USE: IMMEDIATE                                             ISSUE DATE: THURSDAY 10 MARCH 2005

Community groups and organisations are being invited to get involved in Highland 2007 – the Year that Scotland celebrates Highland Culture – by bidding for grants from a £3 million Community Programme, both to run events and embark on projects, such as community hall upgradings.

From Thursday, March 17, applications for assistance will be available from The Highland Council’s network of area Community and Lifelong Learning Offices or from the Highland 2007 website: www.highland2007.com.

The Programme is split into to two funding streams – one (revenue) for events and the other (capital) for projects.

The revenue aspect amounts to £1.5 million and is funded jointly by the three partners of Highland 2007 - The Scottish Executive, The Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. It is the responsibility of the Highland 2007 Project Team – led by Director Fiona Hampton - to manage and administer the fund, with assistance of a network of area Highland 2007 Management Groups, yet to be established.  The role of each local 2007 Management Group will be to stimulate bids and to make recommendations on which applications should receive revenue funding for this strand of the programme in their area. 

The capital element, also worth £1.5 million, is funded solely by The Highland Council. It falls on the Council, through its eight Area Committees, to disperse.  The purpose of the capital grants is to allow communities to take forward small projects that will help deliver the aims of Highland 2007. It is recommended that the maximum award for capital grants be set at £30,000.  Unlike many other grant schemes, only 25% match funding from local communities is required.

 To keep the bidding process as simple as possible, one application form will be used for both capital and revenue projects, which will then be directed in each area to the local 2007 Management Group in the case of revenue grants, or to the Area Committee in the case of capital grants.

Fiona Hampton said: "The overall aim of Highland 2007 is to promote the Highlands as a great place to live and to visit through showcasing the unique and special nature of Highland culture past and present and future. The six strands are arts, environment, heritage, language, science and sport.

"Community events and projects are at the heart of the Highland 2007 celebrations and we are delighted to announce funding support of £1.5 million from the Highland 2007 budget for this part of the programme.  Highland 2007 is also very grateful to The Highland Council for contributing the £1.5 million which is available to support capital projects leading up to 2007, to provide a total of £3 million to develop an exciting programme of events in each area.  Local Highland 2007 Management Groups will determine how the funding is used in each area and the project team is looking forward to adding an innovative series of local events to the Highland 2007 programme."

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For general enquiries, please contact Morven MacLeod at the Highland 2007 office on 01463 702007.

Date Last updated : 10/03/05