Fort Augustus & Glenmoriston Community Company

Fort Augustus & Glenmoriston Community Company, established in 2007 by the local Community Council in the Scottish Highlands, is a community-led organisation dedicated to receiving, managing, and distributing community benefit funding—primarily from renewable energy developments—to drive rural regeneration and sustainable development in the Fort Augustus and Glenmoriston area. Its mission empowers residents to realise their full potential, improving quality of life through self-determination, transparency, partnership, and long-term stewardship of assets. Distinctively, it has evolved from pure grant-giving to direct project delivery, asset ownership, and leveraging over £2.3 million in match funding via partnerships with entities like SSE Renewables and Highland Council, blending strategic funding with hands-on community services.

The funder supports a broad spectrum of local initiatives prioritising regeneration, sustainability, and resilience, including apprenticeships for young people in diverse trades, village hall upgrades, solar installations on public buildings, cemetery maintenance, affordable housing, community caretakers, and food larders tackling cost-of-living crises. Funding targets grassroots efforts for residents, vulnerable groups, youth, older people, and voluntary organisations, encompassing training/employment schemes, infrastructure enhancements, environmental improvements, health/wellbeing projects, and social cohesion activities like medical centre rebuilds.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities and community groups with a strong local presence in the strictly defined Fort Augustus and Glenmoriston Community Council area; it prefers grassroots and small/medium-sized entities without fixed income thresholds, requiring clear benefits to local residents. Grants typically range from a few hundred to £25,000 (most under £10,000) for projects, capital, revenue, or apprenticeships. Unsolicited applications are accepted rolling via email/post with a downloadable form, supporting documents, and assessed at regular Directors’ meetings within about three weeks.

Exclusions apply to projects outside the area or lacking community-wide impact; its unique place-based model, local trustee governance, and dual grant/delivery approach set it apart for charities seeking rural empowerment partnerships.