National Lottery Grants for Heritage  

Fit for the Future

Applicant: John Rae Society

Project description: To transform the The John Rae Society from a passion project to a professional and resilient organisation, capable of delivering and running a capital project of international interest that engages audiences with the Hall of Clestrain and famous Scottish Arctic explorer John Rae who was born there.

Decision: Award grant of £248,600 (100% of total costs)

Gillies Hill Woodland

Applicant: Cambusbarron Community Development Trust

Project description: To bring back into use an historic walled garden and curling ponds within the Gillies Hill woodland, enabling improved access, increased volunteer engagement and opportunities to grow more fruit and vegetables for the local community.

Decision: Reject

The conservation of the B listed Boleskine House

Applicant: The Boleskine House Foundation SCIO

Project description: To establish a pioneering community and nature hub at Boleskine House, through biodiversity enhancement, mental health support and environmental sustainability, thereby making a difference in the lives of those involved and the local community.

Decision: Award grant of £250,000 (28% of total costs)

SWI Heritage Project – Preserving the Past to Inspire the Future

Applicant: Scottish Women's Institutes

Project description: To preserve and celebrate the Scottish Women's Institutes' role in Scotland and highlight the role of women in rural communities since 1917.

Decision:  Reject

Enterprising Heritage project

Applicant: YMCA Tayside

Project description: To connect new people, young and old, to their physical and community heritage, educating them and allowing them to consider ways in which they can participate and be more engaged in their heritage.

Decision: Reject

Art of Family Life

Applicant: Mental Health Foundation

Project description: To support the building of community cohesion and integration within refugee communities, through sharing their diverse cultural heritage.

Decision: Award grant of £146,932 (97% of total costs)

Coordinating and Leading the Annual Jacobite Festival from 2024 onwards

Applicant: Battle of Prestonpans (1745) Heritage Trust

Project description: To increase awareness of, access to, and engagement with, the nation’s Jacobite heritage by co-ordinating and leading a consortium of independent Jacobite heritage 'locations' across the nation.

Decision: Reject

Connect Outdoors

Applicant: Mhor Outdoor Ltd

Project description: To introduce new people from under-represented communities to wild places through sustainable, educational and empowering outdoor activity that inspires long-term engagement and care for natural heritage.

Decision: Award grant of £132,350 (60%)

Social Justice Trail at Inverness Castle

Applicant: High Life Highland

Project description: To explain the history and significance of Inverness Castle and prison with a particular focus on the site of the prison.

Decision: Reject

Life is Good in Scotland

Applicant: Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council Limited

Project description: To provide primarily ethnic minority and refugee communities in Edinburgh with events and tours to learn about Scottish heritage, giving them the opportunity to learn more about their new home and potentially to even find a new career path in preserving Scottish heritage.

Decision: Reject

Killean, Kilchenzie and Kilkivan Churches Conservation Project Phase 1 Emergency Works

Applicant: Killean and Kilchenzie Churches Preservation Association

Project description: To create a Medieval Kintyre Trail, focusing on three ruined medieval churches in Kintyre – Killean, Kilchenzie and Kilkivan – to educate and promote Kintyre history, as well as provide a tourist attraction.

Decision: Award grant of £10,685 (24% of total costs)

Sustainable Heritage for National Mining Museum Scotland: Phase One

Applicant: National Mining Museum Scotland Trust

Project description: The first phase of a wider master plan that aims to address the sustainability and resilience of NMMS.

Decision: Award grant of £249,999 (89% of total costs)

HMS Unicorn – celebrating 200 years; building resilience for 200 more!

Applicant: The Unicorn Preservation Society

Project description: To deliver a programme of Bicentenary celebrations to launch a major campaign to support future work, which will secure HMS Unicorn for her next 200 years in Dundee.

Decision: Award grant of £221,860 (92% of total costs)

Grant Increase

Calanais 2025

Applicant: Urras nan Tursachan

Project description: A grant percentage increase is requested due to overall budget changes following the completion of a value engineering exercise for capital works.

Decision: Agree change in grant percentage from 27.36% to 29.15%