Fund Information

May 22, 2025 - May 22, 2025

The Argyll and the Islands Community Led Local Development (CLLD) Fund is part of the Scottish Government's Rural Development Programme. The delivery is overseen by the Argyll and the Islands Local Action Group (LAG) and administered by Argyll and Bute Council as the Accountable Body.

As a result of changes to our allocation of funds from the Scottish Government, the fund will be for capital projects only. The CLLD fund is accepting grant applications of between £6,000 and £70,000.

Funding is offered up to a maximum of 90% of overall project costs. Constituted community groups, third sector organisation, and Public sector organisations are eligible to apply and projects must support one or more of the main fund priorities for 2025/26 which are: 

• Eradicating child poverty
• Growing the economy 
• Tackling the climate emergency 
• Ensuring high quality and sustainable public services

Applications will be particularly welcomed where there is a need evidenced in a community led planning exercise such as a local or community plan. For projects addressing the priority of tackling the climate emergency, these should be projects which improve the resilience of communities in the face of it. 

Whilst the fund is for capital projects, some revenue funding is available to cover direct project revenue costs generated by capital activity, such as project management. Full cost recovery can be used to claim some indirect costs. Further details can be found in the guidance linked below. Full planning permissions and match funding must be in place at the time of application. 

This is an annual grant and all expenditure and activity must be completed by 27th March 2026.

Read the full CLLD applicant guidance here

Reviewing Expressions of Interest

June 14, 2025 - June 20, 2025

What happens after you submit your Expression of Interest? 

We will review submitted expressions of interest following the deadline and will consider them for eligibility and suitability. CLLD Officers will then contact you using the contact details you provided as part of your registration on Argyll and Bute Voices. We will also look at whether the project is ready for delivery as this will need to commence over the autumn and winter and be completed by the 27th of March 2026. 

Eligible projects will then be invited to submit a full application by 27th June. The application will seek confirmation of costs, match funding, timescales and mechanisms for delivery as well as demonstrating a need for the project and its fit with the fund priorities. Information about your organisation will also be requested such as accounts, constitution etc. CLLD officers can support you in bringing together the application. 

Applications will then be submitted to the Argyll and the Islands Local Action Group (LAG), who are the decision-making body for the grant. It is hoped decisions will be made in mid-July with all applicants informed shortly after. 

If successful, it will be the community organisation's responsibility to manage project delivery and ensure that the funding is spent in accordance with the conditions of grant. 

Projects Progressing to Full Application

June 21, 2025 - June 26, 2025