Cairngorms 2030 community-led climate fund: Participatory Democracy

As part of our five-year Cairngorms 2030 programme, the Park Authority is looking to co-design a 1GBP million community-led climate fund with communities of interest and place connected to the Cairngorms National Park. We are looking for a consultant to work side-by-side with the Park Authority, partners and community representatives to guide us through the process, with a specific focus on: - Exploring a range of participatory democracy methods and selecting the method(s) that most align(s) with the needs of our target audiences, both within the Cairngorms National Park and further afield. - Taking an innovative approach to community engagement and co-design, recognising the very specific context of the Cairngorms National Park, e.g. in terms of remote, rural geography but national / international impact (6% of Scotland’s land mass, over two million visitors a year etc). - Ensuring the community-led climate fund meets our commitment to widening participation, engaging as representative a cross-section of communities with a stake in the Cairngorms National Park. This relates both to the co-design of the grant scheme, as well as the beneficiaries of the grant programme. - Optimising the time and expertise of everyone involved, particularly those from communities of interest and place. This includes a detailed exploration of all stages of the grant-making process to determine the appropriate level of community engagement at each step of the process. - Building upon over two decades of innovative public engagement and experience of supporting community led grant programmes since the National Park was designated in 2003 (see section 1.7 above). - Delivering value for money for the programme, the National Lottery Heritage Fund and – most importantly – the communities involved in the development and delivery of the fund. - Considering the potential uses and impacts of participatory democracy methods on other areas of the Cairngorms 2030 programme. - Linked to the above, considering the interaction between this process and other parallel funding streams within the Cairngorms National Park, particularly those operated by the Cairngorms Trust. Any solution should seek to reduce complexity for communities / stakeholders seeking funding from one of these sources. It should also recognise and build on current grant programmes. - The proposed solution, and the timetable for developing and implementing that solution, will need to find the right balance between aspiration and pragmatism, ensuring the GBP 1 million fund is delivered in full by the end of 2028 whilst also delivering maximum impact.