Community groups, charities and third sector organisations, in Scotland, can apply for between £10,000 and £100,000 for path management projects that improve the accessibility and resilience of existing paths between homes, community services, active travel routes and public transport facilities or connections.

Activities supported could include the removal of barriers, steps, ramps or vegetation; linking community destinations by filling in path connectivity gaps; tackling flooded sections of paths to increase climate change resilience; and adding lighting to make paths safer, especially at night or in winter.

These are all measures that make paths across Scotland more attractive and enjoyable to use by people of all ages and abilities.

The £1.5 million Ian Findlay Path Fund was first announced in March as part of the Co-operation Agreement where the Scottish Government is investing a record sum of £150 million for active travel in 2022/23 and have committed to investing at least £320 million or 10% of the transport budget for active travel by 2024-25.

The fund is supported by Transport Scotland and was officially launched by Patrick Harvie, Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights at a recent event in Castlemilk Park, Glasgow.

The Ian Findlay Path Fund is named after the former Chief Officer of Paths for All, who passed away in 2021. It is an ongoing funding programme with no closing date, and you can find out how to apply on the Paths for All website: https://www.pathsforall.org.uk/ian-findlay-path-fund