2023-24 Projects
A new phase of community led local development
About the Moray Local Action Fund 2023–2024
The Moray Local Action Fund supported community-led development in Moray through a Scottish Government grant.
It built on the experience of the Moray LEADER Programme (2014–2021) and the Rural Communities Testing Change programmes (2021–2022).
The fund aimed to support a just transition to a wellbeing economy that works for people, places, and planet.
Projects were asked to show how they advanced inclusion, equality, and diversity, while meeting at least one of the following criteria:
Climate - addressing the climate and environmental emergencies.
Sustainability - enabling a just transition to a carbon-neutral and sustainable future.
Wellbeing - supporting the development of a wellbeing economy[1].
Community - facilitating community development[2] and capacity-building[3].
Leadership - investing in community leadership and community led local development[4].
Wealth building - supporting and building on the concept of community wealth building[5].
Impact
The fund awarded a total of £318,314.98 to community groups and organisations across Moray,
The money was spent on a mixture of physical assets (capital expenditure) and general running costs (revenue expenditure).
See below for a full list of supported projects.
Notes
[1] A Wellbeing Economy is an economy designed to serve people and planet, not the other way around. In a Wellbeing Economy, the rules, norms and incentives are set up to deliver quality of life and flourishing for all people, in harmony with our environment, by default. Source: weall.org
[2] Community development is a process where people come together to take action on what's important to them. Source: www.scdc.org.uk/who/what-is-community-development
[3] Community capacity building is the support that community groups access to help them address issues which are important to them. Source: www.scdc.org.uk/hub/community-capacity-building
[4] Community led local development (CLLD) gives local communities the power to tackle their own, local challenges. By building knowledge and skills, supporting new ideas and encouraging cooperation, CLLD helps to create viable and resilient communities. Source: www.ruralnetwork.scot/community-led-local-development
[5] Community Wealth Building is designed to harness the economic leverage of local ‘anchor’ organisations (such as local councils, health, universities, colleges, housing associations, or large local private sector employers) to tackle long standing systematic challenges and structural inequalities within our communities. Source: www.gov.scot/policies/cities-regions/community-wealth-building
Supported Projects
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Action for Children received funding to employ a part-time Wellbeing Practitioner for five months to enhance their Moray Sonas Wellbeing Service.
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Applegrove Parent Teachers Association received funding to improve the outdoor play and learning spaces at their primary school in Forres.
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Funding from Moray Local Action Group helped Buckie Thistle Football Club to replace their floodlights with new energy efficient lighting.
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Our support enabled the Cabrach Trurst to continue to bring rural skills and wellbeing workshops and events to a depopulated rural area in Moray.
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Support from Moray Local Action Group enabled Community Energy Moray to fulfil two key strategic goals.
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Dufftown & District Community Association used the funding to commission a transport consultant (Connected Transport Planning) to carry out a transport and access audit of Dufftown town centre.
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Moray Local Action Group supported Earthtime for All to run a Walk to School scheme in Hopeman. £2000 awarded.
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Moray Local Action Group enabled Elgin Allotment Association to purchase and install a composting toilet for the allotments.
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Moray Local Action Group funding enabled Elgin Youth Development Group to make energy efficiency improvements to their building.
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Funding from Moray Local Action Group helped Families Outside to employ a support coordinator to help families impacted by imprisonment.
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Forres Area Community Trust (FACT) were awarded funding to support the restoration of Forres Town Hall. £30,000 awarded.
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Forres Friends of Woods and Fields received Moray Local Action Group funding to hire a community gardener to provide support to the volunteers.
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Moray Local Action Group funding helped to deliver the Growing2gether nursery mentoring programme at Elgin Academy and Bishopmill Primary School.
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Support from Moray Local Action Fund helped Hopeman Minibus update their branding and develop a new website.
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Our funding helped the Loft Youth Project to deliver cooking workshops for young people in Keith.
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Lossiemouth Community Hub hired a part-time support worker to engage directly with families and individuals impacted by the cost-of-living crisis.
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Moray Archery received funding to install solar panels and LED lighting.
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Moray Firth Credit Union used Moray Local Action Group funding to convert their Forres storeroom to a multipurpose space that can be rented out.
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Moray School Bank provided a pop up shop with pre-loved uniform and warm winter items to families experiencing financial hardship.
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Moray Local Action Group funding enabled Mums Days organisation to hold a range of events and activities aimed at reducing social isolation among mothers in Moray.
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Portgordon Community Trust upgraded windows and doors at their community hall to make them more accessible and environmentally friendly.
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Rafford Village Hall was awarded funding from Moray Local Action Group to run Souper Thursday events to reduce social isolation during the winter months.
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REAP was awarded funding to expand its therapeutic gardening and energy advice services.
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ReBOOT were supported to give refurbished laptops to low income individuals and families in Moray who were unable to purchase their own.
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Moray Local Action Group funding helped the partnership to commission a report into future erosion and flooding by the River Spey.
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Moray Local Action Group funding helped meet the annual running costs of the Speyside Community Carshare Scheme.
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The Association was awarded funding to installed solar panels and a storage battery system to the Cullen Community and Residential Centre.
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Transition Town Forres used Moray Local Action Group funding to put on on 'Building Skills Workshops' for young people in Forres and the wider area.
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This project provided winter coats for low income families across Moray.
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Moray Local Action Group funding supported an outdoor education programme for young people in Moray.
