Funded projects and initiatives

Bringing positive benefits and a long-lasting legacy

We're proud to support local communities residing in our network area throughout the north of Scotland. Our Regional Community Benefit Fund aims to support projects that bring positive benefits and a long-lasting legacy to those communities, whether improving access to opportunities, strengthening local identities, or addressing key challenges like fuel poverty.  
Booklets on display at Public Consultation event

Regional Fund awards

We have now had two successful rounds of awards to the Regional Community Benefit Fund. We received a large volume of applications to both these funding rounds, demonstrating local people's passion and drive to transform their communities. 

We would like to thank everyone who applied to this fund. The strength and ambition of proposals made the selection process highly competitive, and not all projects could be funded. Please don’t be discouraged, we strongly encourage applications for our future funds.

We are delighted to introduce the successful projects, each of which will deliver long-term benefits aligned with three core funding priorities:  

People

We support projects that help people develop new skills, access training, and find employment pathways. By removing barriers, we aim to create more opportunities for people living in communities.  

Place

We invest in projects that preserve important spaces, celebrate cultural heritage, and promote local traditions - from restoring heritage sites to supporting language and music initiatives. 

Fuel Poverty

Rising energy costs continue to impact households across the region. This theme seeks strategic ways to alleviate fuel poverty across the north of Scotland.

Round 2 awards

Organisation

Purpose

Award value

Tighean Innse Gall

 

(Fuel Poverty)

To deliver a community-led project reducing fuel poverty by developing housing archetypes and affordable decarbonisation pathways, empowering Outer Hebrides homes with practical, tailored energy efficiency solutions.

          £393,883

Changeworks

 

(Fuel Poverty)

To deliver a programme for alleviating fuel poverty for park home residents through engagement, capacity-building and practical, scalable support, creating lasting impact for an overlooked community.

          £169,666

Aberdeen Cyrenians

 

(People)

To establish NorthBridge, a welcoming collaboration hub where individuals facing redundancy find structure, community, and tailored support for jobs, skills, entrepreneurial opportunities and wellbeing during transition.

          £149,362

Farmer Jones Academy c.i.c trading as For You Training

 

(People)

To support a Transformational Community Innovation Campus for education and tourism, creating sustainable communities for Tain and the Scottish Highlands.

          £149,180

Growing2gether

 

(People)

To expand Growing2gether in Partnership: building the mental health/life skills/qualifications of disadvantaged young people to create leaders who contribute positively to communities.

          £199,379

Fisheries Management Scotland


(People)

To deliver the ‘Working with Rivers’ project which will enable seven rivers and fisheries trusts to run paid training placements. The trainees will gain a range of new nature-based skills, whilst contributing to river restoration projects that will benefit nature and rural communities.

£149,949

Rock Trust

 

(People)

To establish Future Builders Plus: A new Youth Housing Hub in Perth providing specialist employability, housing and wellbeing support for young people facing homelessness.

£201,217

Helm Training


(People)

To deliver the ‘Anchors Up’ programme which supports disadvantaged Dundee youth through a clear journey: one-to-one guidance, group learning, and progression into employability or vocational training, building confidence and brighter futures.

£49,934

Enable Scotland (Leading the Way)

 

(People)

To deliver the ‘One Digital’ programme which provides accessible, accredited digital skills training for disabled people, tackling digital exclusion and supporting individuals to participate, build confidence and progress towards employment.

£226,993

New Start Highland

 

(People)

To support the Highland Hospitality & Cookery School which will equip disadvantaged and excluded people with skills, training and qualifications for employment in the Highland hospitality sector.

£95,327

Eden Court Highlands


(Place)

To deliver the Film Futures creative programme for young refugees and asylum seekers aged 16-24 in the Highlands to build community connections and increase employability skills.

£65,742

Dundee Industrial Heritage SCIO

 

(Place)

To support a project to transform Discovery Point, home of the Dundee-built Royal Research Ship Discovery, for the next generation of learners, visitors, and communities.

£40,000

Islands Book Trust

 

(Place)

To establish a shared digital hub that builds skills, preserves island heritage, supports & strengthens small volunteer-led heritage groups and expands online access and book sales.

£141,000

Comann Eachdraidh Eirisgeidh

 

(Place)

To redevelop the former Eriskay school, a historic building steeped in our heritage and culture, into a heritage centre and sustainable community hub, linking heritage, training, renewable-energy awareness, and wellbeing programmes for communities across Uist and Barra and the Outer Hebrides.

£340,895

 

Past funding awards

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