In Scotland? Funding available for trail projects!

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If you’re in Scotland there’s grant funding available to help you get trail projects off the ground, or support existing ones. If you’re elsewhere in the UK, feel that salt being rubbed into that open wound of restricted access, and then get yourself to one of the UK Trails Project workshops to help do something about it!

Here’s the official PR from Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland:

Thanks to the kind donations from the Scottish mountain bike community, the trustees of the Scottish Cycling Foundation (SCF) and Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland (DMBinS) are now able to open applications for grants to help support trails associations, local groups, and communities who are keen to improve their trail networks.

As the Scottish Trail Fund is currently building its resources, it is likely that the grants will not be for large scale-capital projects (such as mountain bike trail centres and pump tracks). It is expected to support groups to be able to develop their trails by helping to get landowner approval, insurance, DIRTT (Developing Inter-European Resources for Trail Building Training) training courses, tools, materials, or studies.

What is the Scottish Trail Fund?

Scottish Trail Fund seeks to:
-Protect and enhance our natural environment
-Develop and maintain an accessible & varied trail network

What does the Scottish Trail fund do?

-Funds volunteer trail building courses – creating leaders to run trail building sessions from Trails Associations across Scotland
-Supports and develops the strategic case for increased investment into the Scottish trail network
-Funds trail development feasibility study projects to be ‘shovel-ready’ for capital investment
-Matches donations with at least 50% from public and private sector sources to grow the trail network in Scotland

Kathy Gilchrist, Trustee of the SCF, said:

“We are delighted to now open the fund for applications from trails associations, local groups and communities across Scotland. This is precisely why we set up a charitable foundation to be able to provide different sources of income leading to improvements for cyclists across Scotland. We are excited about seeing the different applications coming in for the fund and thank all the groups for their work and passion in improving trails across the country.”

The Scottish Trail Fund and the grant making process will be administered and supported by the staff of Scottish Cycling and DMBinS who will make recommendations to the trustees of the Scottish Cycling Foundation (OSCR NO. SC051130) for approval.

Graeme McLean, Head of DMBinS, said:

“We know the impact that trails associations and groups are making to the trails across Scotland. We believe that the Scottish Trail Fund can play a large part in helping groups set up, gain landowner approval, and help build the practical resources that will help build and maintain a trail network across Scotland.

If you can, please consider donating to the fund so we can help build this fund now and into the future.”

For more information on the Scottish Trail Fund and how to apply visit DMBinS.

https://singletrackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/uk-trails-project-launches-right-trails-right-places/

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Hannah Dobson

Managing Editor

I came to Singletrack having decided there must be more to life than meetings. I like all bikes, but especially unusual ones. More than bikes, I like what bikes do. I think that they link people and places; that cycling creates a connection between us and our environment; bikes create communities; deliver freedom; bring joy; and improve fitness. They're environmentally friendly and create friendly environments. I try to write about all these things in the hope that others might discover the joy of bikes too.

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