CLLD Third Sector Fund | Highland Third Sector Interface

CLLD (Community-Led Local Development) gives local communities the power to tackle their own local challenges. By building knowledge and skills, supporting new ideas and encouraging cooperation, CLLD helps to create viable and resilient communities.

These funds are open to third sector organisations operating community-led local projects, aimed at delivering activities in remote and rural areas of Highland.

Important Dates

Information Briefing 3 April for an in-depth look at the type of grant proposals suitable for HTSI

Information Briefing 7 April for an in-depth look at the type of grant proposals suitable for HICH

Applications open 8 April 2025. Applications must be received no later than 30 May at 4.00pm.

Highland Third Sector Interface

CLLD Information Briefing

3 April 10.00 - 11.00am

HTSI Session Link

Highlands & Islands Climate Hub

CLLD Information Briefing

7 April 2.00 - 3.00pm

Climate Hub Session Link

We invite applications of up to £10,000 maximum, to operate community-led local projects aimed at achieving the following themes and outcomes:

Themes

Key Outcomes

Enterprising and Growing

Connectivity within and between communities

Entrepreneurial activity and social enterprise

Infrastructure that facilitates work e.g. childcare

Employability

Inclusive and Engaged

Tackling economic poverty

Addressing economic or social inequality

Creating inclusive spaces

Enhancing understanding of diversity

Engaging typically unengaged individuals

Resilient (refer to Climate Hub)

Resilience community planning

Emergency resilience equipment

Measures which address adaptation to climate change e.g. flooding, coastal erosion

Infrastructure to support community resilience

Sustainable (Climate Hub)

Addressing a Just Transition to Net Zero

Circular economy

Enhancing biodiversity

Energy efficiency

Active Travel

Your project should be completed by the end of December 2025.

If your project is likely to fall within the themes of resilience or sustainability, you should visit Highlands & Islands Climate Hub and attend the briefing on 7 April.

This fund is open for any constituted third sector organisation, charity or community group operating or delivering services in a rural setting within The Highland Council area, excluding projects focusing on communities in Inverness City (see boundary map) or Badenoch & Strathspey.

All groups applying must have a bank account and accounts from the previous financial year, which provide evidence of their ability to competently deliver their plans and account for the spend provided through grants.

Applications can be accepted from:

Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisations (SCIO)
Companies Limited by Guarantee
Trusts
Not-for-profit company or asset locked company or Community Interest Companies (CIC)
Cooperative and Community Benefit Societies
Community councils

Collaboration

We actively encourage collaborative approaches, and those including organisations from other sectors are not excluded, but a third sector organisation needs to be the accountable and lead member of the collaborative project.

The project lead must be a constituted group or registered charity/community group (businesses and individuals are not eligible for this fund).

Applications must be submitted online using the form provided (see application link below) showing your indicative costs for the proposed project and a summary of how you identified this need and developed your proposed project.

Applicants should apply to HTSI for funding related to the two themes below:

Inclusive and Engaged Communities

Tackling poverty
Addressing economic or social inequality
Creating inclusive spaces
Enhancing understanding of diversity
Engaging typically unengaged individuals

Enterprising and Growing Communities

Connectivity
Entrepreneurial activity
Social enterprise
Infrastructure that facilitates work, e.g. childcare
Employability

Applications open 8 April 2025 and your project must be completed by the end of December 2025.

Examples of relevant types of projects:

Connectivity

Transport service for community day centre to combat effects of social isolation due to rural distance, lack of personal transport, economic disadvantage, chronic health conditions, etc.

Social Enterprise/Employability

Youth project focused on vocational opportunities for young people with additional support needs

Entrepreneurial/Employability/
Infrastructure

Childcare brokerage service to assure quality of local childcare services to enable entry or re-entry to the workplace

Tackling poverty/social inequality

Volunteer programme to help manage local beach/shore area providing skills development, building confidence and capacity, reducing inequality

Inclusive spaces

Green/Blue Health Project for Refugee families, encouraging social connections, improving personal resilience, confidence and wellbeing

Social inequality/engaging seldom engaged individuals

Keeping LGBTI+ elders connected, improving social connections and reducing inequality

Essential Criteria

If you have any doubts or questions regarding the guidelines, we recommend you contact us for clarification. This can help prevent misunderstandings and save time.

Important Dates

Applications open 8 April 2025.

Applications must be received no later than 30 May at 4.00pm.

Late submissions will not be accepted.

Guidance on how to complete your application is available to download below.

Your application will be assessed against the criteria by a panel consisting of representatives from Community Regeneration Fund, Local Action Group, Highlands & Islands Climate Hub and HTSI.

If you have any questions about the fund administered by HTSI, please contact Marion MacNeil at funding@highlandtsi.org.uk.

If you have any questions about the fund administered by the Climate Hub, please email funding@hiclimatehub.co.uk and a member of the team will be in touch.

Application Form

Applications are to be completed using Jotform available via the link below (opens 8 April):

If you have any issues using Jotform please contact enquiry@highlandtsi.org.uk.

Useful Documents

Inverness City Boundary Map

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Member Login

Useful Documents