Cairngorms 2030 Communities Fund

Dulnain Bridge with fields in the foreground and mountains in the background.

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Million pound pot for Cairngorms communities 

The new Cairngorms 2030 Communities Fund is an investment in communities – with a twist. In 2026, 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 as part of the Cairngorms 2030 programme, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

People coming together to make a difference is a familiar story in the National Park, whether that is log banks being set up for neighbours struggling to heat their homes, or community garden projects that create peaceful hideouts for people and wildlife alike. This initiative aims to go a step further. 

In March 2026, 18 people representing diverse communities who live in and love the Cairngorms National Park will come together to form a paid panel. This panel will make all the important choices about the fund, from eligibility criteria to maximum award amounts and how the money is distributed. There will be big decisions to be made, thoughtful conversations, and the chance to make a real impact on the future of the National Park and its communities.

The fund will build on the core themes of the Cairngorms 2030 programme, aiming 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.

This is different from our usual approach; the Park Authority will not make decisions about what the fund looks like, or where the money is spent. Instead, we’re handing power over to local communities to make decisions about the things that matter most to them. We’re excited to learn from this process along the way.

Panellists will be paid for their time, at a rate of £20.17 per hour, and reimbursed for their travel. They must be available to attend panel meetings on the below dates:

25 March 6pm - 8.30pm, online
28 March 9.30am - 5pm face to face at a location in the National Park
25 April 9.30am - 5pm face to face at a location in the National Park
6 May 6pm - 8.30pm online
13 May 6pm - 8.30pm online
20 May 6pm - 8.30pm online
30 May 9.30am - 5pm face to face at a location in the National Park
17 June 6pm - 8.30pm online

For Involve – the independent charity helping guide the process – finding ways to move beyond traditional funding approaches, and strengthen the involvement of people in local decision making, is their bread and butter. Having worked on everything from Scotland’s Climate Assembly to Bristol City Council’s £4m Community Resilience Fund, Involve will be working directly with the panel to give them all of the support and guidance they need to engage in the process.

Interested in participating? You can express your interest in joining the panel below, until 22 February. Anyone who lives in or loves the Cairngorms National Park and wants to play a part in shaping the future of their community is encouraged to get involved.

After 22 February, Involve will randomly select the 18 panellists from those who have expressed interest, ensuring that a wide range of ages, ethnic backgrounds, experiences and views will be part of the panel.