£250,000 has been made available to Scottish crofters in the latest round of the Scottish Government’s Croft House Grant Scheme.
The aim of this funding is to help crofters and their families to build their family home or make vital improvements to their croft house, safeguarding their future.
“Crofters are vitally important to our rural and island communities. They play an integral role contributing to the long-term sustainability of these often fragile areas,” Environment Minister Gillian Martin said.
“The Croft House Grant enables crofters to achieve the full potential of their crofts while generating economic success, something that I have seen firsthand on a recent visit to Argyll.
“It is also a vital source of funding for people who have aspirations to live on a croft but may struggle to afford it.”
The Croft House Grant Scheme approved over £400,000 to 15 crofters this year, eight of which are part of Scotland’s island communities.
Funding may be used for – but is not limited to – major repairs; internal improvements; rebuilding work; and energy efficiency improvements.
According to the latest data from the Register of Crofts (ROC), there were 16,785 registered crofters in Scotland in 2022.
53% of ROC survey participants made less than £10,0001 in 2022, and 38% made no income.
The average income was £4,538 and the median was calculated as £500.
One in ten crofters who had invested in their croft during the 2019-2022 period reported additional income because of the investment. The median reported additional income has fallen from £1,500 in 2018, to £1,000 in 2022.
