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Supporting Scotland's vibrant voluntary sector

Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations is the membership organisation for Scotland's charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises. Charity registered in Scotland SC003558. Registered office Caledonian Exchange, 19A Canning Street, Edinburgh EH3 8EG.

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From January, community organisations based near eligible electricity transmission infrastructure projects will be able to apply for local and grassroots grants to deliver initiatives supporting local communities. If your community is based within one of the eligible areas, you will be able to apply for upskilling events and tailored sorkshops that can help your community build capacity and explore bespoke solutions to local challenges.Applicants will be asked to align their projects with at least one of the following themes:- Strengthening financial resilience and educational inclusion- Supporting employability and skills development- Promoting wellbeing, active lifestyles, social and digital inclusion- Improving community spaces and buildings- Enhancing green spaces and access to nature- Sustainable and inclusive transport

https://funding.scot/funds/a0RP10000083HMHMA2/sp-energy-networks-community-benefit-funding-programme

The association exists to provide funding for projects or activities run by individuals or groups for the benefit of people in or linked to Leith.The Trust aims to support the following objectives in Leith and the surrounding area:- The relief of those in need by reason of age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage- The advancement of citizenship or community development- The advancement of environmental protection or improvement- The advancement of education- The provision of recreational facilities with the object of improving the conditions of life for the persons for whom the facilities or activities are primarily intendedPrevious grantees cover a range of areas and include Citadel Arts Group, North Edinburgh Dementia Care, Pilmeny Youth Project and Penumbra.

https://funding.scot/funds/a0Rb0000000Ng72EAC/leith-benevolent-association

The Community Fund was established to ensure local communities benefit from Edinburgh Airport activities. It provides financial support to community groups and charities that are committed to improving the opportunities, facilities and services available to local people.The fund will consider applications from Edinburgh, Falkirk, the Lothians and Fife. Priority will be given to applications which reflect the four pillars of the airport’s Greater Good sustainability strategy - Zero Carbon, Enhancing Scotland, Scotland’s Best Business and Trusted Neighbour.Initiatives could include: - The mitigation against and reduction of the effects of a changing climate.- The reduction of local, negative environmental impacts.- Supporting local biodiversity, rewilding, and/or restoration of the natural world.- The enhancement of local business, community groups and long-term sustainable partnerships in the airport’s surrounding area.- Improving healthy working lives and increase upskilling and employment opportunities for the socially isolated, economically deprived, and/or otherwise disadvantaged persons.- Improving care, expanding opportunity, providing shelter, and enabling rehabilitation of vulnerable groups in the community.- Providing urgent, targeted, local support during the cost-of-living crisis.

https://funding.scot/funds/a0Rb0000003i0QfEAI/edinburgh-airport-community-fund

Local Place Plans offer communities the chance to shape their local area.These are community-led plans that focus on the existing and future use of land and set out proposals for potential developments in the community.A Local Place Plan might consider:- improvements in town and local centres- local initiatives to promote active travel or community food-growing- conservation of the natural and built environments- sites or areas of land which could help - tackle climate-change (such as renewable energy, flood mitigation, or tree planting)- sites for housing development (including affordable housing and housing for particular needs or groups), local employment, or new tourism and community facilities- retaining, improving, and expanding open space, green and blue infrastructure (such as footpaths, water networks, and drainage or flooding measures), and play facilities.Once completed and registered by the planning authority, Local Place Plans will be considered when the Council is preparing a new Local Development Plan.Communities can prepare Local Place Plans at any time but must submit their plan by 31 March 2026 if you would like it to be considered in the preparation of Renfrewshire's new Local Development Plan.The fund can cover costs including:- research- community consultation- professional services, such as planning consultants or graphical support- website or document productionvenue hire.

https://funding.scot/funds/a0RP1000007EMsfMAG/renfrewshire-council-local-place-plan-fund

North Ayrshire's Participatory Budgeting scheme is aimed to provide funding for a group or project to undertake activities that make a difference across three themes: Youth, Locality, and Community Wealth Building. The specific criteria vary for each theme, see Council website for details.Each year, a Participatory Budgeting Event is held in each locality:- Arran - Garnock Valley - Irvine - Kilwinning - North Coast and Cumbraes- Three TownsLocal residents are invited to decide which projects to fund from a short list of applications made by local individuals and groups. They vote for the projects that they believe will most benefit their community and support their local priorities.

https://funding.scot/funds/a0R0N00000VHtKeUAL/north-ayrshire-council-participatory-budgeting

The Green Community Grants Programme offers one-year flexible funding for not-for-profit groups in England, Scotland and Wales with an annual income between £10,000 and £1 million.Your organisation's main aims and objectives must fit with one of the two funding themes: - Contributing to nature recovery and responding to the climate emergency- Improving nature-rich spaces and access to themWhilst your organisational aims and objectives should fit one of these two themes, funding can also be used for a wider range of sustainable activities, including recycling, litter picking, beach cleans or sustainable transport.

https://funding.scot/funds/a0RP1000007mRBZMA2/the-wildlife-trusts-green-community-grants

This Fund supports charitable activities or services that benefit people living in the Community Council area of Halkirk & District in Caithness. Projects must meet one of the following purposes:- community facilities- skills and employment- community or local events- sport and recreation- environmental improvements- youth and education- heritage- net zero / emissions reduction- initiativesand/or such other purpose as has first been approved in writing by ScottishPower RenewablesApplications which do not clearly fit with these outcomes but which can show strong community support and evidence of need may be considered where funds allow.Applications should also consider local consultation and procurement, partnership working, and sustainable development.

https://funding.scot/funds/a0RP1000005NO0LMAW/foundation-scotland-halsary-windfarm-community-benefit-fund-halkirk-district-

Edinburgh Community Solar Co-operative raises capital from the public to place solar panel installations on City of Edinburgh Council buildings (schools, leisure centres and other council owned buildings). As well as paying annual returns to investors, they allocate part of their profits to community causes that benefit the people of Edinburgh.Grants are now available for community-focused organisations in Edinburgh that wish to:- install small-scale solar panels to their premises (strand 1)- purchase equipment (strand 2)- provide additional activities (strand 2)- provide education to reduce carbon (strand 2)- make environmental improvements to their buildings (strand 2)You can download the [guidance for applicants](https://www.edinburghsolar.coop/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ECSC-Communtiy-Benefit-2026-grants-text-for-ECSC-website-FINAL-VERSION.pdf) and an application form from their website.

https://funding.scot/funds/a0R3z00000OEEZOEA5/edinburgh-community-solar-cooperative-community-fund

SSE's network in the north of Scotland will play a leading role in the clean energy transition, connecting and transporting renewable electricity from wind, hydro and marine generation. SSE's Community Benefit Fund will allow a share of the benefits to go directly to those communities hosting this new infrastructure. It aims to kickstart impactful projects or initiatives that will bring meaningful benefits to communities.The fund has two streams:Regional: for projects benefiting communities located within the SSEN Transmission network area. Any successful application must meet one or more of the following themes:- People: Focusing on skills, training and employability; - Place: Emphasising the community and culture of the north of Scotland;- Alleviating fuel poverty: Looking at strategic ways to help people across the region.Local: for projects benefiting communities situated close to SSE infrastructure.

https://funding.scot/funds/a0RP1000005U4heMAC/ssen-transmission-community-benefit-fund

The fund is predominantly for projects which will take place on the South Uist Estate area (i.e. Eriskay, South Uist or Benbecula) that demonstrate sustainable benefit to the SnBM membership and the wider community.The main outcomes for projects include:- Generate a sustainable local economic impact- Support social wellbeing within the community (through activities that promote healthy living, social cohesion and the sustainability of local amenities and traditions).- Enhance the cultural heritage of the local Community- Develop the Visitor experience of the local community- Provide opportunity for employment, training or skills development- Support the sustainable development of land management practices- Develop the natural heritage of the local community- Address Climate Change

https://funding.scot/funds/a0Rb0000007XnyvEAC/sealladh-na-beinne-m-ire-community-fund

SCVO
Funding Scotland
TFN