Sport and leisure

Thirty tourism businesses, social enterprises and community groups have been supported to help the South of Scotland become one of the leading cycling destinations in the world.

The £300,000 South of Scotland Cycling Infrastructure Fund provided capital grants of £3,000 to £25,000 to the organisations who own visitor facing assets to invest in their cycling facilities.

If you are seeking to get a job in land-based sectors, then the Lantra Scotland website is an invaluable source of information and support.

Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon has confirmed an extended consultation period for people to have their say on whether Galloway should be designated a National Park.

Tasgadh is a fund devolved from Creative Scotland, managed by Fèisean nan Gàidheal and open to organisations and individuals.

It is designed to provide support for traditional artists and organisations to create, perform, tour and showcase work. The fund can also support professional development and learning projects. Tasgadh cannot support the purchase of equipment, nor can the fund be used to match other Creative Scotland funds.

Well-known farmer-comedian Jim Smith and popular local musicians, Peter Morrison and Seamus MacLennan, will take to the stage on Skye this December, for an unforgettable night of music and laughter.

The event - aimed at Skye farmers and crofters – is the first of a planned island #KeepTalking tour this winter in partnership with Scottish agricultural support charity RSABI. 

New funding for critical infrastructure projects that will help boost employment, empower communities and ensure a sustainable future for Scotland's island communities has been announced by First Minister John Swinney.

Details of how the Scottish Government will deliver their priorities over the lifetime of the National Islands Plan have been published in a route map.

It identifies the methods to monitor progress towards fulfilling the many commitments in the Plan and sets out timescales for delivery of our work.

The newly refurbished Carloway Community Centre was officially opened last week (29th of August) by Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal, who joined Iain Macaulay, Lord-Lieutenant of the Western Isles, for a tour of the upgraded facilities on the Isle of Lewis.

NatureScot has published an evaluation of the Improving Public Access (IPA) scheme.

The aim of the scheme was to improve links and connectivity, path conditions and barrier-free access in rural Scotland, alongside the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) and as part of Scotland’s Rural Development Programme (SRDP).