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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.

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

The Fund is provided by Lairg Wind Farm Ltd, the operator of the Lairg Wind Farm - the three turbine site at Cnoc Na Inghinnin to benefit the Lairg Community Council area. The Fund will provide grants to support charitable activities that:- Enhance quality of life for local residents- Contribute to vibrant, healthy, successful and sustainable communities, and- Promote community spirit and encourage community activity. Grants may be requested to support a wide range of costs and activities, such as equipment costs, running costs for local groups, staff or sessional workers costs, consultations, maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities.Awards will be prioritised that can demonstrate significant added value through, by example:- Levering in additional funding from other sources. - Working in partnership with other groups and organisations to scale up projects and increase opportunities.- Projects that have reach beyond one particular group or demographic that have potential to benefit the whole community.

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.

Funding for community groups supporting people living with dementia and their unpaid carers.Age Scotland, supported by funding from the Scottish Government, is offering grants to community-based organisations across Scotland that support people living with dementia and their unpaid carers. This funding is for activities and programmes taking place 1 April 2027 - 31 March 2028.The fund aims to:- Strengthen the resilience and sustainability of community-based dementia support.- Help people living with dementia and unpaid carers stay connected to their communities.- Improve health, wellbeing and quality of life.- Support local organisations to respond to the needs of people affected by dementia in their area.The Encouraging and Supporting Grassroots Activity (ESGA) Fund helps local groups deliver activities that reduce isolation, improve wellbeing and strengthen community support for people affected by dementia.They are looking to fund projects and activities that make a meaningful difference to people with lived experience of dementia and those who provide unpaid care. The fund welcomes applications from organisations working in:- Rural and remote communities- Areas experiencing multiple deprivation- Ethnic minority communities- LGBTQ+ communities- Communities with protected characteristics

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

This is a new fund focused on supporting Black and People of Colour (BPoC) led organisations in Scotland that are working to tackle to the root causes of racism. Communities impacted by racism hold vital knowledge, experience and leadership and their voices must shape and drive efforts to advance racial justice, while recognising that the responsibility for change lies with institutions and systems. At its heart, this fund is about backing the people and groups who are already leading change in their communities and doing so in a way that aims to be more supportive, flexible and longer-term.The Robertson Trust wants to support projects that address a specific systemic racism issue, or create the infrastructure needed to sustain impactful anti-racist movements and build a liberated and equitable future. They are interested in projects that aim for long-term change by addressing root causes, rather than only responding to symptoms. This might include holding decision-makers to account, running public campaigns, building solidarity across groups or movements, media or reporting, or creating a community space that can support organising.You can still apply if you receive other funding from The Robertson Trust.

For larger, place-based projects, Climate Adaptation Grants will support practical initiatives that help communities respond to climate change. This includes projects such as rain gardens, sustainable drainage, habitat restoration, tree planting and other nature-based solutions that improve resilience to flooding, extreme weather and other climate risks. Projects should focus on helping communities on building capacity, infrastructure, nature-based solutions, or transformational changes that strengthen long-term community resilience. The Climate Adaptation Fund supports projects that address clearly identified climate risks and vulnerabilities affecting communities in Fife. Applications are welcome from across Fife; however, priority may be given to projects located in areas where there is strong evidence of climate-related risks, including flooding, coastal erosion, overheating, water scarcity, or other climate change impacts. Successful projects should demonstrate how they will reduce vulnerability, increase resilience, and provide sustainable benefits for local communities over the long term. Funding could support: - Major community adaptation projects. - Improvements to community buildings and spaces. - Nature-based solutions such as habitat restoration, flood resilience or biodiversity enhancement. - Large-scale energy efficiency or renewable energy initiatives.- Community infrastructure that strengthens resilience to climate change. - Strategic projects delivered in partnership with other organisations. All grants must be spent by 31 March 2027.

Local community planning is about making a positive difference to the communities we live in. Fife Council does this by bringing together local communities with public, voluntary, private sector and other organisations to improve our communities and quality of life.Projects should meet some of the priorities of your local area’s community plan. There are individual plans for each area on the Council's [Local Community Plans page](https://www.fife.gov.uk/about-your-council/council-performance/local-community-planning).Examples of the types of projects they will be looking to support are:- taking a pride in your community- improvements to community facilities- community events- employability initiatives- vulnerable or disadvantaged groups in a community

Soirbheas provide grants mostly funded by the Corrimony windfarm. The Tier 1 funding the objectives are: - to manage community land and assets for the benefit of the community and the public in general- to provide, recreational facilities, or organising activities, which will be available to members of the public- to promote for the public benefit, rural regeneration, in areas of social and economic deprivation within the community- to advance the education of the Community about its environment, culture, heritage and/or history- to advance environmental protection or improvements including preservation and conservation of the natural environment, environmental amenities, preservation of buildings or sites of importance. The beneficiaries of projects must be resident in the Glen Urquhart or Strathglass Community Council areas. Activity/project must be completed within 1 year.