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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 Pride in Place Impact Fund is a UK Government funding initiative delivered by local authorities. The fund should be used to target areas in need, with the aim of building strong, resilient, prosperous, and inclusive communities. Applications are invited for projects that will focus on one or both of the following two themes:Environmental projects that are:- Community-led- In collaboration with a local Housing Association(s)- Focussed on, or connected to, a Transformational Regeneration Area (although applications for other areas will also be considered)ORFood system projects that:- Demonstrably improve the development of sustainable provision of healthy and locally sourced food; and/or- Focus on town centres and identified food desertsInformation can be found on the webpage https://surf.scot/pride-in-place-impact-fund-2026-27-call-for-applications-from-glasgow-cc/

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

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 priorities for the Dumfries and Galloway CLLD grant funding for 2026-27 are:- Supporting community facilities and eligible organisations to contribute to the achievement of net zero.- Sustaining, improving and adding initiatives in rural communities that are most isolated, most disconnected, most in need of investment or most likely to experience inequalities.- Helping communities to address the cost-of-living crisis and eradicate poverty for individuals and families.- Enabling communities to carry out research, community needs assessments and feasibility studies as part of local place plan development.Organisations can make one application per project and there is no limit to the number of applications they can make. Applications can be made for 100% of the eligible project costs.Projects must take place between August 2026 and March 2027.

South Ayrshire’s Coastal Community Fund has been established to invest funds from the region’s allocation of net revenue from Scottish Crown Estate marine assets out to 12 nautical miles across South Ayrshire.Applications should: - demonstrate tangible benefits to the economy and/or safety, health and wellbeing of coastal communities. - demonstrate their contribution to the Council Priorities and Commitments Fund priorities are:For small grant only:- To assist with barriers to sustain the group- To develop new projects/ideas For development grant only:- deliver improvements to public places that will increase the number of visitors - make coastal communities more attractive places to live and work - demonstrate a strong link to local strategies and local place plans

Grants will support any aspect of sustainable development within communities in the Marr area. If they are related to larger schemes the grant can be used for project start-up costs or to help groups develop a project idea. The grant scheme also provides support, advice and help with the development of project aims and/or management. They have funded a wide range of projects including: transport initiatives, information directories, local communications networks, environmental improvement schemes, cultural and historical projects, and projects related to tourism.

SSE operates a wind farm at Spurness on the Orkney Isles. The SSE Spurness Community Investment Fund contributes to the communities located around the wind farm. The community fund can support projects which:- develop skills and abilities to implement projects that are important to the island’s future- support the acquisition, development and use of community assets- increase the involvement with local organisations and community activity- overcome the barriers that can prevent disadvantaged or excluded members of the community from enjoying a high quality of life, particularly young people and the elderly- involve them in caring for the environment and ensuring it is protected for future generations- strengthens the local economy through community-led entrepreneurial activity

The West Lothian Development Trust fund distributes money received from windfarm developments in West Lothian. The Trust administers five grant funds from the following Windfarms: Black Law, Pateshill, Tormywheel, Pearie Law, Harburnhead, and Cowdenhead.Projects should meet one of the following priorities; - relieve poverty, advance education or social purposes beneficial to an eligible community- promote and encourage environmental improvement or enhancement- secure investment, create employment, implement training, promote or secure sustainable development- provide or assist in the provision of renewable energy.

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.