In total, £793,596.36 is available for Lochaber through the CRF in 2025/26, spanning both capital and revenue funding. The CRF budget for 2026/27 will be confirmed after the Council's Economy & Infrastructure Committee meets on 28 May 2026.

Lochaber Area Committee Chair, Cllr Kate Willis said: "Community Regeneration Funding is targeted at the heart of our communities, supporting projects that align with key priorities across the area. The funding criteria designed to enable economic recovery, drive regeneration, and strengthen community resilience.

"The 2025/26 funding allocated to date has supported eleven eligible community projects, bringing the total now approved to seventeen. These projects will deliver meaningful and lasting benefits within their communities. On behalf of the Committee Members, I wish all the projects every success and look forward to receiving progress updates."

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At the committee meeting on 11 May 2026, the successful bids were: The Island Park Community Field for the purchase of Island Park (£22,000); Inverlochy Community Association for the Friends of Inverlochy Park upgrade (£51,956); Lochaber Mountain Rescue Ltd to replace its mobile control vehicle (£27,849.79); The Isle of Eigg Brewery (a Community Benefit Society) for a storage shed and solar panels (£15,000); Kilmallie Community Centre for the Kilmallie Community Heartbeat project (£49,753); and Voluntary Action Group (VAL) for third sector support and digital improvement (£65,000).

The Council is refining its approach so funding decisions better reflect local priorities and are more accessible to groups at all stages of project development. BeConnected Highland has recently launched, and community organisations are encouraged to explore the map, review their Area Place Plan and add their projects to raise visibility with funders and potential partners. For support using BeConnected, email [email protected].

Community Regeneration Funding is an umbrella for several funding streams open to communities and organisations in the Highlands. It includes the Highland Coastal Communities Fund and the Place Based Investment Programme, both Scottish Government initiatives supporting economic regeneration and sustainable development across the region.