14 October 2020

Applications sought for latest tranche of Buchan coastal communities funding

Aberdeenshire Council is seeking applications from Buchan groups for a share of monies from the Coastal Communities Fund.

This funding is drawn from revenue generated by the Scottish Crown Estate’s inshore waters and is intended to support and develop coastal communities.

Revenue is generated from activity such as licensing for offshore wind farms, oil and gas pipelines and aquaculture leases. 

The first batch of funding earlier this year enabled a number of local organisations to undertake a wide range of coastal activities including a new dinghy for Aberdeenshire Sailing Trust based in Peterhead, new picnic benches for Boddam Harbour and improvements to Buchanhaven Harbour.

Each of the authority’s four area committees with coastlines have £25,000 to directly support local projects and initiatives. Buchan Area Committee have opened a further round of funding and are seeking applications.

One of the key criteria for funding is that the site of the project or the community must lie within one mile of Aberdeenshire’s coastline. Applications must have a tangible link to the coast and should contribute to the development of the people, environment or economy of the Buchan coast.

Buchan area manager Amanda Roe said: “This additional funding provides a great opportunity to support and develop Buchan’s coastal communities who continue to face challenging circumstances. I would encourage any groups wishing to bid for funding to contact council officers as soon as possible as we have limited time to spend this money.”

Applications must be submitted by noon on Friday, 30th October to applications@bdp.scot full guidance and the application form can be found on the Aberdeenshire Council website.

After the closing date, a report will be prepared for the Buchan Area Committee when councillors will review the applications and allocate the funding to those projects most closely matching the criteria.

Fund eligibility:
• You can apply for a Coastal Communities Fund Grant only if the site of the project or the community is within one mile of Aberdeenshire’s coastline
• Your project must have a tangible link to the coast and/or the sea

 What is meant by a tangible link to the coast or sea? Here are some examples: (please note this is not intended to be a complete list):

· Projects that help people develop skills related to coastal or seafaring pursuits, activities or enterprises, for example sailing, fishing or boatbuilding.
· Projects that celebrate the heritage of coastal and seagoing communities of place and interest. For example, a coastal or fishing village or township, historic boatbuilding, or relevant clubs or organisations.
· Projects that improve access to coastal areas, for example paths and viewpoints
· Projects that improve the coastal environment, for example applications to establish and support community groups looking after their coastline
· Projects that improve community-controlled infrastructure such as harbours, boathouses and buildings including investing in the fabric of these facilities
· Events in coastal communities – including adapting to the new requirements for event safety
· Activities focussed on building connections within and between coastal communities to reduce the impact of social isolation
· Responding to the impact of COVID-19 on coastal communities and organisations based there
· Building capacity in coastal community organisations to deliver transformative projects at a local level