promotion costs, contribution towards staff salaries.

Eligible capital costs might include new assets, such as building, equipment, infrastructure and other items e.g. signage.

Project spend must be complete and claimed by 10 February 2027. Projects that require planning consent will not be eligible if it is not already in place prior to 10 February 2026.

How much is the fund worth?

The Communities and Cultural Heritage Fund has a total of £50,000 to be distributed to community projects.

The expected grant award for successful projects will be approximately £5,000 but applications will be considered for awards ranging from £2,500 to £10,000.

All funding requests should include the total costs including non-recoverable VAT. Grants can be awarded for 100% of the total cost, though this may vary according to the individual project. This can be discussed with the relevant project officer.

Criteria

Applications will be assessed against a scoring system based on five criteria listed below:

1. How well does the project contribute to the two Community Action Plan themes and fund priorities?
2. How does the project contribute to delivering the National Park Partnership Plan?
3. How does the project benefit the cultural heritage and wider community of the National Park?
4. How well thought out is the project? Does it have clear objectives, outcomes and outputs and is it deliverable by February 2027?
5. What is the level of project risk, and can the risks be managed?

What are the key dates?

1. Applications open: 9 October 2025
2. Applications closing: 5 January 2026
3. Review and scoring of applications: January 2026
4. Decision meeting for grant awards: 10 February 2026
5. Project completion (including all spend and claims): 10 February 2027

When will funding be received if our application is successful

We understand that cash flow for new projects can be difficult to arrange. For approved projects, grants will be on the following basis:

1. On approval of project and confirmation of start: 40%.
2. At mid stage (date to be agreed) on basis of reasonable evidence of progress: 40%.
3. On completion of project and provision of any delivery information including your final project report: 20%.

Alternatively, funds can be claimed 100% on completion of the project.

Ready to apply?

If you have read these guidance notes and think you have a project that meets with the Cairngorms Communities and Cultural Heritage Fund, themes, outcomes and set criteria, then please apply using the application form at www.cairngormstrust.org.uk 

Early engagement with the Cairngorms Trust is encouraged to allow us to provide advice to help develop your project idea.