How to Apply
Application to this grant will be a two-stage process, expressions of interest will be open from 20 February 2026 to 2 April 2026 after which selected submissions will be invited to proceed to full application.
- View full application guidance
- Submit your expression of interest
- View a copy of the EOI form
We recommend looking at the form and considering your answers prior to completion of the online form as this cannot be saved and returned to once you have started.
As part of your application you will be asked to provide us with information and agree to our CLLD Fund Privacy Notice.
Should you wish to talk to us about your project, you can contact us on CLLD@argyll-bute.gov.uk or 01546 604 824.
The closing date for expressions of interest is 2 April 2026
Things to note
In 2025/26, the Argyll and the Islands CLLD received 76 expressions of interest. Of these 39 proceeded to full application with 12 projects awarded funding. This represents a 15% success rate from EOI stage. This year we expect to take fewer applications forward to full application. Our aim is to fund around 75% of those applications taken forward.
Most common reasons why EOIs are not successful
- They are for capital projects, not revenue. The fund is for revenue projects only.
- They are for core costs, not additional activity. Funding needs to be for discrete projects with a clear beginning middle and end, that will finish by 28 February 2027
- Organisations are looking for funding for existing activity and have tried to design a project to fit the funding criteria.
- It is not clear what money will be spent on.
- Projects don’t clearly articulate how they meet the priorities. Try to explain in the most direct and simple way how your project will address the priorities.
- The project is replicating existing activity or appears to compete with other organisations. The best projects are collaborative and work together with partners.
- The proposed project appears unrealistic in terms of the timeframe and funding requested.
