Projects

Gaining Ground

A cooperation project jointly funded by Highland LEADER. The Scottish Crofting Federation (SCF) were awarded funding for the Gaining Ground programme, which was based on the idea of Social Crofting/Care Farming, the concept of green care i.e. the promotion of social, mental and physical wellbeing through working of the land.

The project was aimed at both crofters and smallholders living in the Highland and Moray regions, some of who have expressed an interest in developing a formal network and who are looking for support on how to enter this new labour market as a diversification opportunity.

LEADER funding was used to build capacity i.e. crofters and smallholders will develop new skills allowing them to confidently consider the option of green care as part of their overall business model.

The project will achieve this with the appointment of part-time staff to manage and administer the project allowing SCF to have a conversation, provide information/signposting and connect with relevant stakeholders both face to face and via an on-line digital hub.

The project will give SCF an opportunity to scope crofters and smallholders who currently provide services and look, in detail, at their voluntary or business models. They will run events to assess current interest, provide opportunities for learning journeys, promote and disseminate information, develop relevant factsheets and consider a format for a new social crofting leadership programme. The project will be evaluated with a view to next steps and how to make the leadership programme live.

The project is funded at 100% intervention rate for a total cost of £67,822.19. Moray LEADER's contribution was £27,128.88.

The first Gaining Ground event in Moray took place at Elchies Estate in Aberlour on 22 September 2019.