Council Grants and Funds

In this section, you will find links to information about grants and funds provided or supported by Orkney Islands Council, to support a wide range of local projects.

Community Development Fund

Orkney Islands Council's Community Development Fund was established in 1999 to support a wide range of local projects. Any formally-constituted community group can apply. In the past community councils, development trusts, community associations, heritage societies and many other local community groups have successfully bid for funding. Grant assistance at a rate of 50%, up to a maximum Community Development Fund grant of £100,000, will normally be available. More information is available under the Related Links menu on the left of this page.
 

GRANTnet - the national gateway to funding

Community groups and small businesses in Orkney can access latest news and funding opportunities through Orkney Islands Council's subscription to GRANTnet, a national grants information website.

Community-based groups can also get help using GRANTnet through Voluntary Action Orkney, on (tel) 01856 872897 or by email.

Small Businesses can contact the Business Gateway in Kirkwall’s Queen Street on tel 01856 886666 or by email for assistance.

The link to the GRANTnet website is available from the Related Sites section to the left of this webpage.

Spotlight on LEADER

In late 2007 the Orkney Islands LEADER Action Group, or LAG, submitted a bid to the Scottish Government for LEADER funding for the period 2007-2013. On the basis of this bid, Orkney was awarded £2.11 million.

The LEADER programme is aimed at small scale projects which encourage community development and is open to any constituted group including charities, development trusts and the public sector. The programme can provide match funding of up to 50% of project costs.

Application rounds are coordinated by Orkney Islands Council.

For more information, visit the Orkney LEADER site which is available from the Related Sites section.

Additional information on grants and funds is available from the Related Links section.

Orkney Islands Council's Culture Fund

The Culture Fund is aimed at assisting not for profit organisation based in Orkney planning arts, heritage or language events, projects or activities.

This fund replaces the Festivals Fund and the Grants for Independent Museums and Heritage Bodies.

The way that the Council funds cultural activity in Orkney underwent a review in order to determine whether the available funds could be made more widely accessible, and enable a greater variety of cultural activity to be supported by the Council, and the Culture Fund is the result of that work.

Further information, application forms and guidance are available from Gemma Russell at the Council on 01856 873535 or email gemma.russell@orkney.gov.uk, or write into Education and Leisure Services, Orkney Islands Council Offices, School Places, Kirkwall, KW151NY.