Community organisations on eligible islands within the Highland Council boundary are being invited to submit community‑led infrastructure proposals for consideration under the latest round of Islands
The Council is seeking high‑impact projects that can demonstrate substantial benefits for island communities and show strong alignment with the recently updated National Islands Plan. The updated Plan places a stronger focus on the demographic challenges facing many islands, and the Islands Programme eligibility criteria consequently include an increased emphasis on projects that support population retention and attraction and respond directly to local community need.
Only capital projects are eligible for Islands Programme funding. Early‑stage development work - such as feasibility studies, design development, or other preparatory phases - can also be considered, provided it relates to a capital infrastructure project that meets the key criteria and demonstrates potential for significant impact.
Projects must be sufficiently advanced to allow contracts to be awarded no later than December 2026. Proposals should have a clear project scope, demonstrate community support, align with local and national priorities, and show how delivery will be achieved.
Eligible island community groups are asked to upload their project information to the BeConnected platform so that proposals can be assessed for potential inclusion. The deadline for submissions on the platform is 8 April 2026.
Please upload your project proposal.
While this call is specifically encouraging island community groups to submit their proposals by 8 April 2026 for consideration under the Islands Programme, all community groups and organisations across the Highlands are encouraged to add their projects to BeConnected at any time. This helps the Council and other funders understand emerging ideas, support partnership working, and identify opportunities for funding alignment and coordinated delivery.
BeConnected is an online resource being piloted by the Highland Council to gather information on community‑led projects across the region. The platform aims to build a comprehensive picture of community activity across the Highlands and how it aligns with locally identified priorities.
If you need support or guidance on how to upload or amend your project proposal, please email BeConnected