The Macaulay Institute in Aberdeen is looking for new proposals for funding support to projects related to crofting and other land-based enterprises on Lewis. The Lewis Endowment Fund was set up over 75 years ago through an endowment from Dr T.B. Macaulay of the Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, which also led to the creation of the Macaulay Institute itself. As the highly successful son of a Lewis family, Dr Macaulay wanted to return something to his native land.

Dr Richard Birnie, who is managing the Fund on behalf of the Macaulay Institute, said that “the Fund can provide about £5000 a year to projects that will directly or indirectly benefit crofting or other land-based enterprises on Lewis. We are really looking for proposals that will help secure the viability of existing, successful initiatives or add value to new ones, which could include novel ideas that might be considered too far ?out of the box? by other funding agencies! I think that Dr Macaulay would get a lot of satisfaction from this approach, since it mirrors his own highly successful business career in Canada.”

Whilst the Fund has been in existence for a long time, the Macaulay Institute are keen to improve its effectiveness. They are working in collaboration with the Crofters Commission and the Scottish Crofting Foundation to simplify the application procedure, improve its targeting, and to ensure that the Fund supports other initiatives wherever possible. Prof. Maggie Gill, the Chief Executive of the Macaulay Institute said that since the Fund is relatively small, we chose to work with the Crofters Commission and the Scottish Crofting Foundation to make a bigger difference than working on our own, and we are very grateful for their very positive support. David Green, Chairman of the Crofters Commission said we are happy to work with the Macaulay Institute and the Scottish Crofting Foundation to help achieve the most effective use of this funding. Crofting in Lewis just as in other areas faces key challenges at this time and the support this Fund offers to look for local solutions to land use issues is both welcome and timely.

SCF Director Neil MacLeod said that “over the years Macaulay funding has been essential to agriculture, providing very useful research. What is probably less well known is that part of it is specific to the Isle of Lewis. The Macaulay legacy to the island over many years cannot be overstated. We in the Scottish Crofting Foundation are happy to be involved in allocation of this funding which can help augment existing schemes. As never before, with changes taking place in crofting and the advent of the Single Farm Payment, innovation will be key. Having access to this fund could be very beneficial.”

Anybody interested in finding out more about the Lewis Endowment Fund, and how to apply for funding, should contact Dr Birnie at the Macaulay Institute in Aberdeen (r.birnie@macaulay.ac.uk). The application procedure has been kept as straightforward as possible. Anybody wishing to apply for funding is invited to write a letter or an expression of interest by the 31st October. After this date, a short list of potential projects will be drawn up and those applicants on the short list will be invited to provide a more detailed proposal. Successful applicants will be informed by the 31st December.