People who live in and who have a passion for the Cairngorms National Park are being invited to design an exciting new community fund worth £1 million. 

The new Cairngorms 2030 Communities Fund is an investment in communities – with a twist. This year, communities won’t just have the opportunity to apply for money, they will design the whole process to hand out £1 million from start to finish.

In February, a paid panel of people who care deeply about the National Park will be recruited to design the fund from the outset and decide how it should work. This panel will make all the important choices about the fund, from eligibility criteria to maximum award amounts and how the money is distributed. The Park Authority is looking for 18 people representing a diverse range of community interests to join the panel and applications open today.

Independent charity the Involve Foundation will support the group to come up with ideas and make decisions on how the grants process will work. This will take place in the first half of 2026, with a view to the fund being launched in summer 2026.

Sandy Bremner, Convener at the Cairngorms National Park Authority, said: “This exciting new fund embodies what the Cairngorms 2030 programme is all about – empowering people to lead the way in looking after this special place for generations to come.

“There is so much ambition and energy here in the National Park, especially when it comes to supporting communities and protecting nature. You don’t need to have experience in anything like this to get involved – we want the panel to reflect our vibrant communities so would love to see people coming forward from a range of backgrounds.”

The fund will build on the core themes of the Cairngorms 2030 programme, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, which aims to:

• Empower communities to share the future of their local area
• Transform the way land is managed and used to benefit nature
• Make getting around the Cairngorms easier, safer and greener
• Foster healthier, happier communities with wellbeing at their heart

David Clyne, Head of Cairngorms 2030 at the Cairngorms National Park Authority, said: “It’s so exciting to kick off the new year with one of the most ambitious projects of the Cairngorms 2030 programme. Joining the panel offers a rare opportunity to shape how this significant sum of money best supports our communities to deliver the vision and themes of Cairngorms 2030. Everyone is welcome to apply to get involved in something that will have a transformational impact for communities. I can’t wait to see what the panel come up with.” 

Caroline Clark, Scotland Director at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, added: “The Cairngorms 2030 Communities Fund and the way it is being designed and led by local people is a true commitment to putting the power to make positive change in the hands of those who live and work in the Cairngorms National Park.

“It reflects exactly what the National Lottery Heritage Fund strives to achieve – investing in people and places so that communities can shape their own future and protect the landscapes and heritage that matter most to them.”

Applications to join the panel are open from today (Wednesday 7 January) until Sunday 15 February. Anyone who lives or works in the Cairngorms National Park and wants to play a part in shaping the future of their community is encouraged to apply online on this dedicated page on the Cairngorms National Park Authority website.