Rural Community Local Led Development 2024-2025 Expression of Interest

The aim of the RCLLD Fund is to  deliver community-based activity to meet one or more of the Scottish Government priorities.  This funding is for projects that run until end of February 2025 at the latest.

Priorities for Funding:

You may apply for funds for project-based activity and must demonstrate that it advances inclusion, equality and diversity. Your project must also align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (opens new window), the Scottish National Performance Framework (opens new window) and Scottish Government's current spending priorities which are;

• Eradicating child poverty
• Growing the economy
• Tackling the climate emergency
• Improving public services

Eligible areas:  

Pending the formal approval of our Community Led Vision (CLV), projects based in, or benefitting, rural areas of West Lothian are eligible.  Armadale, Whitburn, Pumpherston and Uphall Station have been put forward as eligible in our CLV.

Areas not eligible for funding are Livingston, Bathgate, Linlithgow and Broxburn (including Uphall).

Eligible applicants:

Organisation and groups eligible to apply include, but are not limited to;CICs, SCIOs, development trusts, community groups, volunteer groups and social enterprises.

• We do not accept applications from individuals
• We are not accepting applications from businesses at his time
• If you are unsure if your organisation/group qualifies please get in contact

Your group/organisation must have a bank account.

Funding available:

• The LAG has circa £71,000 to distribute between projects. circa  £17,000 of which is for revenue spend (e.g. staff and services) and circa £54,000 of capital (e.g. purchase of assets and of non-perishable goods).
• You may apply for capital and revenue funding
• You may apply for up to 100% of costs but projects with match funding are encouraged (match funding must be awarded before the project starts)
• Minimum project size: £1,000
• Maximum project size: £20,000 unless covering a significant amount of the eligible West Lothian area.

Funding Update:

The LAG made circa £25,000 of awards in round 1 leaving around £34k of capital fund and £12k of revenue left to be awarded.  However, you should note that we have already received Expressions of Interest far exceeding these amounts.

Applying

If you are interested in applying please use the link below:

Apply for the West Lothian Rural, Community led Local Development Grant (opens new window)

Guidance for the web application and general guidance:

• RCLLD User Guide [1MB]
• RCLLD Application Guidance - 2024-2025 [270KB]

Dates and Deadlines:

Useful links:

• Scottish Rural Network (opens new window)
• Scottish Rural Action (opens new window)