Public panel to control new fund for Cairngorms National Park
People who live in and who have a passion for the Cairngorms National Park are being invited to design a new community fund worth £1 million.
The new Cairngorms 2030 Community Fund is an investment in communities – with a twist. This year, communities will not just have the opportunity to apply for money, they will design the whole process from start to finish to hand out £1 million.
In February, a paid panel of people who care deeply about the National Park will be recruited to design the fund and decide how it should work. This panel will make all the important choices about the fund, from eligibility criteria to maximum award amounts and how the money is distributed.
The Park Authority is looking for 18 people representing a diverse range of community interests to join, and applications are open now.
Independent charity the Involve Foundation will support the group to come up with ideas and make decisions on how the grants process will work. This will take place in the first half of 2026, with a view to the fund’s launch in summer 2026.
Sandy Bremner, Convener at the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA), said: “This exciting new fund embodies what the Cairngorms 2030 programme is all about – empowering people to lead the way in looking after this special place for generations to come.
“There is so much ambition and energy here in the National Park, especially when it comes to supporting communities and protecting nature. You don’t need to have experience in anything like this to get involved – we want the panel to reflect our vibrant communities so would love to see people coming forward from a range of backgrounds.”
The fund will build on the core themes of the Cairngorms 2030 programme, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, which aims to: Empower communities to share the future of their local area; transform the way land is managed and used to benefit nature; make getting around the Cairngorms easier, safer and greener; foster healthier, happier communities with well-being at their heart.
David Clyne, Head of Cairngorms 2030 at the CNPA, said: “It’s so exciting to kick off the new year with one of the most ambitious projects of the Cairngorms 2030 programme. Joining the panel offers a rare opportunity to shape how this significant sum of money best supports our communities to deliver the vision and themes of Cairngorms 2030. Everyone is welcome to apply to get involved in something that will have a transformational impact for communities. I can’t wait to see what the panel come up with.”
Caroline Clark, Scotland Director at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, added: “The fund and the way it is being designed and led by local people is a true commitment to putting the power to make positive change in the hands of those who live and work in the Cairngorms National Park. It reflects exactly what the National Lottery Heritage Fund strives to achieve.”
Applications to join the panel are open until Sunday, February 15. Visit www.cairngorms.co.uk/grants/cairngorms-2030-communities-fund.