Rural Champion
Apply for the new Rural Champion prize as part of the Scottish Land and Estates Helping it Happen Awards
A new prize is now available for someone who has made a significant, lasting impact on their rural community in Scotland.
The Royal Countryside Fund is delighted to be collaborating with Scottish Land & Estates in 2026 on the ‘Helping It Happen Awards’, which are now in their tenth year.
Run by Scottish Land & Estates the awards shine a light on the people, businesses and community projects powering rural Scotland.
The awards are open to all – from farms and estates to rural businesses, charities and community groups – with no requirement to be a member of Scottish Land & Estates.
To mark the landmark year, a major new Rural Champion Award has been unveiled – with a £10,000 prize awarded to the Rural Champion’s community organisation, courtesy of The Royal Countryside Fund.
The Rural Champion award will recognise an individual who has gone above and beyond, making a significant, lasting impact on their rural community in Scotland.
To be eligible for this award:
- The individual, or their organisation, must be based in Scotland
- The individual, or their organisation, needs to have been nominated for one of the other 2026 Scottish Land & Estates ‘Helping it Happen’ award categories. You can apply for the other Helping it Happen awards here.
- The nominee must be working with a rural community organisation that meets RCF’s funding criteria (please see this below)
Nominations for the Rural Champion award are now open, using the form below.
Applications close on 30th June. Winners will be announced at a gala ceremony this autumn.