Thirteen local projects in the Cairngorms National Park have been awarded money totalling £130,000 by the Cairngorms Recovery Fund. Launched in August the fund was set up by the Cairngorms National Park Authority and the Cairngorms Trust to help communities and local businesses to recover from the lockdown.
There are a number of Scottish and UK National Funds to support COVID19 recovery but the Cairngorms Recovery Fund was set up to assist local projects who may not be able to receive funding from national or regional schemes. Twenty seven applications were received and assessed against the four guiding principles of the Fund:
- to support projects that are focused on green solutions,
- to support the well-being and economic growth of communities,
- to support employment,
- to support the long term aims of the National Park.
CNPA Board member Willie Munro chaired the assessment panel, he said: “We were delighted to see so many strong local projects being put forward. With a limited pot of money we had envisaged supporting 6-8 projects, but I am delighted that we have been able to award funds to 13 projects from across the Cairngorms National Park. We hope this funding will bring a boost to the local economy and employment and help to deliver a sustainable future for the communities in the National Park.”
The Cairngorms Trust contributed £30,000 to the Fund and the charity has a remit to support projects that will benefit the wider resident and visiting public. Roger Clegg, Chair of the Cairngorms Trust explains: “Lockdown has been particularly hard for rural communities, it is vitally important to support their recovery, particularly those groups who may struggle to access funds in other ways. It was fantastic to see the innovation and passion that came through in the applications and we are proud to be able to contribute to some really worthy causes.”
Full list of projects that have been awarded funding:
- Aboyne & Upper Deeside Rotary Club: Litter Picking Upper Deeside
- Dalwhinnie Community Council: Ben Alder Road Carpark
- Blair Atholl & Area Tourism Association: Blair Atholl Community and Business Development project
- Dee District Salmon FisheryBoard: Glen Muick Woodland Connectivity
- Spey Catchment Initiative: River Truim Riparian Planting
- Caberfeidh Horizons: Building on Our Strengths
- Boat of Garten Community Hall: COVID 19 recovery & Green Events
- Cairngorms Business Partnership: Building a sustainable welcome for camper vans
- GLenshee & Strathardle Tourist Association: Glenshee Visitor Centre
- Castle Roy Trust SCIO: Castle Roy’s Covid Crisis
- Growbiz Scotland: Supporting Creative Enterprise in the Cairngorms
- RSPB: Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms
- Braemar Community Ltd:Tomrichton Community Wood
