Fund opens to connect people with coasts and waters

A NEW £150,000 fund has been announced to help community groups celebrate Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters 2020.

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is marking the year with the launch of Plunge In! the Coasts and Waters Community Fund, offering grants from small pots for schools and youth groups to awards of up to £10,000.

Applications are now being invited for community-led ideas that will connect more people with seas, coasts, lochs, rivers, streams and wetlands, as well as their wildlife.

Projects might include plans for restoring habitats, carrying out local surveys or promoting and celebrating local environment or wildlife, and should leave a legacy, through improved skills and knowledge or the creation of a community resource, for example.

Smaller grants of up to £500 will be available to allow groups of young people to visit one of Scotland’s many nature reserves.

SNH chief executive Francesca Osowska said: "This new fund is a fantastic opportunity for groups to get involved, be creative, help their local environment and wildlife and improve our coasts and waters.

"We hope it will help secure a real and lasting legacy for the year in communities across Scotland, as well as allow many more young people to connect with nature in some of our most beautiful places."

The fund is open for applications until February 28. It is first in a series of celebratory events and projects that SNH will be revealing throughout the Year of Coasts and Waters.

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