Six applications for community projects for the Lochaber Area have been awarded funding totalling £ 231,558.89 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). The Lochaber CRF budget for 2026/27 will not be confirmed until after Highland Council’s Economy & Infrastructure Committee meeting on 28 May 2026.
Lochaber Area Committee Chair, Cllr Kate Willis said: “Community Regeneration Funding is targeted at the heart of our communities, supporting projects that align with key priorities across the area. The funding criteria designed to enable economic recovery, drive regeneration, and strengthen community resilience.
“The 2025/26 funding allocated to date has supported eleven eligible community projects, bringing the total now approved to seventeen. These projects will deliver meaningful and lasting benefits within their communities. On behalf of the Committee Members, I wish all the projects every success and look forward to receiving progress updates.”
The successful applicants from Monday 11 May2026 committee were:
- The Island Park Community Field - Purchase of Island Park- £ 22,000
- Inverlochy Community Association - Friends of Inverlochy Park Upgrade - £51,956
- Lochaber Mountain Rescue Ltd – Mobile Control Vehicle Replacement - £27,849.79
- The Isle of Eigg Brewery (a Community Benefit Society) - Storage Shed & Solar Panels - £15,000
- Kilmallie Community Centre–Kilmallie Community Heartbeat - £49,753
- Voluntary Action Group (VAL) – Third Sector Support & Digital Improvement - £65,000
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.