Search

The Community Led Local Development Fund is an annual grant fund dedicated to improving life for people living in the Scottish Borders. The fund has been running for over 20 years. Themes funded vary each year but always include looking projects related to social and environmental issues.The fund offers grants for projects that are centred around tackling at least one of the following themes:- Net-Zero- Poverty Alleviation- Improved Public Services and Tackling ExclusionAll grants must be spent by 28 February 2027.The decision making panel (Local Action Group) is made up of local residents and organisations and membership is open to all.The LAG particularly encourages applications that advance Net Zero ambitions, support skills development and apprenticeships, strengthen leadership capability, foster partnership working, or deliver mentoring initiatives.

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.

The Argyll and the Islands Community Led Local Development (CLLD) Fund has been provided by the Scottish Government's CLLD programme. The delivery will be overseen by the Argyll and the Islands Local Action Group (LAG) and will be administered by Argyll and Bute Council as the Accountable Body. Projects must demonstrate that activity will advance inclusion, equality, and diversity, and support one or more of the main fund priorities for 2026/27 which are: - Eradicating child poverty - Growing the economy- Tackling the climate emergency- Improving public services Projects must be for additional activity which your organisation is not already doing. This cannot be to fund the core costs of our organisation to meet its day-to-day objectives. Routine work should not be repackaged and presented as a project.

The Fund is provided by Barrhill Community Interest Company using funds from the Kilgallioch Community Benefit Company and ScottishPower Renewables Mark Hill wind farm. The fund will support positive change by investing in a wide range of inspirational, community-led activity that is strategic, positive and creative and helps create a legacy of lasting impact. The fund will do this by making grants to support the costs of relevant projects, services and facilities.The Fund also makes bursaries to individuals for education and training.

The Auchrobert Wind Farm Community Fund supports community projects benefitting those living in Blackwood and Kirkmuirhill and Boghead. The fund is provided by Nadara, the owners of Auchrobert Wind Farm in South Lanarkshire. The fund provides grants to support a wide range of community activity and development that are broadly charitable. All projects must clearly be benefitting those who live within the area of benefit.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 more.

This fund supports projects located within or directly benefiting West Barns, Dunbar and East Lammermuir Community Council areas in East Lothian, and the Cockburnspath & Cove Community Council area in the Borders.The Community Benefit Fund will support local communities to deliver social, environmental and economic benefits by funding projects aligned with the following themes:- Financial resilience and educational inclusion- Employability support and skills development- Social and digital inclusion, health and wellbeing, and active lifestyles- Community facilities, spaces and buildings- Green spaces and access to the natural environment- Sustainable and inclusive transport

Applications are now open for community groups, organisations or individuals to apply for grants to support one-off or existing projects.- Housing, economic growth and population - Transport, Infrastructure and Digital Connectivity - Environment - Sustainable Service Delivery - Speaking up for Argyll and Bute, it’s people and its communitiesThis funding is for one year only and is allocated for the 2026/2027 financial year.Applications should be aligned with the Council Priorities:- Empowered and resilient communities- Making Argyll and Bute an attractive choice for families - Housing, economic growth and population - Transport, Infrastructure and Digital Connectivity - Environment - Sustainable Service Delivery - Speaking up for Argyll and Bute, it’s people and its communities

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.

Dumfries and Galloway Council has established the Regionwide Community Fund, which is a source of funding open for applications from community groups and projects anywhere in the region.The Fund was launched in 2019 to distribute funding contributed at the discretion of windfarms in the region. It is a source of funding to support applications aimed at: -Fund priorities:-Skills Development-Community-Environment-Culture & Heritage-Community Led Tourism-Affordable Housing-Community Transport-Digital Connectivity-Poverty & Inequalities-Working Towards Net Zero (climate)- Cost of livingThe Fund encourages applicants to support fair work standards where applicable

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.