funding for projects – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Trailblazing Scottish school library projects awarded share of £150,000

Pupils across Scotland are set to benefit from a £150,000 funding boost as school library projects across the country secure grants through the 2025-26 School Library Improvement Fund (SLIF).

Administered by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) on behalf of the Scottish Government, SLIF supports creative initiatives in line with Vibrant Libraries, Thriving Schools, the national strategy for the development of school libraries.

This year, 17 innovative projects across 78 schools have been awarded funding.

The successful projects focus on developing employability skills, digital literacy, creativity and family learning, with initiatives designed to boost pupils’ love for reading, support neurodiverse pupils and strengthen the bond between parents and children through reading.

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Jenny Gilruth, said: “School libraries play a vital role in getting children and young people excited about reading, empowering them to learn and preparing them for the future. That’s why we’ve proudly supported the School Library Improvement Fund since it started in 2017.

“This year’s funding means that over £1.8 million has been made available to help schools create innovative programmes that bring pupils closer to books and stories.

“This helps improve literacy skills and supports our work to close the poverty-related attainment gap, and I’m confident that the projects announced today will have a positive impact for pupils across Scotland.”

The 2025-26 successful SLIF projects:

Aberdeen: Holy Family RC Primary School – The Nest Library: Assistive Technology for Inclusive Reading
Angus: Liff Primary School – Hear to Read, Read to Lead
Argyll and Bute: Colgrain Primary and Pre-5 Unit – Our Connected Learning Community
East Lothian: Dunbar Primary, Dunbar Grammar and Families Together – Getting It Right for Every Reader
East Renfrewshire: Eastwood High, Woodfarm High, Police Scotland – Open Goal: Fostering Emotional Intelligence Through Football
Falkirk: Grangemouth High, Carrongrange High and cluster primaries – Myths and Legends
Highland: Culloden Academy and five primaries – Reading is for Everyone
Inverclyde: 20 primary schools – Couch to Classroom: A Story Sharing Project
North Lanarkshire: Shawhead Primary – Developing Our Pupils’ Digital Minds
Renfrewshire: Across primary and secondary schools – Renfrewshire Read for Empathy Project; St John Ogilvie Primary and cluster primaries – Young Voices, Big Ideas: Empowering Pupils Through Podcasting
South Lanarkshire: Wester Overton Primary – Family Lending Library – Working Together; Duncanrig Secondary – Extraordinary Lives Project
Stirling: Riverside Primary – Read to Thrive; Fallin Primary, Wallace High, Fallin Community Library – Let’s Read a Story
West Lothian: Bathgate Academy – Beyond the Shelf: A Digital Hub for Inclusive Reading; Armadale Academy and cluster primaries – Butterflies

Alison Nolan, chief executive of the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), said: “School libraries are safe, inspiring spaces that help young people learn, grow and reach their full potential, and the School Library Improvement Fund champions that spirit of creativity and innovation.

“This year’s 17 successful projects reflect the ingenuity of school library teams who are committed to developing employability skills, strengthening digital literacy and fostering family learning in their communities.

“This latest investment will help school libraries continue to evolve and adapt to the needs of pupils, parents and teachers and we’re excited to see these trailblazing initiatives come to life.”

The 2025-26 SLIF brings the total investment from the Scottish Government to £1.87 million since the scheme’s inception.

Open to all state-run nurseries, primary and secondary schools, the fund allows schools to apply individually or collaboratively, ensuring wide and equal access to this transformative support.

For more information about SLIF and to learn about some of the previous projects, visit: https://scottishlibraries.org/the-school-library-improvement-fund/

£1m for ten projects aimed at tackling coastal erosion

Learning to adapt to coastal change

Ten projects designed to highlight good practice in tackling coastal erosion have secured a share of more than £1m from the Scottish Government’s Coastal Change Adaptation Programme.

Due to be delivered in 2024-25, the projects cover eight local authority areas and include plans to enhance natural defences to help reduce the rate of erosion and improve protection from flooding, such as at Kingston in Moray.

The funding – part of £12m committed for coastal change adaptation during the course of the current Parliament – will also be used to support engagement with local people, businesses and infrastructure owners on the process for developing coastal change adaptation plans, and for improvements to the monitoring of coastlines.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition Màiri McAllan said: “The climate emergency is not a distant threat – we are already seeing an increased impact on coastal communities due to adverse weather and rising sea levels.

“We need to start adapting our coasts to better respond to sea level rise and reduce the risks associated with coastal erosion. Local authorities are seizing the opportunity to do this essential work, with their communities as key partners, and I am confident this additional funding will support that work even further.

“These case studies will be an important source of knowledge for all areas in Scotland affected by coastal change and will help to inform future projects.

“We are already bringing forward measures to help protect homes, the natural environment and agriculture from climate change. And we’re providing £150 million of extra funding, on top of our annual £42m funding, for flood risk management over the course of this Parliament.

“We will continue to work with our local authority partners, communities and businesses to adapt our coastlines to climate change.”

Later this month the new National Adaptation Plan to address the climate risks facing Scotland will be published.

A consultation on a new Flood Resilience Strategy will also be published for views this year.

Dynamic Coast – Coastal Change Adaptation

Case studies

Local Authority	Name
Highland	End of life defences
South Ayrshire	South Ayrshire Council Shoreline Management Plan
Angus	Montrose
North Ayrshire	North Ayrshire Council Shoreline Management Plan
Moray	Kingston recharge
Moray	Monitoring Moray Coast
Moray	Near-Real Time Coastal Resilience Modelling
Argyll and Bute	Luing (Cullipool)
Fife	Fife Coastal Management
Edinburgh	Infrastructure Owner Consultation

Grants for projects across Scotland during Community Land Week

A community centre in Aberdeen, a village shop in Plockton and a resource hub in Speyside are all set to benefit from the Scottish Land Fund
£1,968,921 for 11 projects across Scotland

Great Western Community Trust in Aberdeen (above) has received £425,154 to purchase Holburn West Church and manage it as a community venue that will host a wide range of groups and activities.

The award is one of 11 made during the most recent round of funding from the Scottish Land Fund and the announcement comes during an extended Community Land Week (13 – 29 October), which community landowners across the country are marking with events and celebrations.

The Scottish Land Fund reopened to applications in 2021. The programme is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by the National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, both of which have extensive experience of helping communities to acquire and develop their assets for over a decade.

Other grants awarded during the current round of funding include £90,459 to Plockton & District Community Trust to acquire the Old Post Office in Plockton, Lochalsh, from which the group will continue to provide community services while developing the building as a multi-use community space; and £118,663 has been awarded to The Grantown Society in Grantown-On-Spey, to allow them to purchase the former SSE Hydro building in the town and turn it into a multi-use resource hub and visitors’ centre.

Martin Greig, trustee, Great Western Community Trust, said: “We are extremely grateful for the generous award from the SLF. The funds will make a huge difference to the benefit of the local community.

“The project has enormous support from residents. They have said again and again that the area needs this kind of public facility. Thanks to the SLF, this splendid building can now remain at the heart of the community.”

Alasdair Mackenzie, Vice Chairman, Plockton & District Community Trust, said: “We are delighted to secure SLF support to bring this much loved building in the heart of our village into community ownership.

“We’re a new organisation and this is our first asset, so it’s a real boost for us. There has been informal use of the building for over 20yrs, but this purchase safeguards it for the community.

“We can now press on with our plans to improve the fabric of the building. Without SLF support none of this would be possible.

And Bill Sadler, Chairman, The Grantown Society, said: “Grantown’s No 2 High Street, latterly SSE Hydro Shop, which has lain empty for over seven years, was once a thriving grocer’s shop, situated on what became known as “Rimmington’s Corner”; a favourite meeting place for locals.

“Now, with thanks to the Scottish Land Fund, The Grantown Society is bringing it back to life as a warm and welcoming Community Resource Hub with  rentable “pop-up” retail space, community information, an ATM and gigabit Wifi with available desk space.”

Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary, Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, said: “Many people and community organisations know exactly what their local areas need but may lack the funding to make their visions a reality.

“This is why the Scottish Land Fund is so important. It allows community groups to realise their goals and unlock the full power of community actions. It is a prime example of our plans to ensure that Scotland’s land is used in a way that benefits everyone.

“I want to congratulate the latest recipients. I know that their projects will prove hugely beneficial to their respective communities. I also want to encourage any other organisations who may be eligible to apply to the Scottish Land Fund.”

Cara Gillespie, Scottish Land Fund Committee Chair said: “The groups receiving funding today have all clearly identified opportunities to help their locality to thrive.

“By establishing new or securing existing shops, work spaces, social hubs and leisure facilities they are helping their communities become more cohesive and sustainable places to live.”

Douglas Cowan, Director of Communities and Place at HIE, said: “These successful projects are all great examples of people taking control of local resources for the long-term benefit of their communities.

“All these projects announced today will help to deliver local community priorities. Ownership will give them greater control over important assets that will reap rewards for people now and for generations to come. We wish all the successful community organisations the very best in their new ventures.”

Other groups receiving funding are:

Resonate Together

Award – £295,822

Resonate Together will acquire The Ochil & Harvey House plots on the Carsebridge site, in Alloa, Clackmannanshire. They have occupied the buildings since January 2022 and will renovate the site as a community hub, with a community garden and café, benefiting the community by providing space to socialise, learn new skills and volunteer.

Broadford and Strath Community Company

Award – £95, 700

Broadford and Strath Community Company will purchase a commercial unit located in Broadford, Isle of Skye. The group will use this space to provide a multi-use office, workshop and exhibition space which will be used by local businesses and community groups.

Sunart Community Company

Award – £241,782

Sunart Community Company will purchase Longrigg Wood (87.6ha) in Strontian, West Lochaber to improve the social, economic, and environmental health and wellbeing of the area.

Gairloch & Loch Ewe Community Hub (GALE)

Award – £337,724

GALE will acquire The Shieling café and restaurant in Gairloch, Wester Ross. The building will allow them to expand on the services they currently offer, and will be developed into a community hub.

Hoy Youth Hub

Award – £93,802

Hoy Youth Hub will acquire St Columba’s Church in Longhope, Hoy, Orkney. The building will be developed into a Youth Hub, which will provide the island’s only dedicated space for young people. The asset will also be used as a community space for various groups to use.  

Friends of Sanday Kirk Ltd

Award – £83,730

Friends of Sanday Kirk will purchase the Cross Kirk in Sanday, Orkney. The group will use the building as a multi-use community facility to provide a range of community support activities and services which focus on wellbeing, arts and a community meeting space.

Fort Augustus & Glenmoriston Community Company

Award – £104,820

Fort Augustus & Glenmoriston Community Company will acquire Glentarff House, Canalside South, Fort Augustus. They will then carry out a refurbishment and reconfiguration, creating affordable housing units.

Whalsay Kirk Development Company (WKDC)

Award – £81,265

WKDC will acquire Whalsay Kirk, in Shetland with the intention of repurposing the vacant building as a multi-purpose space that will include a visitor centre, art and crafts exhibition space with options for workshops, events and pop-up shops.