Community Led Local Development (CLLD) Grant

The Community Led Local Development (CLLD) fund is an annual grant allocation to Orkney from the Scottish Government. It has been provided as a replacement to the previous LEADER funding Orkney received. Due to the limited size of the funding allocation, it will only be Orkney based, constituted community/voluntary not for profit organisations with a registered bank account that will be eligible to apply. Applications will not be considered from individuals, sole traders, organisations outwith Orkney, religious or political organisations, or private business.

Bids are being sought from community groups within Orkney who want to make a difference through the Scottish Government funded Community Led Local Development (CLLD) grant scheme – the successor to the previous LEADER Programme which saw a wealth of small-scale community-led projects benefit between 2014-2020.

The Orkney Local Action Group (Orkney LAG) delivered the LEADER Programme in the county and will also oversee the CLLD funding allocation for Orkney of £80,000 revenue plus £94,268.49 capital in 2024/25.  A second tranche of revenue money is likely to be awarded in July 2024.

Orkney LAG will accept expressions of interest from community groups from from Thursday 20^th June until 5pm on Wednesday 3^rd July. Those with projects suitable for funding will then be invited to complete an application form.  First drafts are due by 5pm on Monday 15^th July and final drafts are due by 5pm on Monday 12^th August.  The LAG meeting to assess applications is likely to be held on 28^th August 2024 with decisions likely to be sent to applicants by 4^th September 2024.

The scheme can support projects as follows:

• Feasibility studies - Grants up to £10,000 for feasibility studies.
• Community capacity building - Grants up to £20,000 for capacity building within community anchor groups
• Board governance reviews
  • Grants for board governance reviews to be carried out within community anchor groups
  • Grants for community anchor groups that received board governance reviews last year for policy review and management performance action plans
• Place plans and community action plans - Grants up to £5,000 for community groups to carry out place plans or community action plans
• Revenue projects - Grants up to £10k up to 100% funding for community enabling projects or participatory projects to put on events to help alleviate poverty
• Capital projects - Grants up to £30,000 up to 100% funding for projects which support community wellbeing, the journey to net zero or sustainable public services.

If you are interested in applying for CLLD funding, please complete the expression of interest form. If your project is suitable for CLLD funding, you will then be invited to complete an application form. For further information contact a CLLD Officer at CLLD@orkney.gov.uk.