Community Led Local Development (CLLD) Grant
The Community Led Local Development (CLLD) fund is an annual grant allocation to Orkney from the Scottish Government. It replaces the previous LEADER funding that Orkney received and continues to support locally driven community projects that deliver lasting benefits across the islands.
Due to the limited size of the funding allocation, applications are restricted to Orkney-based, constituted community or voluntary not-for-profit organisations with a registered bank account. Applications cannot be accepted from individuals, sole traders, organisations outwith Orkney, religious or political organisations, or private businesses.
The Orkney Local Action Group (LAG), which successfully delivered the LEADER Programme between 2014–2020, continues to oversee the CLLD funding allocation for Orkney.
For the 2025/26 financial year, Orkney received a final award of £299,607.51 from the Scottish Government - comprising £199,607.51 capital and £100,000 revenue.
- The full capital allocation was made available for community projects.
- The revenue funding was distributed between , revenue projects, Place Plans, Orkney Youth LAG funding, and administration/staffing costs.
Funding Priorities
Capital projects supported through CLLD are expected to align with one or more of the Scottish Government’s four priority areas, demonstrate clear community support, and contribute to Community Wealth Building. Potential areas for support include:
- Helping communities to derive lasting economic and social benefit from major local events, such as the Island Games, strengthening local facilities and resilience.
- Providing essential capital to community groups that have acquired (or are acquiring) land or buildings to help fund early-stage upgrades and enable projects to become operational.
- Supporting elements of community-led projects identified in local place, development, or action plans.
- Delivering community wellbeing and recreational projects.
- Building resilience in sectoral-based community groups.
Revenue projects have included:
- The development of Place Plans, ensuring communities influence future planning decisions and identify their own local priorities.
- Engaging expert support or project management where this will help move a project towards delivery.
- Building capacity within community groups by improving governance, financial management, and operating policies.
- Encouraging networking and knowledge exchange between community organisations and public sector partners, strengthening confidence and collaboration.
- Supporting primary sectors and rural development as they transition to new Scottish Government and UK requirements.
Looking Ahead
The 2025/26 CLLD funding round is now closed, but we expect to reopen for new applications in spring 2026. We aim to publish a detailed timeline for applications nearer the time.
If your community has a project idea you’d like to develop, we encourage you to get in touch with the CLLD team to discuss it.
In addition, the OIC Crown Estate Community Led Development Fund (OIC CECLDF) is due to reopen in autumn 2025, once the funding allocation has been confirmed - so please contact us if you’d like to talk through potential project ideas.
For further information or to discuss a potential project, please contact the CLLD team at CLLD@orkney.gov.uk.
