Search

£4.5 million has already been awarded to 181 projects across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray - now it’s your turn to make a difference.The Scottish Government’s Just Transition Participatory Budgeting (PB) Fund is back for a fifth year, giving communities across the North East and Moray a leading role in the journey to net zero.With £1 million available once again, the Fund supports bold, community-led ideas that make a real difference. Community groups and third sector organisations across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray can apply for up to £50,000 to deliver an eco-friendly project in their area.From installing solar panels and battery storage to introducing electric vehicles, improving energy efficiency in community buildings and protecting local environments, the Fund backs practical capital projects that reflect what matters most to local people. Residents will once again have the final say, voting for the projects they want to see funded.Delivered by ACVO TSI, AVA, tsiMORAY, NESCAN Hub and Money for Moray, the Fund brings partners together once again to support communities across the region. They will be engaging with communities to help you take part in the transition to net zero, sharing ideas and providing project development support and application assistance.Get involved, share your ideas, and help shape a greener future for the North East of Scotland.Bids need to demonstrate that projects are able to receive, and spend the total amount of the funding bid in the 2026 to 2027 financial year. Multi-year bids can be made, and may be considered, if capital funding for the Fund becomes available beyond 2026 to 2027. Additional weighting will be given to bids that would be delivered on a co-funded basis. Previous projects have included energy measures and retrofitting, green jobs, community gardens and food growing, sustainable travel, and creating and restoring greenspaces. More examples of projects funded through the first round can be found on the Fund website.

If you are interested in starting a tenant and resident’s association in your local area you can apply for a grant to help meet running costs of the group.The grant can cover the cost of:- Publicising and holding meetings- Responding to requests for help, from tenants and the Council- Producing information for those they represent- Keeping up to date with developments in housing- Organising events and initiatives that benefit their community

The YMI Access to Music Making Fund supports individuals and organisations working in the youth music sector to create and deliver high-quality music making opportunities for children and young people across Scotland that address inequity.Activity will reach children and young people who are less likely to participate, this could include children and young people who:- reside in areas of social and economic deprivation, for more information visit the Scottish Government website- are experiencing or at risk of experiencing harm and neglect- are care experienced, for more information visit The Promise Scotland- are in the early years (0-5) of their life- are of the global majority and/or ethnic minorities- have disabilities/learning disabilities- are neurodivergent including autism, ADHD, Tourette's syndrome- are experiencing mental health illnesses such as depression, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, bipolar, schizophrenia, PTSD, eating disorders and addictive behaviours- have experience of the criminal justice system- are young carers (as defined by the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016) and/or young parents- are experiencing homelessness or who have been homeless.

The Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) is here to support communities to engage with, participate in and benefit from the energy transition to net zero emissions. The Fund will help community organisations reduce their building energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Funding is available for many types of community buildings, including:- community cafes- community hubs- faith buildings- public halls- community halls and centresCARES supports communities to engage, participate and benefit in the energy transition to net zero. They will support projects that:- accelerate the uptake of community and locally owned renewable energy, to meet Scotland’s 2030 2GW ambition- support community involvement in local energy systems that lead to new installations of locally owned renewable energy generation- support shared ownership projects (where a community group invests in a commercial renewable energy project)- assist communities to maximise the impact from community benefit funds through community consultation, action planning and good governanceYou must install at least one of the following:- a heat pump (air source, ground source or water source)- a connection to heat network- solar photovoltaic (PV) panels- solar water heatingAll work related to this funding must be completed and all funding claimed by 28 February 2026.

A number of towns in Fife have a Common Good Fund which can be used for the benefit of the inhabitants of that town. The following Common Good Funds are administered by the Council: - Levenmouth Area: Buckhaven & Methil and Leven- Glenrothes Area: Leslie and Markinch- Kirkcaldy Area: Kirkcaldy including Dysart, Burntisland and Kinghorn- North East Fife Area: Anstruther, Crail, Cupar, Falkland, Newburgh, Pittenweem, St Andrews and St Monans- South and West Area: Consolidated Fund covering Dunfermline, Culross, Inverkeithing, Rosyth.The level of funds available varies significantly between the different Common Good Funds.

The Community Fund supports communities to use, manage and own woods and forests. The Fund's objectives are to:- promote the use of woods and forests by communities- facilitate community engagement in forest and woodland managementFunding can support activities associated with any forest or woodland in Scotland, including Scotland's national forests and land.A wide range of activities are eligible, and can include: - promotion of physical activity linked to woodlands, such as: walking schemes, safe routes to school, natural play, school care clubs, play schemes and adventure play- developing materials for communities that promote the benefits of using woodlands- facilitating voluntary work that supports skills training, health improvement, community development- establishing volunteer groups and inducting volunteers- providing resources to involve communities in the decision-making processes of managing their local woodland- developing Community Asset Transfer Scheme applications - funding will not normally cover legal costs but can be used to support activities such as obtaining a valuationDoes your project involve engaging under-represented groups? You may wish to consider Scottish Forestry's Woods for All programme as a more appropriate source of funding.