Breaking Barriers Fund
The Highlands & Islands Climate Hub is delighted to offer its members a new funding opportunity for 2026-27. As a response to issues experienced by our Members we are very proud to launch the Breaking Barriers Fund.
Community organisations sometimes face unexpected costs that can stop a project from starting or continuing. Over the past 12 months, our members have reported unforeseen expenses such as legal fees, planning charges and licensing costs that have disrupted their projects.
On each of these occasions due to the flexibility of our funding we have been able to step in to support either by providing a small grant, assisting with negotiations with stakeholders or by offering a bridging grant.
For 2026-27 we therefore want to make that element of support the Hub can provide more official and are proud to be able to offer the Breaking Barriers Fund.
Key Information
The Breaking Barriers Fund is available for groups/projects which have hit an unexpected financial challenge which would mean the project can no longer continue. The types of costs we anticipate funding are legal or regulatory costs (planning or licensing) where no other funds can be found by the organisation or where an opportunity exists for a climate action project where a small grant would provide professional support and advice to determine if it should go ahead.
The Breaking Barriers Fund is in a pilot phase and operating it over 2026-27 will help to determine if we should expand the criteria further. Therefore if your unexpected financial challenge does not relate to legal or regulatory costs but you still require assistance to complete your climate action project please complete the form below and we will be in touch to support.
The Breaking Barriers fund is not intended to cover any staffing, training or otherwise HR costs and we cannot support with any legal costs relating to HR or staffing.
The Breaking Barriers fund is not intended to support any event or project costs. Exception to this may include for example where your project requires greater community consultation than first planned and you need to fill a financial gap to carry this out or where there is a sudden emergency and you need to continue delivery of your project while awaiting insurance claims or further grant awards.
Any support offered must be for a project relating to climate action and must fit the overall aims of the Highlands & Islands Climate Hub.
We anticipate funding costs applied for to be no more than £1,000. The aim of the funding is to bridge a gap and community organisations are requested in their application to provide evidence of their current reserves, reserves policy and indication on why reserves cannot be utilised.
All applicants for support should be a member of the Highlands & Islands Climate Hub. You can view options for membership and join here prior to submitting your application.
Examples of Past Support
Through our Climate Action Fund and discretionary funding these are examples of projects/organisations we have funded which have shaped the criteria and the need for the Breaking Barriers Fund and support from our team.
Specialist Legal Advice
Through our Climate Action Fund we were able to support a rural Highland Community Development Trust to access legal advice from a solicitor specialising in crofting law. This very specialised professional advice sought to support the organisation in making early decisions into a community buyout of a croft which had come onto the market for the purposes of supporting community growing and land management.
Licensing & Planning
In 2025–26 we helped two community groups. For one, a nature restoration project faced a potential License to Occupy; we managed stakeholders to have it waived and resolved with the Local Authority. For another planning allotments and a community garden, planners required a fee before they could receive grants. We provided a bridging loan to cover the planning application until grant funding is secured, as planning permission was a grant condition.
Service & Delivery Emergency
Due to suspected vandalism a Highland based community larder experienced a sudden emergency when fire decimated their premises. While community larders support the climate action of aiming to reduce food waste, there are wider benefits of supporting those on need of food. While insurance claims and new premises were being sorted out, the Hub was able to support with a small grant to support alternative delivery to ensure continuity of service.