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The Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) supports communities to engage with, participate in and benefit from the energy transition to net zero emissions. CARES can support a wide range of projects including installing renewable technologies in community buildings, community benefits and shared ownership. The CARES Development Fund is designed to help communities take that first step on their community energy journey. First steps include:- Raising awareness of your energy project idea.- Completing an options appraisal to understand the types of projects you might carry out.- Completing a first step feasibility study to see if your idea might work.- Funding for some staff time to progress your idea.To be eligible for this fund you should be at an early stage in developing your own community energy project or have an opportunity to investigate shared ownership of a commercially owned renewable energy project. This fund is all about getting started for either community-owned renewable energy projects or investigating shared ownership (where community groups make an investment in a commercially owned renewable energy project).

The W. G Edwards Charitable Foundation is an independent grant-making charity which assists with the provision of care for the over-65s. The Foundation makes small grants to improve the health and wellbeing of people over the age of 65 in the UK. This could be assistance towards a capital project such as refurbishment, furniture or equipment; or towards an innovative project such as fitness classes, lunch clubs, gardening projects, etc.The Foundation only supports items or projects where at least 90% of the beneficiaries are over the age of 65.

The Blackridge Community Fund is a charitable fund to benefit those living in the Blackridge community council area. It supports community groups and charities working in the Blackridge area that:- Enhance the quality of life for local residents.- Contribute to vibrant, healthy, successful and sustainable communities.- Promote community spirit and encourage community activity.Grants may support a wide range of costs, such as equipment, staff or sessional workers, consultations, running costs for local groups, maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities, and so on.

The fund provides grants to support charitable activities in Avonbridge and Standburn that:- Enhance quality of life for local residents.- Contribute to vibrant, healthy, successful and sustainable communities.- Promote community spirit and encourage community activity.Grants may support a wide range of costs, for example the costs of equipment, staff or sessional workers, consultations, running costs for local groups, maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities, and so on.

The Private Lane Improvement Fund's purpose is to:- create opportunities for groups and organisations to carry out initiatives which improve the environmental quality of residential lanes throughout the city.- enhance the local environment through short, medium or long term sustainable initiatives to their lane.- have a positive impact on the appearance of the area, reduce/improve associated issues (D3) to increase positive usage by residents.- engage and involve local people in making a difference in their neighbourhood.The Private Lane Improvement Fund has key priority areas it will focus on, these are:- Environmental Improvements to residential lanes- Initiatives to reduce associated issues or make improvements within residential lanes such as:- Fly Tipping - Trees/Vegetation- Lane Surface Water/Drainage Issues - Antisocial Behaviour - Food growing - Enhanced biodiversity All awards must be spent within 6 months of award.

The Community Intervention Fund is a capital grant scheme that aims to support community groups/organisations throughout East Lothian with a grant towards the cost of a capital project. They want to give capital grants to projects that continue to support the delivery of the Council Plan which aims to:- Grow our Economy- Grow our People- Grow our Communities- Grow our CapacityEligible expenditure must meet the definition of qualifying capital expenditure, and be demonstrated to enhance the asset value. Examples of eligible capital expenditure include:- improving the fabric of a building- improving access to a building- extensions to a building- removing hazardous materials as part of a set of works- structural repairs- putting in fixed items of equipment (e.g. floodlights)- carrying out improvements to a public space.

The Blacklaw Windfarm Community Benefit Fund is open to communities living closest to the windfarm development through a community and environmental grants scheme. The Fund provides funding through three different grant schemes: a community grant scheme, a small grants programme and main grants scheme.Community grants aims are:- Provide or improve a public green space- Encourage positive use in public green spaces- Remove litter and waste from public green spaces- Provide or improve biodiversity in public spaces- Encourage environmental education and engagementSmall grants aims are:- Provide or improve a park or other public amenity for leisure or recreational purposes- Conserve biodiversity at a specific site- Maintain, repair or restore a place of worship or building of historical or architectural significance- Improve energy efficiency- Reduce fuel povertyMain grants aims are:- Remediate contaminated land or water- Reduce or mitigate the effects of pollution- Provide or improve a park or other public amenity for leisure or recreational purposes- Conserve biodiversity at a specific site- Maintain, repair or restore a place of worship or building of historical or architectural significance

Projects requiring funding from the Local Community Planning Budget should meet some of the priorities of your local area’s community plan Local Community Plans.The types of projects that can be supported are: - Take a pride in your community- Improvements to community facilities- Community Events; Employability Initiatives- Vulnerable or disadvantaged groups in a community- Links to Fairer Fife Commission Initiatives

For Bute runs a charity thrift shop to raise funds to support local groups and individuals in Bute. It supports a wide variety of causes.

The Inverclyde Windfarm Fund is a 10-year grant scheme partnership between Inverclyde Renewables LLP and Inverclyde Community Fund. It provides grants for community groups and voluntary organisations to progress projects within their local communities. The Fund must be used to provide funding or grants to projects which support and promote at least one of the following causes:- Environmental- Renewable Energy- Energy Efficiency- Sustainable Development- Charitable- Educational- Community- Sport and Recreation- General community amenity schemes