People have until Sunday 25 September to note Expressions of Interest for the Community Capacity Grants Programme, which is part of Crown Estate Scotland’s Sustainable Communities Fund.

Set up in 2020, the Fund has already delivered around £970,000 in valuable support to people across the country. It consists of two grant programmes: 

• Community Capacity Grants – open to all communities within five miles of Scotland’s coastline, or one of Crown Estate Scotland’s four rural estates. Early-stage financial support is available for community projects that will contribute to local regeneration and sustainable development. Grants will range between £20,000 and £50,000, with a total of £300,000 being made available in this year of the programme. 
• Environment Grants – available to Crown Estate Scotland tenants, providing grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 for projects which can deliver demonstrable environmental benefits within 18 months of an award being made. A total of £125,000 is available this year.

A large number of projects and initiatives have so far benefitted from the Sustainable Communities Fund, including the Sleat Community Trust in Skye. The Trust received an award of £15,000 to help develop a feasibility study for a campervan service point and cycle trail which will support tourism on the island and help address the problem of lack of facilities suitable for motorhomes.

This short film shows how the Trust has benefited from the support provided by Crown Estate Scotland.  https://vimeo.com/crownestatescotland/sleatcommunitytrust

Full details on the application process and how grants will be allocated can be found here.

The deadline for Expressions of Interest for the Community Capacity Grants Programme, which is administered by Foundation Scotland, is Sunday 25 September. The deadline for the Environment Grants Programme, which is administered by Crown Estate Scotland, is Monday 23 October.  

Projects in Orkney which have benefited in the past: Apply Now for Crown Estate Scotland’s Community/Environment Grants