Lochaber area awarded £270k Community Regeneration Funding

Eight applications for community projects for the Lochaber Area have been awarded funding totalling £270,120.28 from the Community Regeneration Fund (CRF).

Total Community Regeneration Funding available for Lochaber 2025/26 is £793,596.36 (this is a mix of capital and revenue), Lochaber Area Committee Members previously allocated £242,367.55 at the Lochaber Area Committee’s held on 11 August 2025 and 10 November 2025. There is £281,108.53 remaining in the Lochaber CRF budget for 2025-26.

 

Lochaber Area Committee Chair, Cllr Kate Willis said: “Community Regeneration Funding directs funding to the heart of our communities and to projects that are key priorities across the area, focussing on funding criteria that aims to enable economic recovery, regeneration, and community resilience.

“The 2025/26 funding has supported several eligible community projects, that will make positive changes within their communities. On behalf of our Committee Members, I wish all the projects the best of luck and look forward to receiving progress updates about each project at future meetings.”

The successful applicants from Monday 26 January 2026 committee were:

• Road to the Isles Facilities Group (SCIO) - Mallaig Circular Walk Phase 3- £30,000
• Urram SCIO - Transport and Car Club Expansion - £42,889
• Arisaig Community Trust – Bill’s Shed - £64,769.28
• Acharacle Community Company - Shielbridge Hall Refurbishment Stage 2 - £52,432
• Ardgour Glensanda Development Trust – Clovullin Affordable Housing - £11,600
• Sunart Community Company - Sunart Craft Hub & Men’s Shed - £11,300
• National Trust for Scotland – Glenfinnan Visitor Management –ANPR Data Collection - £38,250
• Kinlochleven Community Trust – Development Manager - £18,880.00

The Council is evolving its approach to ensure that funding decisions are better aligned with local priorities and more accessible to groups at all stages of project development. BeConnected Highland (external link) has recently launched and Community groups are encouraged to explore the map, familiarise themselves with their Area Place Plan and add their projects to ensure they are visible to funders and potential partners.

For more information or support in using BeConnected, please contact BeConnected@highland.gov.uk.

Community Regeneration Funding is an umbrella term for several funds that are available for communities/organisations to access in Highland.

It comprises of Highland Coastal Communities Fund and the Place Based Investment Programme, both of which are Scottish Government Funding streams to support economic regeneration and sustainable development in Highland.