Community Infrastructure Support programme

The North Highland Initiative’s Community Infrastructure Support Programme was set up in 2020 to provide small grants to community led initiatives during the pandemic. The grant programme served communities, volunteer and support services who needed additional help through this difficult period and to stimulate post Covid recovery, and we’re proud to say it continues to do so today.

The fund offers specific assistance, enabling small communities preparing to welcome visitors but also to provide services and support for everyone who lives across our region. The overall aim is to create more resilient community structures and spaces for the region, and to make the North Highlands an even better place to live.

The programme will consider grants of up to £2,000 which fit at least one of the following priorities:

Community Infrastructure 

• More effective visitor management including content creation, signage, or information on local facilities or amenities.
• Environmental improvements, incl. public toilets/motorhome waste management/tree planting, community gardens or woodlands.
• Public seating, path creation, sport or play facilities.
• Supporting volunteers through learning and development of skills or training.
• Supporting community led efforts that support socio economic development or cost of living services, including food security, provided through the community to boost self-sufficiency and resilience.
• Supporting community led efforts that focus on improving the education, resilience or life skills for young people.
• Supporting community led health and well-being services or projects.

Energy Reduction and Resilience

• Installation of more efficient heating and insulation in community spaces.
• Purchase of energy saving equipment in community spaces.
• Sourcing of professional advice towards energy reduction programs for communities.
• Fund or train fuel, energy, or cost of living advisors in local support roles.
• Improving community awareness of energy improvement activity or schemes.

Community Facilities Support

• Encouraging more creative or innovative use of community halls and buildings.
• Developing more effective multi-use “hubs” within existing facilities.
• Matched or seed funding to enable larger scale projects.

If you have a proposal that is not mentioned above, yet you consider this to be a part of your local area infrastructure just tell us on the application form as we will consider every application that meets a genuine community need.

Guidance notes: Information on eligibility and criteria for applicants.

Application Form: CISP 2026 Application

This project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.