Ayrshire Rural and Islands Ambition (ARIA) Fund
The Ayrshire Rural and Islands Ambition (ARIA) Fund is part of the Scottish Government's Community Led Local Development (CLLD) programme. It is led by the ARIA Local Action Group (LAG), a group of representatives from the local area so its decision making is bottom up. It is administered by South Ayrshire Council.
The ARIA fund is now open for expressions of interest.
ARIA Community Asset Maintenance Fund
Eligible Area
Rural Ayrshire & the islands of Arran & Cumbrae, defined in the eligible area map. Potential applicants should use the finder tool in the top right of the map to check for project eligibility. Organisations do not have to fall in the eligible area if their project does.
Indicative Key Dates
| Main Fund | Community Asset Maintenance Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Expressions for Interest Open | 21st May 2025 | 21st May 2025 |
| Expressions for Interest Close | 11th June 2025 | 11th June 2025 |
Closing Date for Applications | Midnight, 25th July 2025 | Midnight, 25th July 2025 |
Decision Dates | Mid September 2025 | Mid September 2025 |
Grant Award Letters Issued* | Mid September 2025* | Mid September 2025* |
Projects completion, including claims | 28th February 2026 | 28th February 2026 |
*Spend should therefore not be planned for before start October 2025.
Below are the guidance notes for both funds:
ARIA Case Studies
ARIA has helped numerous organisations deliver projects for rural & islands Ayrshire. Please see case studies below.
| Blackwaterfoot Bakehouse Case Study (PDF, 1 MB) | |
ARIA Fund Foundation Documents
ARIA Fund LAG Meetings
The ARIA Fund LAG meets on a regular basis. The minutes for the meetings are available below.
- ARIA Fund LAG Meeting 20th January 2025 (PDF, 470 KB)
- ARIA Fund LAG Meeting 2nd October 2024 (PDF, 160 KB)
- ARIA Fund LAG Meeting 3rd and 4th September 2024 (PDF, 494 KB)
- ARIA Fund LAG Meeting 15th May 2024 (PDF, 285 KB)
- ARIA FUND LAG Meeting 7th February 2024 (PDF, 320 KB)
- ARIA Fund LAG Meeting 15th November 2023 (PDF, 296 KB)
- ARIA Fund LAG Meeting 28th/29th September 2023 (PDF, 863 KB)
- ARIA Fund LAG Meeting 16th August 2023 (PDF, 224 KB)
- ARIA Fund LAG Meeting 10th May 2023 (PDF, 326 KB)
- ARIA Fund LAG Meeting 22nd March 2023 (PDF, 180 KB)
- ARIA Fund LAG Meeting 7th February 2023 (PDF, 216 KB)
- ARIA Fund LAG Meeting 2nd November 2022 (PDF, 233 KB)
- ARIA Fund LAG Meeting 5th October 2022 (PDF, 135 KB)
- ARIA Fund LAG Meeting 24th August 2022 (PDF, 132 KB)
- ARIA Fund LAG Meeting 24th August 2022 (PDF, 126 KB)
ARIA Fund Privacy Policy
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