The most recent awards from the European funded LEADER programme in the Cairngorms National Park have just been announced by the Cairngorms Local Action Group. They are:
Dulnain Bridge Village Hall Trust has been awarded £4,492.80 to rejuvenate and renew three walls of the village hall which are 114 years old. The work will involve the removal of existing lime mortar and the picking and pointing of all stonework.
Ballater Historic Forestry Project Association has secured £2,037.64 towards updating the existing Dalmochie feasibility study which was undertaken in 2004. It will revisit the costs for the proposed options for the site, taking into account the current tourism and economic climate.
Braemar Community Limited has been awarded £3,500 for the creation of a Braemar Castle Business and Development Plan, which is required to allow them to move forward with the restoration of Braemar Castle and the operation of the castle as a sustainable visitor attraction.
The Cairngorms National Park Authority is using an award of £1,995.00 to build on the successful Cultural Heritage Conference that took place in the summer. Community Heritage Group representatives and school groups from all around the National Park are to be given the opportunity to visit other community groups in the Park and learn more about their activities. These outings will take place in the spring and summer of 2011 at the following locations:
- Nethy Bridge, hosted by Explore Abernethy
- Highland Folk Museum, hosted by Laggan Heritage
- Braemar Castle, hosted by Braemar Community Ltd
- Braemar History Society; and Blair Atholl Museum
- Blair Castle, hosted by Blair Atholl History Society
New LEADER is a European funded programme operating across the Cairngorms National Park. It is managed locally by the Cairngorms Local Action Group with support from the Cairngorms National Park Authority. Funding is aimed primarily at ‘Revitalising Communities’ and ‘Progressive Rural Economies’.
Significant funds are still available until the end of 2013, with an additional £340,000 allocated for community facility projects, community centres, village halls, and facilities for young people. Activities underpinning economic development, signposting and interpreting local path networks, improving access to broadband, heritage interpretation, training for work and many more types of project will also be considered. The next deadline for applications is 10 January 2011.
For more information and project examples visit the leader website or contact Patricia Methven on tel: 01479 870543.