Sutherland Partnership - Community Project Development Scheme

Community Project Development Scheme

MONEY TO HELP WITH IDEAS!

The Community Project Development Scheme, a Highland-wide funding initiative aimed at helping community groups access support for their ideas and projects, has recently been extended to include Sutherland. The scheme is funded jointly by Highland Council Ward Discretionary budgets and Highland LEADER - and Sutherland Partnership administers the Scheme in Sutherland.

East Sutherland and Edderton Ward and North, West and Central Sutherland Ward have joined other Highland Council Wards in running an easy-access fund, so that community groups in their areas can apply for money to hire some expertise to help turn ideas into reality.

The idea for the Community Project Development Scheme came about as Councillors were very aware that ideas for improvements were coming forward in their communities but extra help was needed to put together a project, to measure community support, or to help the group with specific skills. The scheme helps groups access up to £1900 (with a required 5% applicant contribution in addition) to buy in the project expertise they need.

The funding is intended to provide project development help through the employment of a community development consultant or similar by community organisations. The scheme aims to help groups to progress projects or to access specialist expertise which is not available within the group. It should therefore enable groups to progress a project which is a local priority by allocating funding to the group to procure expertise to work for the group, generally for a short period of time.

The scheme is open to formally-constituted voluntary groups whose membership is open to the whole community. Assistance is discretionary and each application will be considered on its own merits.

Applications by Email are preferred. To access an application form, click here. To see the schemes Guidance Notes, click here.

Full information on Sutherland’s Community Project Development Scheme is available from William Sutherland, Sutherland Partnership Manager, on 01549 402646, or through your Ward Manager, or on the Highland Council web site at: www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/yourward/cpds.