Cairngorms Youth LAG Fund
Following the success of the first ever round of youth funding, the Cairngorms Youth LAG fund is open again for applications. This is a fund run by young people for young people and is open to applications from anyone under the age of 30 who either live in the Cairngorms National Park or will be delivering activities within the Park. Groups and individuals over 30 are also eligible if they will be using the money to work with young people under 30. Individuals can apply for up to £500 and groups can apply for up to £2500.
Last time, the fund supporting a great range of projects, including providing kit for young conservationists and mountaineers, Winter Skills courses, a young Artist-in-Residence, shinty equipment for Carrbirdge Primary School and bee-keeping equipment for Grantown Grammar School. Decisions on who the fund is awarded to is made by a panel of young people from the Cairngorms Youth Action Team.
The fund will support projects or activities that includes some or all of the following fund priorities.
- Sustainability, biodiversity and addressing the climate emergency
- Skills development
- Inter-generational projects
- Art, creativity and culture
- Nature connection
- Fun, health, happiness & wellbeing
- Building community, networks and interactions between people
- Inclusion and under-represented groups
Other examples of what the fund will support include:
- Money for skills training e.g. winter skills, Mountain Leader courses, art classes, wildlife ID, outdoor first aid
- Money for kit, such as outdoor activities (e.g. tents, guidebooks, waterproofs, binoculars etc), creative materials (e.g. art materials and photography equipment etc), gardening and outdoor tools (e.g. moth traps, pond dipping, plants and trees, etc)
- Events and activities that bring people together
Syndey Henderson, member of the Cairngorms Youth LAG says:
“In the last round of funding there was such an amazing range of projects which we were able to fund, from training courses, to equipment for local clubs, to a youth Artist Residency. We’re grateful to the Cairngorms Trust for enabling us to break down financial barriers for young people in the National Park. I would encourage anyone under the age of 30 to check out the fund – it’s an amazing opportunity to take advantage of, and we can’t wait to help make more youth-led projects happen in the National Park!”
Visit the Cairngorms Trust website for more information, including an application form. The deadline for applications is 18th September 2022. All projects must be complete by 28th February 2023.
