The Badenoch area of the Cairngorms National Park is today celebrating an injection of £352,000 to help Bring the Past to the 21^st Century! The Cairngorms National Park Authority is one of the first organisations to be awarded funding from the National Lottery’s new Great Place Scheme with the money helping to shape the Badenoch area’s future as a heritage tourism destination.

The funding secured by the CNPA will help develop projects and collaborations centred on the area’s unique culture and heritage, enhancing the visitor experience and promoting economic opportunities. Badenoch was once at the centre of Gaelic culture in the Cairngorms and is steeped in history – this new project will see more people getting involved in, caring for and presenting the area’s heritage to a wider audience and ensure a sustainable future.

The Great Places Scheme has been devised and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) in consultation with organisations involved in regeneration to ensure it responds to the specific needs of Scottish places, from city-wide initiatives to smaller, rural schemes. A partnership of local organisations headed up by the CNPA will use the funding from the scheme to place heritage at the heart of joined-up thinking to create a better place for people to live and visit.

The CNPA, along with Badenoch Heritage and other local stakeholders developed the successful application to the HLF’s Great Place Scheme with the funding award meaning that a project officer can now be employed to  help communities to connect with and use their local heritage in new ways.

With its rich local heritage and attractions like the Highland Folk Museum and the Wildlife Park, its gaelic culture, as well as shinty and all the natural attractions of the area, the Great Place Scheme funding will help bring all those positives together in innovative ways to attract more visitors as well as preserving them for future generations.

Murray Ferguson, Director of Planning and Rural Development at the CNPA said: “We are delighted with the announcement that the application to the HLF’s new Great Place Scheme has been successful and we look forward to working with Badenoch Heritage and other local groups to ensure that the benefits of this funding are long lasting.”

Ian Moffett, Chair of Badenoch Heritage – a charitable community organisation drawing members from Badenoch settlements including Kincraig, Kingussie, Newtonmore, Laggan and Dalwhinnie – said: “Being awarded this level of funding through HLF’s Great Place Scheme is great news for the whole of Badenoch. It means we will be able to really raise awareness with locals and other Park residents and visitors, of the incredible wealth and variety of natural and cultural heritage sites we have in this part of Scotland. It can only be of benefit to the local economy too, with increased numbers of people looking to find out more about the fascinating history of this area.”

Commenting on the announcement, Lucy Casot, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, said: “Heritage and culture gives Badenoch a particularly unique identity and makes it special for the people that live there. It’s the roots if you like. This scheme will show how building on those roots can have a hugely positive impact on the local economy in terms of health, employment and education, as well as well as instilling community cohesion and pride.

“Thanks to players of The National Lottery, we are enabling a step-change in thinking, encouraging local leaders to come together and recognise that heritage is a driving force for change in areas like Badenoch.”