Community projects across Orkney attract almost £450,000

Seven organisations in Orkney are to benefit from funding totalling almost £450,000 to support employment, community resilience, health and wellbeing.

Enterprises in Hoy, Eday, North Ronaldsay, Sanday and the Mainland are set to receive a collective total of £445,224.05 from the Scottish Government’s £2 million Island Communities Fund.

In all, 29 successful community groups and businesses across 23 islands have been awarded grants of up to £150,000 each. Projects focus on developing sustainable economic activities on islands with the majority of projects having a net zero theme, while also supporting the delivery of the Scottish Government’s National Islands Plan (2019).

The Island Communities Fund is part of a £30 million package of funding committed by Scottish Government to support the delivery of the National Islands Plan over five years. Officers from all six local authorities with islands (including Orkney) sit on the National Islands Plan Delivery Group, alongside the Scottish Government’s Islands Team. The Delivery Group advises on the implementation of the National Islands Plan, including the criteria for the various funds which are supporting it as part of the overall programme.

Islands Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: “With just a few weeks until the eyes of the world are on Scotland for COP26, it’s great to see more projects designed to address the growing climate crisis. There is so much potential across our islands and we received many innovative and creative applications. It’s clear to me that our island communities are going to play an important role in helping us meet our ambitious climate change targets and I am excited about that. 

“The projects that have been awarded funding will contribute to our ambition to make Scotland greener and fairer. They will help us achieve a just transition to net zero and climate resilient living on our islands. I’m looking forward to seeing work get underway to help people, businesses and communities on our islands thrive.”

Inspiring Scotland CEO Celia Tennant said: “Inspiring Scotland is delighted to be the delivery partner for the Scottish Government’s Island Communities Fund which supports the aims and outcomes of the National Islands Plan. The successful funded organisations will make a vital contribution to the economic, environmental and social wellbeing of our island communities and we are looking forward to working alongside them to deliver their projects.”

Funding in Orkney has been distributed as follows: