Scottish Land Fund Celebrates 25 Years with Record £3m Community Funding
24 projects across Scotland receive grants for heritage centres, community estates, and museum expansions.
By Kirsty Lennox
••2 min read
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The Scottish Land Fund (SLF) is celebrating its 25th anniversary by distributing a record £3 million to 24 community projects across Scotland, supporting initiatives from heritage centres to community estate buy-outs.
Among the funded projects are a new heritage centre in Scalasaig on Colonsay, a community estate buy-out in Shetland, and land acquisition for a museum redevelopment in Lewis. The Colonsay and Oronsay Heritage Trust will convert a business unit into a centre celebrating local history and culture. Muckle Roe Community Enterprise received £293,340 to purchase a crofting estate in Shetland, while Comunn Eachdraidh Nis (Ness Historical Society) was awarded £12,592 for four parcels of land on Lewis to expand its museum.
These grants are part of the largest funding round from the SLF, which has been instrumental in helping communities acquire land and assets for 25 years. Since 2001, the Fund has invested over £138 million in 955 projects nationwide, facilitating the transfer of 853 assets, covering 213,803 hectares of land and buildings.
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"For 25 years the Scottish Land Fund has helped communities realise their ambitions in providing vital services, protecting treasured landmarks and building sustainability into villages, towns and cities. This round, like so many before it, shows the breadth of ways this can be done – whether through providing much-needed housing, looking after people’s wellbeing or creating a focal point to the community."
Gillian Martin, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs, highlighted the fund's impact in enabling communities to provide services, protect landmarks, and foster sustainability. She noted the diverse ways the fund supports communities, from housing to creating community focal points, and expressed anticipation for the development of these new projects.
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"The board of Comunn Eachdraidh Nis wish to express their gratitude to the Scottish Land Fund for this award. This will enable us to further develop the centre, ensuring it meets the future needs of the community and visitors to the area."
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"The 25th anniversary of the Scottish Land Fund is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the difference community ownership makes across Scotland. Over the years, it has helped communities create jobs, provide affordable housing, safeguard vital local services, and develop new facilities, bringing lasting benefits to people and places."
The Scottish Land Fund is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by The National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
