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Grants are being invited from community groups, charities and cooperatives throughout Aberdeenshire (excluding the Cairngorms area) and can fund specific activities aimed at benefitting rural communities in the region.   Applications will be assessed and approved by the Aberdeenshire Local Action Group (LAG), a cross-sector partnership which represents rural communities throughout Aberdeenshire.Grants will be targeted towards capital expenditure which can be delivered before 28th February 2026 and supports one or more of the following priorities:- An inclusive and connected Aberdeenshire – Enabling better connections within and across rural Aberdeenshire Communities - Accountable and Fair Aberdeenshire – Ensuring no one community is left behind or exposed to the devastating effects of inequality and poverty. - Sustainability of Places and Planet - Achieving a just transition to net zero through reducing emissions and regenerating the local environment 

Supports charitable projects that benefit people living in the Auchterless, Inverkeithny & Fisherford Community Council areas. It supports activity which will sustain and develop the life of the community and ensure that the area is an attractive and vibrant place to live, work and visit. It will support education, citizenship or community development, rural regeneration, civic responsibility, volunteering, culture or science, sport and other recreational activities, access to services or social activities, environmental protection or improvement, sustainable development, energy efficiency measures and sustainable transport.

Lintel Trust, Scotland's housing charity have re-opened their small grants fund. Grants of either £500 or £1,000 are available. They support projects:- tackling social isolation in housing communities- promoting digital participation for housing communities- enabling older people to remain independent and in their own home- enabling people with disabilities to live independently- assisting people moving from homelessness into a secure tenancy

Every two years, Edinburgh Airport staff select a different charity to help raise funds and awareness for their cause. They are looking to support a local charity that makes a big difference in the communities they serve day in day out.They are particularly keen to hear from charities who can support the commitment to the four pillars of the airport sustainability strategy:- Zero Carbon: charities who are fighting against climate change.- Enhancing Scotland: charities who play their part in managing environmental impacts such as waste, recycling etc.- Scotland’s Best Business: charities who support people into employment or provide wellbeing initiatives in communities.- Trusted Neighbour: charities who carry out essential and vital work in our local communities.

The trust favours organisations involved with the performing arts, particularly if children and young people are involved and also if the disabled are involved. They also favour organisations set up to further the visual arts and museums. They support small medical charities and environmental charities including support of the built environment. Funding is given under the main headings of health, education, youth work, religion and relief of poverty.

Fife Charities Trust is Fife Council’s employee charity group and operate a grants scheme on behalf of the Fife Lottery Organisation. This raises funds for charitable and community groups through the Fife Council Employee Lottery. The types of project they favour are: - Projects for the welfare and benefit of disadvantaged residents of Fife- Projects including the purchase of equipment or materials which are essential to allow an existing group to continue or extend the activities or services that group can provide to the community- The purchase of equipment or materials that will allow the group to raise additional funds for themselves- New Groups which need essential equipment to begin operating- Projects which will benefit the local environment.

The Climate Hub offers small grants to community groups for community engagement or seed funding for a community climate action project. The Fund is available to existing and emerging community groups who are members of the Highlands and Islands Climate Hub. They will prioritise projects which: - Aim to create long-term change.- Build the skills and capacity of groups or organisations and communities. - Support and encourage collaborative working across groups or organisations, communities and areas.- Encourage sustainability through reusing, recycling and upcycling goods and products. - Encourage climate action and a just transition- Mitigate climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce environmental impact- Help communities adapt to and build resilience to climate change- Protect or enhance local biodiversity through conservation and promotion

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).Funding must be drawn down by Tuesday 17 March 2026.

The AEB Charitable Trust presently makes grant to charities in support of the following:- the promotion of interests of wildlife, ecology and nature- the advancement of health, in particular, research into and treatment of Alzheimer's and the care of the confused elderly- the support of museums and galleries, music and the arts in Scotland- assistance to the infirm, the emergency services, disabled and retired members of the Armed Forces.The Trustees favour causes in the Lothian and Borders regions of Scotland and are unlikely to entertain applications which fall outside the four main areas of support.

The Shetland Local Action Group (LAG) will focus on project delivery, supporting activities that will contribute positively to local people and local priorities and helping rural communities to thrive through community-led initiatives. They understand that 60% of emission reductions to meet net zero targets needs to come from social change. Shetland communities therefore have a key role to play as part of that wider public engagement strategy and in the creation of sustainable communities. The main focus for activity will aim to support sustainable projects which can be reflected within the following four priority areas:- Helping families and services through the cost of living crises, including helping to address the drivers of child poverty- Increasing community capacity to address rural challenge- Transforming the economy to deliver net zero and- Creating sustainable public servicesThe Programme will only support projects which can be completed, with grant awarded fully claimed by 27 February 2026.