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Rural Communities Ideas into Action Fund

Supporting innovative approaches

The Rural Communities Ideas into Action Fund (RCIA) is a £1.5 million investment from the Scottish Government to encourage and support innovative approaches to community-led local development in rural communities across Scotland. Two strands of funding were available -small grants for projects up to £3,000 and large grants for projects £3,001-£50,000.

Projects funded will contribute positively to local people and local priorities, helping rural communities to thrive through community-led initiatives. The Fund outcomes are:

  • Rural communities will have the opportunity to try out different approaches to local community development;
  • Groups and organisations, not funded by Tranche 1 of the Rural Communities Testing Change Fund, will build connections with the rural Community Led Local Development sector;
  • Rural groups and organisations will work collectively to make positive changes in their communities;
  • A body of evidence, insights and learning will be collated to help inform future rural Community Led Local Development policy and programmes.

Successful funded projects

120 not-for-profit community groups are being funded as part of the Rural Communities Ideas Into Action Fund to trial new and innovative ways to address local challenges and benefit from local opportunities. The £1.8m of funding is part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to trial new approaches to community-led local development (CLLD).

The successful projects will test new approaches to CLLD from a broad range of themes including mental health & wellbeing, net zero and climate action ambitions and community collaboration.  The projects funded are as diverse as Scotland’s rural communities, and include new approaches to affordable housing, local food production and delivery, facilities for sustainable tourism and youth skills development.

Read more about the projects

Contact Us

For all enquiries about the Rural Communities Ideas into Action Fund, please email ruralcommunities@inspiringscotland.org.uk.

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