Funding

A total of £964 million has been allocated to the Rural Affairs and Islands portfolio in the Scottish budget.

More than £620 million will provide ongoing agricultural support ensuring stability to farmers, crofters and land managers in 2023-24.

£20 million referendum funding will support people struggling with their energy bills.

Thousands of vulnerable households will be supported by the continuation of the Scottish Government’s uprated £20 million Fuel Insecurity Fund.

This week sees the start of construction work on a new village in Skye – the first in over 100 years!  

The Kilbeg Village initiative is being taken forward by project partners Sabhal Mòr Ostaig - The National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture, The Highland Council and the Communities Housing Trust.

Projects to restore rivers in the Cairngorms and protect the rainforest in Argyll are among the initiatives that will share £7.6 million through the latest round of the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund.

This round is focussed on supporting large scale projects, including multi-year projects that run up to 2026.

Today (15 December 2022), the Scottish Government published its 2023-24 budget which sets out proposed spending and tax plans for 2023 to 2024, as presented to the Scottish Parliament.

Chapter 10 covers Rural Affairs and Islands covering allocations for:

For the first time in the UK, a mental wellbeing app is being rolled out to young farmers in a pilot scheme to support young people in the Scottish agricultural industry.

Islanders most impacted by the cost of living crisis will be able to access additional help. The Islands Cost Crisis Emergency Fund will target immediate support to those who are struggling due to the cost of living crisis, either through existing schemes or new support.

There is still time to take part in the consultation to modernise small landholdings legislation.

Scotland’s farmers, crofters, land-managers, small holders and small landholders are vital to our ambition to make our nation fairer and greener, and small landholders are part of this farming ambition.

Homeowners can now apply for a standalone grant of £7,500 from the Home Energy Scotland Scheme to install heat pumps. Previously, applicants were required to sign up for a loan before they qualified for this funding, but can now access the money directly.

The new approach is designed to offer greater flexibility for those looking to make their homes more climate-friendly.

A programme to drive the economic growth of the agritourism sector in Scotland is set to receive more than £442,000. The programme will see the recruitment of four farms across Scotland, with the involvement of a wider circle of eight rural businesses around each farm.

At least 400 further individual rural businesses will also participate via meetings and seminars.