A HOUSING grant scheme specialising in rural communities has allocated its first grants for the year 2021-2022.
The funding is being provided by Croft House Grants and the scheme sims to retain and attract people to rural and remote communities.
The money from the grants will be used to improve housing or build new homes in some of Scotland’s most remote and marginal areas.
Mairi Gougeon, Rural Affairs Secretary said: “Since March 2020 we have awarded over £1.7 million in grant funding to help build and improve homes for 53 crofters and their families. I am determined to continue helping people in crofting areas.
The future sustainability of these areas depends on our ability to attract and retain people, particularly young families, and the Croft House Grant has proved successful in doing just that.”
The most recent grants have been awarded to 13 crofters, with funding worth around £433,072 in total.
The scheme which was launched in 2007 has awarded more than £22.5 million to 1,047 families and individuals in rural and island communities.
Florentine and Tim Matthew, grant recipients said: “The Croft House Grant has been invaluable to us – without this grant we wouldn’t have been able to live on our croft with our young family.
Local housing is scarce and there were no available houses in our rural location. This grant has made the difference between us investing in building a life on a croft and being forced to move back to the city.”
