Orkney LAG receives over £130k of Scottish Government funding to support collaboration projects

Orkney Islands Council has been successful in receiving a financial award of £131,000 through the Scottish Government’s Community Led Local Development (CLLD) fund.

Orkney Local Action Group (LAG) is working in collaboration with other Scottish LAG groups as a partner on three projects which will help to support local priorities across Orkney.

The funding was applied for by Orkney LAG who is the leading partner on two of the three projects.

£100,000 of the funding will go towards the Rural and Agricultural Development project where Orkney LAG will lead on the project on behalf of Shetland and the Outer Hebrides Local Action Groups.

The project aims to commission a study into the likely impacts that new Scottish agricultural legislation could have on the economy and community wellbeing of the islands within the three Local Authority areas.

Stuart Allison, Orkney Islands Council’s Enterprise Manager, said: “Farming and crofting are the backbone of our islands’ economy, particularly in the most peripheral and smallest island communities, with land-use practices and productivity in the islands differing significantly from that in other parts of Scotland.

“Over the next couple of years there will be changes to legislation, and the new Scottish Government Agricultural Bill will be implemented. In island communities transport, freight, fuel and feed costs and fuel poverty are issues more pronounced leading to higher risk of poorer living standards.

“The study will help us identify and quantify the risks and opportunities across the three Local Authority areas and promote rural developments to mitigate any envisaged challenges in line with new policy aims.

“The scope of study will be extensive, ranging from livestock activity to trends in biodiversity to how we can help businesses and communities gain training or access continued professional development.

“This comprehensive report will give us vital insights into the future of how agricultural could be impacted and will help us make important decisions that will ensure the security of agriculture throughout our islands.”

The second project - Our Islands, Our Projects - received £15,000 which will commission a series of Development Trust films with Orkney LAG as the lead partner.

The remaining £16,000 is a third collaboration project where Orkney LAG is also a partner, led by Fife Local Action Group, that will provide funding for an Orkney Youth LAG project facilitator and youth worker.

Stuart continued: “We are delighted to receive this funding from the collaborative element of the Scottish Government’s CLLD funding that will allow us to deliver these important projects.

“We have worked closely with our project partners in the development of these proposals and will ensure that regional and place-based differences will be considered and met.

“These projects are designed to offer a lasting and positive impact on the lives of people in island communities like ours.”

The invitation to tender for the Rural and Agricultural Development project is now open on the Public Contracts Scotland website.