This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Sustainable action grants scheme extended
15/01/2004
A scheme to promote sustainableuse of resources, energy and travel has been extended
to 2007, it was announced today.
The sustainable action grants scheme will make
available £300,000 each year over the next three years
for projects which promote sustainable
development.
As well as sustainable development projects, the
grants are also available for projects
addressing environmental issues faced by local
communities.
Environment and Rural Development Minister Ross
Finnie said:
"The Executive is committed to promoting more
efficient and environmentally sensitive use of our
resources throughoutScotland. These grants are further evidence of that
commitment.
"The demand for the grants last year showed that many
bodies are keen to contribute to delivering our objectives
of sustainable development.
"I would like to see applications for national or
regional projects which put emphasis on our sustainable
development priorities of resource use, energy and
travel.
"We have already seen good examples of
original forward thinking through applications to this fund
such as BTCV (British Trust for Conservation
Volunteers)Scotlandwho are using their grant to raise awareness of
biodiversity and carry out practical improvements in
disadvantaged urban areas throughoutScotland.
"It is encouraging that we will be able to
promote more of these initiatives through the extension
of this fund and therefore further promote the
Executive's agenda on sustainable development and
environmental justice."
The Sustainable Action Fund was set up in 1996 to
fund sustainable development projects throughoutScotland. Projects which have previously benefited from
funding include recycling of computer products, developing
local food supply chains and promoting sustainable
development to small and medium enterprises. The
focus is now on national or regional projects.
In 2003-04 grant for seven projects was announced in
June 2003. Five of these extend over 3 years.
The grants offered totalled £178,997 in
2003-04, £156,975 in 2004-05 and £154,416 in 2005-06.
Further grant of £100,000 was announced in
November 2003 for five projects which could achieve
valuable outputs within 2003-04.
Applications are invited for national and regional
projects. The deadline for applications is12 March 2004
.
BTCV Scotland received£120,000 over three years in the June 2003 round of
the sustainable action grants scheme to raise awareness of
biodiversity and carry out practical improvements in
disadvantaged urban areas, building on a pilot project in
East Kilbride and Nitshill.
The full range of projects is at
www.sustainable.scotland.gov.uk.