Local Funding

• Feasibility Studies  
• Comunity Enterprise Loan Funds
• Sports Grants
• Highland Council
• Village Hall funding
• Local Enterprise Company
• Scottish Natural Heritage

Highland Council

The Council can offer support to community groups with viable and sustainable projects that show clear economic benefits, and has leverage with other public funding organisations and agency partnerships.

Current funding opportunities that the Council can assist with include:

Grants for feasibility studies:  may be awarded if there is a genuine need for the project and a feeling that the study will enable the project to progress. Small grants may be available for Community Projects, Events or activities. 
Contact the Ward Manager, Tigh na Sgire, Park Lane, Portree, Isle of Skye.

Community Enterprise Loan Fund: managed by Highland Opportunity Ltd. Loans may be used for any purpose, and typical applications are for the purchase of land, buildings or equipment, and also for working capital or bridging purposes. Applications are invited from properly constituted non-profit distributing organisations in the Highland Council area. Loans of £5,000 to £50,000 are available on terms for up to seven years.  Phone 01463 228340;  Email  info@highland-opportunity.com
www.highland-opportunity.com/4-square.html

Employment Grants Scheme: which offers financial incentives to firms taking on new workers, i.e. additional and permanent jobs, for unemployed and disabled people and Government Training Scheme participants. Eligible firms are drawn from all sectors of industry in the Highland Council area and employ fewer than 250 full or part-time employees.

Community Benefit : the Council can also offer guidance and support through its Ward Manager to communities wishing to enter into negotiations with renewable energy developers.

Discretionary Budget  download list of 2007 disrectionary grant awards  

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Highland Council Sports Grants 

The Highland Council’s Education, Culture & Sport Service (ECS) targets its financial assistance to Highland-based sports projects and activities which contribute to the one or more of the following improvement themes identified in the ECS Service Plan 2005 - 2008
· Achievement for All
· Participation and Inclusion
· Health and Wellbeing 

The Area Sports Council administers a scheme of sports grants on behalf of the ECS:

Start Up Grants
To encourage greater participation in sport at grassroots level.
Maximum level of funding – 50% up to £200
Available to newly affiliated groups
Groups should provide a detailed outline of their aims and objectives and full financial information on how they would propose to use the grant.

Coaching Grants
To encourage the development of more qualified coaches, e.g. a national governing body coaching or referee’s certificate; a Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) award, Sports Coach UK or other appropriate qualification.
Maximum level of funding – £250 per individual per course,£1,000 per club per course
Maximum award 50% of eligible costs which include travel, course fees and accommodation expenses
An additional 50% of costs may also be available through Coaching Highland; contact 01463 718483 or www.CoachingHighland.co.uk
Usually, applications must be made by, and grants paid to, the affiliated club rather than an individual
Grants are not normally available for applicants who fall within any of Coaching Highland’s 10 core sports
Recipients of awards should be prepared to assist with local events or coaching courses to the general benefit of sport in the area.

Sports Equipment Grants 
To provide equipment to increase participation and access to sporting opportunities
Maximum level of support from Highland Council funds - £500
Maximum award 50% eligible costs
For equipment which becomes the property of the affiliated club
Clubs will be asked to insure the items of equipment purchased
Grants are not available for personal items such as team clothing; tracksuits, strips etc.
If a club ceases to exist within three years of receiving an equipment grant, then the equipment or a proportion of the sale value of the equipment should revert to the sports council.

Achieving Excellence in Sport Grants
To support individuals living in Highland who can provide appropriate evidence that they have been invited by a competitive and recognised selection process to join Regional or National/International squads
A formal letter of invitation to the squad / team must be submitted with the grant application form
Usually, applications must be made by, and grants paid to, the affiliated club rather than an individual
Maximum award 50% of eligible costs incurred in attending training or sessions or competing in events
Where more than one individual from an affiliated club is involved, the maximum grant available to that club shall not exceed £1000 in any one year
Maximum level of funding to benefit one individual in one financial year: Regional Squad (i.e. Highland or North District) £250; National Squad (i.e. Scottish)/International Squad (i.e. GB or European) £500
Final award will take account of other sources of funding that may be available such as Coaching Highland, Sports Lottery programmes, schemes run by governing bodies, representational grants for school pupils etc.

Sport Development & Events Grants  
The purpose is to support clubs who want to develop their club or increase participation in sport by, for example, improving their infrastructure, junior sections, office bearer skills training, organising events etc.
Maximum level of funding – up to £500
Maximum level of grant 50% of eligible costs

Discretionary Grants
The purpose is to promote sport in the widest sense
Maximum level of funding – up to £500
Maximum level of grant 50% of eligible costs
Normally only available to affiliated sports council members
Exceptionally, available to non sports council members

Selected Guidelines
Limits: Travel 22p per mile; Subsistence £10 per day; Accommodation £35 per night
Grants will be available for sports activities which are recognised by sportscotland

Exclusions: funds will not be available for 
Routine renting of accommodation, pitches and tracks
Annual running costs and up-keep of club premises
Routine repairs and maintenance
The salary, fees or other expenses of “resident” coaches engaged by clubs on a regular basis
The purchase of personal items such as team clothing, tracksuits, strips etc
No club shall receive more than £1,000 from Highland Council funds in any one financial year.  No person shall be assisted either directly or indirectly by more than £500 in any one financial year.  This applies both to direct grants paid to an individual (which are only available if there is no affiliated club relating to their particular sports in the Area) and indirect assistance via a club application. 
To receive financial assistance from the Highland Council all organisations who work with children, young people or vulnerable adults must have appropriate policies in place to protect them from harm or abuse. Therefore, organisations applying for sports grants must have adopted suitable policies. More information

A copy of the club’s constitution and audited annual financial statement for the preceding financial year should accompany every application (unless these are already held on file by the sports council). 

For a full copy of guidelines, terms and conditions, affiliation, application and evaluation forms, write to:
The Secretary, Skye & Lochalsh Sports Council, c/o Highland Council, Elgin Hostel, Dunvegan Road, Portree, Isle of Skye, IV51 9EE.

Contact Local Area Sports Council Officer, Willie Mackinnon  Willie.mackinnon@highland.gov.uk 

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Village Hall Funding

 Village Halls: Highland Council External Funding Manager, Jeannie Graham, can assist Community and Village Halls with funding applications to external bodies. Phone 01463 702064 Email  jeannie.graham@highland.gov.uk

Village Hall Revenue grants are available towards the running costs of a hall (i.e. electricity, insurance, rates, etc). This annual grant is for 25% of running costs up to a maximum of £816. Apply to Moreen Pringle  at Tigh na Sgire, Portree,  Email Moreen.Pringle@highland.gov.uk

Various Highland Council discount schemes are available for village halls:
Highland Council Village Halls Insurance Scheme
Community halls can benefit from the Council's contract with the Warehouse and Distribution Service for the supply of cleaning materials
Community halls can benefit from the Council's contract with Lyreco for office supplies
Community halls can seek advice in the purchase of items of equipment and furniture from the Highland Council's Purchasing Officer, Brian Tinker,  Phone 01463 702143 Email  brian.tinker@highland.gov.uk

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Highlands & Islands Enterprise

Current priorities

• Creating community assets  

Strong and vibrant communities with high quality and diverse amenities and services are essential to retain local populations, especially young people, and make them attractive places in which to live.

• Building capacity and leadership

A diverse range of skills are required to manage development within the community. Building on existing and developing new skills enables the community to identify, exploit and manage opportunities.

• Enhancing natural and cultural heritage

The environment and culture of the Skye and Wester Ross area offer economic opportunities, with potential for community benefit, that contribute towards sustainable development aims.

 What assistance is available?

Grant funding is available to community groups within Skye and Wester Ross for a wide variety of projects, which fit with the above priorities. (see examples below) Projects must be led by the community and demonstrate community involvement and support.

Projects that have the potential to contribute towards wider community development or benefit are positively encouraged to speak to a development manager.

The level of grant available depends on a number of factors including the amount required, the extent of community involvement and benefit, and our budgetary position. 

 Project Examples

the following projects give an idea of the type of activity that may attract grant assistance from HIE SWR, this list is not exhaustive so if you don’t see an activity that your organisation requires help with, please contact a development manager to discuss it. Reasonable ‘Start-up’ assistance may be built into your project costs.

Project Development (for significant projects) – minimum grant of £1,000

• Feasibility/technical studies (eg, building/land surveying, market research, economic impact etc)
• Options appraisals (to investigate the possible options available)
• Pre-project professional costs (architectural, quantity surveying, etc also can include above)
• Community facilitation (to encourage and assist community involvement and support)
• Community Resource Worker (to support your organisation progress a project)

Organisational Development – minimum £500 (possible 100% assistance up to £1,000)

• Training courses / workshops / seminars to improve the operation of the organisation*
• Training courses / workshops / seminars offering new opportunities or areas of activity for the organisation*
• Knowledge exchange visits to learn from others that have undertaken similar work

Assets (including culture, heritage, land, marine, buildings, etc) – minimum grant of £1,000

• The subject may have potential to generate income to the point where it can cover running costs, such as an event or festival.
• The subject may have potential to generate income to maintain and eventually replace itself.
• The purpose here is to encourage organisations to stand alone and not rely on grant funding. However, this does not preclude organisations from returning to HIE SWR for future developments.

*Exceptions will include activity already in receipt of HIE assistance.

Who can apply?

New and existing community organisations which satisfy all of the following:

• Formally constituted, including company limited by guarantee and community interest company (C.I.C.Membership is open to the whole community)
• Democratically controlled on a volunteer basis, except some forms of C.I.C 
• Objectives of community benefit Non profit distributing, except some forms of C.I.C. 
• In the event of dissolution, the assets will transfer to an organisation with similar objectives

Individuals and those groups with restricted membership are NOT eligible for community grants, however might be considered within the growing businesses remit.

 What costs are ineligible?

Any costs associated with the normal day to day running of a building or organisation, or regular maintenance or replacement of buildings or equipment will not be eligible for grant assistance.

 Other important information…

All grant funding is discretionary; there is no automatic entitlement to grant. Any project related commitments or expenditure incurred prior to the approval of the grant will jeopardise the success of an application.

In addition to grant assistance, local HIE staff can offer advice on a variety of issues or signpost you to the most appropriate organisation.

 Who should I contact?

Jennifer Robertson, Development Manager – Tel (01478) 613976 or E-mail jennifer.macpherson@hient.co.uk

Lindsay Campbell, Development Manager – Tel (01349) 868967 or E-mail lindsay.campbell@hient.co.uk

Scottish Natural Heritage Grants Programme

SNH has announced eight new grant schemes supporting the protection and improvement of the natural heritage, and to help people understand, enjoy and care for it.
Grants are offered to a wide range of organisations including the voluntary sector.
There is no upper limit on the value of awards, although most grants are <£10,000, and you can apply for as little as £250. Awards are rarely for more than 50% of project costs. Three years is the normal limit for funding. Apply for grants <£10.000 at any time; you will receive a decision within 20 days. Closing dates for larger applications are on 1 September and 15 April.

Contact local SNH staff for advice and to discuss your proposals.  SNH Portree: Phone 01478 613329
www.snh.org.uk