Apply for the Cairngorms YLAG Fund now!
We have opened our Youth Local Action Group (YLAG) Fund, with grants available for individuals and groups in the Cairngorms from a total pot of £25,000.
The charity is seeking projects that fit with their priorities for 2025/26. These include addressing the climate emergency, developing skills, creativity and culture, nature connection and building communities and networks.
The YLAG aims to act as a voice for young people in the park, empowering them to share and develop ideas that lead to proactive participation in decision-making.
Past funding rounds have given grants towards photographic equipment, forest bathing qualifications and woodworking tools.
What you need to know
Decisions about which projects to support are taken by the Cairngorms Youth Action Team – a group of young people aged 14-26.
Nancy Chambers, Cairngorms Trust manager, said: “The YLAG is a fantastic fund that create opportunities for our younger population to pursue and develop their own ideas.
“The trust is always impressed by the breadth of projects that are submitted to this fund and we are looking forward to hearing from the park’s young people again.”
Kickstarting a new career
Outdoors practitioner Katie Taylor, 25, of Aberdeenshire, received YLAG grants to help her launch her career as a forest bathing guide. The support covered essential expenses, including insurance and outdoor first aid training, which were critical for her professional development. Katie, who grew up near Alford, was also able to purchase equipment to enhance the comfort of her forest bathing participants, including cork mats, flasks, hand warmers and midge nets – the latter coming in particularly useful during the wet Scottish summers.
Katie said: “The YLAG funding has been essential in kickstarting my journey as a Forest Bathing Guide.
“As a freelancer in a relatively new and unfamiliar field, I faced numerous challenges, and the financial support from YLAG significantly eased the pressure. It allowed me to focus on delivering safer, more comfortable sessions for participants.
“Thanks to the funding, I was able to complete key qualifications, such as the BASP Outdoor Emergency First Aid Course and the Scottish Mental Health First Aid Course, opportunities that would not have been possible otherwise. This support has not only boosted my confidence as a guide but also empowered me on a personal level.”
To find out more, visit our Funding Page.
