North Highland Initiative (NHI), has opened applications for its 2024 grant programme, having supported 90 grant applications and awarded over £270,000 to community projects across the North Highlands in 2023. 

Covering a wide geographic spread including the islands of Lewis and Harris, Shetland and Orkney, Caithness, Sutherland, Ross & Cromarty, Wester Ross and Easter Ross, NHI has a diverse range of resources to support people of all ages living in these communities.

Building community resilience to close energy and poverty gaps is a key ethos for NHI, with the application fund supporting services which enhance wellbeing and daily life for residents. 

Genevieve Duhigg, Chair of NHI, said: “We are looking to hear from community-led projects, groups, volunteers and services who are working to build well-being and economic resilience in our rural communities. 

Our grant applications have benefited projects across the North Highlands and Islands and we welcome applications that support a wide range of projects, from keeping the lights on in the village hall, to mental health and well being support, to stocking food larders, planting gardens or supporting new opportunities including education, sport or culture. We want to hear how we can best support you and your community.”

The Community Infrastructure Support Programme (CISP) is open for 2024 and will consider grant applications up to £2,000 matching at least one of the following priorities:

• Community well–being services that make our communities better places to live and work.
• Community centres and spaces that bring your communities together
• Sustainability and environmental improvements and the encouragement of biodiversity or green spaces
• Improving litter, recycling and waste capacity within the local area, including public toilets and motorhome facilities
• Creation and identification of designated visitor parking areas, esp. for larger vehicles
• More effective visitor signage and information on local facilities or amenities

Previously awarded projects include:

• Rosshire, Singing for Fun workshops experiencing joy through song at community halls throughout the Black Isle. 
• Dingwall Community Fridge, supporting the work to provide access to food supplies for all members of the community
• North Shore Surf Club, supporting hosting the Thurso leg of the Scottish Surfing Junior Series competition
• Poolewe Parents & Toddlers, securing venue hire for the weekly sessions
• John O’Groats Book Festival, supporting visits from talented illustrators and writers
• Reay Young Stars, expanding their weekly activity club and childcare offering
• Meet and Eat Together, providing residents of Dingwall with a welcoming and warm space to come together and socialise over a meal to improve mental wellbeing

NHI is a not for profit organisation established in 2005 as a direct result of His Majesty King Charles III’s commitment to support the people and businesses of the North Highlands.