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The Fund aims to support businesses in the tourism, creative industries and food and drink processing sectors, and social enterprises in any sector, across the Highlands and Islands to reduce or green their energy usage. Projects can include anything that helps businesses or social enterprises to reduce or green their energy usage and make progress towards achieving net zero carbon emissions, for example energy efficiency measures, renewables, or waste management. HIE will prioritise projects based in remote and rural areas where applicants may be eligible for up to 50% funding.

The ARIA Fund empowers local communities to address their unique challenges. As part of the Scottish Government's Community Led Local Development (CLLD) programme, ARIA operates through a bottom-up decision-making process, with funding priorities and project selections determined by representatives from the local area who form the Local Action Group (LAG).There are 2 funds: the Main Fund, and Community Asset Maintenance Fund.Main Fund:Projects must demonstrate fit with at least one of the ARIA Fund priorities. These include:- Community Wealth Building- Quality of Life- Community Led Tourism (CLT) - Enterprise- Net ZeroCommunity Asset Maintenance Fund:The Community Asset Maintenance Fund supports the production of a property condition register (also known as a repairs register). This assesses the internal and external condition of the building and includes a costed schedule of repairs alongside a proposed maintenance plan with indicative dates for periodic upkeep (e.g., external decoration, gutter clearance, etc.). ARIA also offers a £2,000 sinking fund to help finance repairs.

The Shetland CLLD Programme is a grant fund provided by the Scottish Government. The delivery of Shetland CLLD is overseen by the Shetland Islands Local Action Group (LAG) – a group of representatives from organisations with economic, social, environmental and community interests in Shetland. The CLLD grant fund is administered by Shetland Islands Council on behalf of the LAG. The principal focus for activity is to support sustainable projects which can be reflected within the programme’s four priority areas:- Helping families and services through the cost-of-living crises, including helping to address the drivers of child poverty- Increasing community capacity to address rural challenges- Transforming the economy to deliver net zero- Creating sustainable local servicesProjects that support one or more of the programme priorities will be considered for funding.

Better Breaks is a funding programme of the Short Breaks Fund, operated by Shared Care Scotland on behalf of the National Carers Organisations and the Scottish Government. The purpose of the Short Breaks Fund is to increase the range, availability, and choice of short breaks for unpaid carers and those they care for across Scotland.The Better Breaks programme funds a wide range of short breaks projects and services, including activities and breaks for:- Disabled children and young people without their carers- Families to enjoy together- Young/sibling carers with the person they care forProjects must be able to evidence how their activities will benefit both children and young people with disabilities and their carers, by providing a break from their normal routine. These breaks should increase opportunities for children and young people to engage in activities they enjoy, give carers a break from their caring role, and improve wellbeing for all involved.

Projects requiring funding from the Local Community Planning Budget should meet some of the priorities of your local area’s community plan Local Community Plans.The types of projects that can be supported are: - Take a pride in your community- Improvements to community facilities- Community Events; Employability Initiatives- Vulnerable or disadvantaged groups in a community- Links to Fairer Fife Commission Initiatives

The Culture & Business Scotland Fund is designed to encourage collaboration between business and culture by enabling not-for-profit organisations to give their for-profit business sponsors additional rights or benefits, helping to enhance the impact and reach of the sponsorship and cultural activity.Not-for-profit organisations delivering cultural activity for the benefit of public audiences in Scotland can apply to the Fund for up to £1 for every £1 of business sponsorship. Organisations can apply up to two times in the financial year, provided the total Fund investment does not exceed £10,000.They welcome applications which relate to one or more of the following cultural forms:- Animation - Archaeology - Archives & Collections - Art & Health - Combined Arts - Community Heritage - Craft - Dance - Design - Fashion - Festival - Film & TV - Galleries - Historic Buildings & Monuments - Industrial, Maritime, Transport - Intangible Cultural Heritage - Land & Biodiversity - Libraries - Literature - Museums - Music - Street Arts - Theatre - Visual ArtsFunding must support cultural activities that directly engage a public audience, such as performances, exhibitions, productions, seasons of work, or public presentations.Fund investment cannot be used for capital projects (for example, building or renovation work). However, a business sponsor may contribute to those costs if the matched Fund investment is used for audience-facing cultural activity.