Community development

Rural enterprise projects across the UK can apply for funding from the Prince's Countryside Fund.

The charity aims to improve the prospects of family farm businesses and the quality of life in rural areas. It has announced a grant funding pot of over £600,000 to suport rural initiatives.

Three projects have been awarded funding from the South Aberdeenshire LEADER programme.

In the programme's first funding rounds, the South Aberdeenshire LEADER Local Action Group has awarded £225,475 to the following projects:

• Strathorn Riding School Development
• Finzean Farm Shop Development
• Ringlink Internship Programme

South Aberdeenshire LAG Chair Liam Smyth from Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce said:

Scottish Rural Action have revealed the winners of the national Rural Innovators Award 2015-16.

The awards recognise people, projects and organisations who are working to improve live in rural communities across Scotland. The winners have been invited to attend and present their projects to delegates attending the Scottish Rural Parliament, organised by Scottish Rural Action, in Brechin, Angus from 6 to 8 October 2016. 
 
The winners in each category are:

Help decide the winners of the Scottish Rural Parliament's Rural Innovator Awards by voting online.

People, projects and organisations from across rural Scotland have been shortlisted for awards in seven categories - and it is now down to you to help decide the winners.

Scottish Rural Action have launched a new rural manifesto ahead of the second Scottish Rural Parliament event.

The manifesto will be agreed at the Scottish Rural Parliament taking place in Brechin, Angus from 6 to 8 October. Around 400 people are expected to attend the event.

The manifesto has been created following a series of events across rural Scotland, and an online survey, with people sharing their views on the issues that matter the most to them.

Do you have a local greenspace that needs improving? Do you want to run activities in your local park or greenspace?

The Tesco Bags of Help grant scheme is now permanently open for applications from a wide range of community groups, schools, local authorities and organisations.

Bags of Help will now see the money raised by the 5p bag charge in Tesco stores in England, Wales and Scotland opened up to a greater range of projects that support community participation in the development and use of open spaces.

Angus LEADER delegates Kim Ritchie and Graham Galloway reported enthusiastically on returning from the Estonia Transnational Cooperation Fair.

Cooperation is about working on a project with organisations or groups in different areas. When a project involves partners in more than one country it is called a transnational cooperation TNC) project.

The LEADER Transnational Cooperation Fair took place in Estonia from 24-26 August 2016.

Local Action Group member Graham, who works with Kirriemuir youth music project DD8 Music, said:

Green projects in the central belt can now apply for funding from the Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN).

In the latest phase of funding, £400,000 is available to projects to enhance woodlands and green infrastructure, boost active travel and encourage community growing.

The CSGN aims to transform the central belt into a place where the environment adds value to the economy and enriches the quality of people’s lives. Since 2010, more than 150 projects have benefitted from a share of £6.2 million.