Support for new affordable rural homes, help to redevelop a derelict boat yard and metalwork skills training which will produce a Spitfire memorial in Montrose are amongst the ten successful projects to share in £350,000 Community Capacity Grants funding from Crown Estate Scotland.
Since 2020, Crown Estate Scotland has provided more than £2.25m in support for community-led projects on and around the Scottish Crown Estate as part of the Sustainable Communities Fund.
This year’s award of £350,000, is the largest sum in the fund’s history and will help deliver a wide range of community projects to support vital skills training, build new homes, install renewable energy systems and enable innovative circular waste management.
The recipients of the grants are:
Kyle & Lochalsh Community Trust (Highland) £48.7k. To fund the design and planning of a Micro Eco Village comprising six affordable homes.
Staffin Community Trust (Highland) £35.7k. Expansion of the harbour’s training facilities, upskilling staff and providing accredited skills development for local young people.
Scalloway Community Development Company (Shetland) £50k. Funding for a feasibility study and options appraisal for a district heating scheme.
Climavore Community Interest Company (Highland) £28.5k. Help to establish a community enterprise producing low-carbon construction tiles from waste seashells.
Tarbert (Loch Fyne) Harbour Authority (Highland) £21.4k. To employ a Project Officer to develop plans for redevelopment of a derelict boatyard.
Lossiemouth Community Development Trust (Argyll and Bute) £33.7k.Assistance with early-stage development and regeneration of Lossiemouth’s West Beach.
Stranraer Water Sports Association (Dumfries and Galloway) £32.2k.Funding staff costs to support the launch of a new water sports hub that will enable delivery of marine skills training.
Scourie Community Development Company (Highland) £42.1k. To help with the technical design stage for the construction of nine affordable homes.
Kintyre Seasports (Argyll and Bute) £37.8k. Expansion of a vocational maritime skills programme delivering practical, industry-recognised training to local young people.
Live Learn Earn Community Interest Company (activities in Angus) £20k. To deliver metalworking training sessions at Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre resulting in fabrication of a Spitfire memorial sculpture.
The £20,000 grant to the Live Learn Earn Community Interest Company at Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre will not only provide metalworking training to local young people, it will also result in the creation of a new memorial to mark 90 years since the first flight of the Supermarine Spitfire, an icon of aviation which played a key role in securing victory in the Battle of Britain in 1940.
Aegir Maciver from the Live Learn Earn Community Interest Company said: “We are delighted to receive this grant, which will support the ‘Sommerfield Spitfire’ project’s continued work with young people from the region, building their skills and ultimately delivering a fitting tribute to Montrose’s rich aviation heritage.”
Another community project benefitting from the Community Capacity Grants programme is Kintyre Seasports. Its £37,000 grant will provide vital practical skills to young people.
Dr John de Caestecker, Secretary of Kintyre Seasports said:“We are delighted to receive a Community Capacity Grant from Crown Estate Scotland, already a supporter of Kintyre Seasports’ partnership with Campbeltown Sailing Club and the Scottish Association for Marine Science through a CES Environmental Grant to the Sailing Club, to mark more progress in a project – Kintyre Seafarers – that has consistently proven to be a productive delivery vehicle. The CES funding will make a real difference in our efforts to support regeneration of the local community in a way that reflects its strong maritime heritage.”
Shona Cameron, Director at the Climavore community enterprise in Skye, said: “This funding has come at a pivotal point in our project and will help us to develop low-carbon+ construction tiles made from waste seashells collected from local restaurants, with the ultimate aim to establish a community-led circular materials enterprise based in Skye.”
Paul Bowden, Acting Chair, Lossiemouth Community Development Trust said: “Lossiemouth’s West Beach has been an important part of community life for generations, and this Crown Estate Scotland funding allows us to continue our work toward protecting its long-term future — safeguarding access, enhancing facilities and ensuring this much-loved coastline continues to benefit generations to come.”
Hugh Ross, Staffin Community Trust development officer, said: “We’re very pleased to have secured the Sustainable Communities grant and are really looking forward to working with the Portree High School National 4 Rural Skills pupils at Staffin Harbour. We believe we can offer excellent marine training opportunities for the young people by sharing the experience and skills of our harbour users. This will help develop the pupils’ potential and equip them for the world of work. The grant will also help us develop our boat hauling and storage service which is vital for the island.”
Ann Jacob-Chandler, Director of Development, Capital Delivery and Decarbonisation for Crown Estate Scotland, said: “This latest round of funding awards – the sixth since the Sustainable Communities Fund was launched – will help deliver the ambitions most important to local people across Scotland.
“By supporting the construction of new homes in rural areas, delivering vital training initiatives, helping renovate dilapidated infrastructure and making coastal attractions more appealing, we can support genuine improvements which benefit local people and visitors alike.”
The Community Capacity Grants form part of Crown Estate Scotland’s Sustainable Communities Fund, along with the Environment Grants programme which recently awarded £123,000 to Crown Estate Scotland tenants across Scotland.
Both funds are now closed to applications but will re-open in autumn 2026. Interested parties should visit Crown Estate Scotland’s website for further information.
