North Highland Initiative opens applications for 2024 grant awards

The North Highland Initiative (NHI), which awarded more than £270,000 in grants to community projects last year, including three in Caithness, is ready to receive applications for its 2024 programme.

The not-for-profit organisation, which was established almost 20 years ago as a result of King Charles’s commitment to support the people and businesses of the north Highlands, funded 90 applications in 2023.

Among the successful applicants then were: the John O’Groats Book Festival; Reay Young Stars, which got money to expand its weekly activity club and childcare; and the North Shore Surf Club, to help it host the Thurso leg of the Scottish Surfing Junior Series competition.

NHI supports services which enhance wellbeing and daily life for residents and covers a wide geographic area, including Caithness, Sutherland, Ross and Cromarty, Easter and Wester Ross, Orkney, Shetland and the islands of Lewis and Harris. It has a diverse range of resources to support people of all ages living in these communities.

Genevieve Duhigg, the chair of NHI, said: "We are looking to hear from community-led projects, groups, volunteers and services who are working to build well-being and economic resilience in our rural communities.

"Our grant applications have benefited projects across the north Highlands and Islands and we welcome applications that support a wide range of projects, from keeping the lights on in the village hall, to mental health and wellbeing support, to stocking food larders, planting gardens or supporting new opportunities including education, sport or culture. We want to hear how we can best support you and your community."

The Community Infrastructure Support Programme (CISP) is open for 2024 and will consider grant applications of up to £2000 matching at least one of the following priorities:

• Community wellbeing services that make our communities better places to live and work;

• Community centres and spaces that bring your communities together;

• Sustainability and environmental improvements and the encouragement of biodiversity or green spaces;

• Improving litter, recycling and waste capacity within the local area, including public toilets and motorhome facilities;

• Creation and identification of designated visitor parking areas, especially for larger vehicles;

• More effective visitor signage and information on local facilities or amenities.

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