Opportunity for communities to apply for funding
Rural communities across Highland are set to benefit from more than £1 million in funding to support community asset improvements and to help tackle inequalities affecting children, young people and families.
The Highland Local Action Group (LAG) are inviting organisations to apply for funding to finance revenue and capital projects to address two main priorities.
- Priority 1 - Community Asset Improvements
- Priority 2 - Tackling inequality for children, young people and families
To streamline access to small grants, this funding will be delivered via two separate processes within each priority:
- Priority 1
- Small Grants of up to £10,000 – revenue only
- Larger project grants up to £25,000 – capital only
- Priority 2
- Small Grants of up to £10,000 – revenue only
- Larger project grants up to £25,000 – revenue only
Small grant funding will operate through a single-stage application process and will be open on a rolling basis until the funding is fully allocated. Applications open on 28 April, with the first approvals expected by mid-May.
Larger grants will be awarded through a two-stage process.
- Expressions of Interest (EOI) open on 13 April and must be submitted by Friday 24 April.
- Successful EOIs will be invited to submit a full application, with final funding decisions expected by the end of June.
Full eligibility criteria and guidance will be published on the Highland Council website by 13 April 2026
Projects must:
- Be based on current costs and supported by a valid quote
- Be ready to start from 1 July 2026 (or earlier for small grants)
- Be completed and fully claimed by 28 February 2027
Applications from organisations within the Inverness City area are not eligible during this round, as the Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) fund is specifically for rural areas.
All other areas across Highland are eligible to apply, with the exception of Badenoch & Strathspey, where the CLLD programme is administered separately by the Cairngorm Trust.