SSE has officially launched its latest funding round, making £1 million available to support communities throughout the Highlands.

The funding is primarily targeted at supporting community-led housing and initiatives that build long-term capacity within the community sector.

Non-profit organisations, charities, and community groups across the Highland region are eligible to apply to the Highland Sustainable Development Fund. The fund is offering grants of over £30,000 to help local groups advance their ambitions and address crucial needs within their areas.

For this specific funding round, priority will be given to projects that directly address the region’s significant housing shortage and those that work to enhance overall community resilience. Successful applications are expected to strengthen long-term community development while delivering "transformational social, economic and environmental benefits."

To date, the Highland Sustainable Development Fund has invested £10.6 million into transformative community projects. A recent example is the £74,000 award given to the Assynt Development Trust to support the development of ten affordable homes, directly contributing to local housing needs and the retention of young and working-age residents.

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Adam Pellant, Development Officer for Assynt Development Trust, underscored the importance of the support: “With significant support from the SSE’s Sustainable Development Fund, Assynt has been able to advance our community’s long-term ambition of delivering affordable homes. This funding is helping us overcome the practical and financial barriers that small communities often face, ensuring that we can create housing that supports local families, helps retain working-age residents, and contributes to a more sustainable future for our area.”

Lord Jack McConnell, Chair of the Sustainable Development Fund, echoed this sentiment, stating that the Assynt project is an "excellent example" of community-led action. He added:

“Viable communities need good housing, strong resilience and the capacity to support enterprising opportunities. We hope that applicants to this round of the Fund will be ambitious in addressing these regional issues.”

Morven Smith, Head of Community Investment for SSE, encouraged applicants to bring forward ambitious proposals: “We’re proud that the Sustainable Development Fund continues to make a real difference to the future of the Highlands. Previous rounds of funding have enabled many impressive local projects, from affordable housing and community facilities to initiatives that build capacity and create new opportunities. As we launch this next round, we encourage communities to bring forward proposals that address Highland priorities and that can deliver meaningful, long-term benefits for local people.”

The deadline for applications to the Highland Sustainable Development Fund is Noon on Tuesday 20 January 2026.