Boosting community capacity across Scotland
The Community Capacity Grants are part of the Crown Estate Scotland’s new £750k Sustainable Communities Fund. A total of £250,000 has been awarded in the fund’s first year of operation - £150k for community enterprises and £100k for tenants undertaking environment projects.
Foundation Scotland managed the Community Capacity Grants Programme on behalf of Crown Estate Scotland. Community capacity grants are open to all communities, up to five miles from Scotland’s coastline or within five miles of Crown Estate Scotland’s four rural estates, which are planning community enterprise projects that contribute to local regeneration and sustainable development.
The programme launched in summer 2020 and received over 150 enquiries. The seven successful projects were:
- £40,000 for the development of a local energy plan on Islay
- £25,000 in Moray and £18,000 in Argyll & Bute for work to address local housing needs
- £25,000 in Argyll & Bute to provide a Development Officer, working on community childcare facilities
- £18,000 in Moray to support the development of a Campsite
- £16,000 in Highland to support the growth and regeneration of a crofting township
- £12,000 in Fife to support a town centre regeneration project
“After the pressure on communities over the last year, it’s great to be supporting such a worthwhile and positive group of projects. “These are initiatives which can potentially make a big difference for the communities driving them, and I’m excited to see how they progress. We received lots of great applications from all across Scotland, and I’m hopeful that we’ll see a similar level of interest when applications open again later in the year.”
Annie Breaden, Head of Policy for Crown Estate Scotland
The second round of the Sustainable Communities Fund will launch in Summer 2021, and further details on how organisations can apply will be announced in the coming weeks.
To find out more about the Sustainable Communities Fund visit Crown Estate Scotland. Details of the Community Capacity Grants can be found on our fund page.