National Trust for Scotland properties have missed out on a slice of a £300,000 funding windfall.
The trust’s submission for £100,000 of the People’s Postcode Lottery Dream Fund to carry out work to improve energy efficiency in its properties was one of six projects that made it to the final.
It missed out, however, with funding instead going to proposals for a community allotment in Edinburgh, plans to get the capital’s commuters on their bikes and two Highland initiatives to tackle climate change.
The National Trust for Scotland had teamed with Historic Scotland in their bid.
The cash would have allowed volunteers to gather energy efficiency information and lead to the development of a tool-kit of improvement measures appropriate to the traditional built environment.
This project was one of more than 90 applications vying for a share of the first round of funding, which called for Scottish charities and community groups to work together in delivering new projects.PitchIt, and the other five shortlisted projects in the final, were invited to pitch their plans to a panel of judges that included former BBC transport and environment correspondent Louise Batchelor and Donald Anderson, director of communications consultancy PPS Scotland.
It was originally proposed three finalists would be given funding, but such was the calibre of entrants that four innovative ideas were given the money needed to make their projects reality.
The Bike Station, with Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust’s creation of a London Underground-style map of the 70 miles of off-street cycle ways and paths, was given £98,100.
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, with Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society, was given £65,200 to work on its community-focused project aimed at promoting growing and eating healthy food.
Climate Change Adaption and Developing Livelihoods was awarded £100,000 to help tackle the climate change that is so heavily impacting the coast of South Uist.
Kingussie Community Development Company with Kingussie Community Council was presented with £65,386 for its micro hydro project to restore a 90-year-old scheme on the river Gynack.