Community development

Book your place at the free 'Connecting communities in rural Lanarkshire' conference to find out more about Lanarkshire LEADER.

The new £4 million Lanarkshire LEADER programme will be launched at the event in Carluke on 1 September.

It will also be a chance to find out more about the priorities and objectives against which applications for funding will be assessed.

There will be three interactive workshops and a chance learn about successful projects from the previous programme.

Connecting communities in rural Lanarkshire

The main aim of the conference is to launch the new Lanarkshire LEADER Programme and advise on the priorities and objectives against which applications for funding will be assessed. The Programme has £4million of support available and runs until 2020.

They event will again be showcasing some of the projects that have been supported through the previous LEADER programme. There will also be three interactive workshops on topics. While details are still being finalised these will include:

Businesses, organisations and communities in Orkney can now apply to the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.

This new pot of funding aimed at supporting fishing industries and communities is now open to applications in Orkney from fisheries and aquaculture businesses and organisations and fisheries-based communities.

Orkney has been allocated £482,000 by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) and Scottish Government. Applications will be assessed by a local Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG).

You can now apply for European funding for 'town twinning' and 'networks of towns' projects.

These two Europe for Citizens funding streams are currently open for applications until midday Brussels time on 1 September 2016.

Europe for Citizens is a funding initiative to strengthen remembrance and to enhance civic participation at a European Union (EU) level.

Dornoch Festival Week

The week comprises a wide variety of events and fund raising activities, from football and dances to pet shows! It is an excellent family event.

Monday 8th August: Pet Show at Meadows Park, 10:30am; Indoor Bowling at the Dornoch Social Club, 1:30pm; Family Bingo at The Marquee, 2:30pm; Crowning of the Princess, Prince & Attendant at The Marquee, 6pm; Car Treasure Hunt at The Marquee, 6:30pm.

The search is on for Britain's best high streets and high street heroes.

The Great British High Street Awards 2016 are now open for entries, with categories including 'Village', 'Coastal Community' and 'Small Market Town'.

This year also sees the introduction of the 'Rising Star' award for high streets that are taking their first steps turning around their fortunes.

Round 4 of the Coastal Communities Fund closes for stage one applications on 17 August.

The Coastal Communities Fund (CCF) encourages the economic development of UK coastal communities by giving funding to create sustainable economic growth and jobs.

The Big Lottery Fund is delivering the CCF on behalf of UK Government and the Devolved Administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Angus LEADER's first funding award will help transform an old school building into a community hub.

Friockheim Community Hub Ltd will use the funding of £137,930 for their FriockHub project which will convert the old Eastgate School building to a community space providing support, facilities, spaces and services to the community of Friockheim and the surrounding rural areas.

A new European publication on social inclusion in rural areas is available online.

The capacity-building manual for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on 'Promoting the Integration of Migrants and Refugees in Rural Areas' has recently been published by the Euracademy Association.

An empty community-owned schoolhouse in Wester Ross is to be transformed into two affordable homes thanks to an innovative funding package.

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