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The purpose of the University of Micro-grant Scheme is to:- Bring value to new or existing partnerships between the University and local communities.- Have a positive social impact by contributing to one or more of these United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): - 1 No Poverty- 3 Good Health and Wellbeing- 4 Quality Education- 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth- 10 Reduced Inequalities- 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities.

Social Business Trust's mission is to support high growth potential social enterprises to scale-up their impact. They do that by investing cash grants and professional support from seven partner organisations in a carefully selected portfolio of social enterprises.

Muirden Energy is committed to ensuring their renewable energy projects bring lasting value to the communities in which they are developed. They work closely with local residents and stakeholders to deliver tailored community benefit packages that support local priorities—whether through funding for local initiatives, support for schools and community groups, or investment in environmental and recreational projects. Their goal is to foster long-term partnerships that contribute positively to local well-being and sustainability.They welcome applications for projects that support community development, environmental initiatives, education, wellbeing, heritage, or recreational activities. Projects must demonstrate a positive and lasting local impact.They currently asset manage over 30 wind turbine sites across the Scotland, with a strong focus in Aberdeenshire. See website for locations: your group must be located within a 10-mile radius of one of their turbines to apply.

Zero Waste Scotland is Scotland’s Circular Economy Body. Their strategic aim is to rewire Scotland’s economic system, increasing the uptake in business adopting or applying circular economy practices and, in turn, driving a reduction of our consumption of natural resources through increased circularity. As part of their ongoing programme of support, grant funding is available to early-stage projects potentially capable of delivering at scale or delivering interventions with the potential to be replicated across a sector, industry or region.Projects must also align with one or more of the following objectives:- Help people care by advocating for change and demonstrating how we can do it. Projects will deliver activity to increase society’s demand for circular practices through stimulating the development and uptake of technologies, products and services to support a circular economy in Scotland.   - Make circularity easier and do more where it matters most by identifying and addressing the conditions supporting circularity in Scotland. Through encouraging the collaboration of organisations across value chains, including enterprises and academia, projects will implement circular economy strategies, principles and practices in high-impact sectors - Improve the infrastructure needed to accelerate the adoption of circular economy practices by keeping materials in use in Scotland’s economy through using less, using for longer, using again, and/or switching to regenerative material use. Projects will support the creation of valuable markets to optimise materials management and processing in Scotland.

The ORIT Cumberhead Community Fund supports community projects benefiting those living in the Community Council areas of Coalburn and Lesmahagow. The Fund is provided by Cumberhead Wind Energy Limited, the company which owns and operates the Cumberhead Wind Farm in South Lanarkshire, under the auspices of Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust (ORIT).The Fund provides grants to support charitable activities that benefit the residents of the Coalburn and/or Lesmahagow areas; anything which enhances the economic, social or environmental sustainability of these communities. Most of all, the Fund aims to ensure that successful applications are translated into real projects that make a material difference and deliver a lasting legacy. The Fund is keen to encourage environmentally responsible and sustainable practice amongst applicant groups and within communities.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 so on. Grants must normally be spent within one year of being awarded

Halkirk District Benefit Fund provides community benefit to individuals residing in the Halkirk are (Altnabreac, Banniskirk, Calder, Georgemas, Harpsdale, Spittal, Mybster and Westerdale).The aim of this fund is to advance education and relieve poverty for the benefit of the public and: - to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and leisure.- provision of facilities for meetings, education, and recreation- provision of facilities for the young and elderly- provision of facilities for those who have additional needs- provision of training, education, meetings, lectures, etc.- bringing together organisations for the benefit of the public of the environment - research, collation, and promotion of the history of the Halkirk area.Applicants should demonstrate local consultation and procurement, partnership working and sustainable development.

This charitable fund is provided by GDF Suez, Carscreugh Renewable Energy, Glenchamber Wind Farm, SSE, Greencoat and ScottishPower Renewables, owners of nearby wind farms, who channel their community benefit funds through this single Fund. The Fund primarily supports projects located within or directly benefiting the Old Luce Community Council area, including the communities of Glenluce, Dunragit and Auchenmalg. It will support charitable activities that: - enhance quality of life for local residents- contribute to vibrant, healthy, successful and sustainable communities- promote community spirit and encourage community activity. Awards can support a wide range of costs and activities including. equipment costs, running costs for local groups, staff or sessional worker costs, consultations, maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities etc.Priority for awards can be given to projects that demonstrate the following additional criteria:- Match funding- Local procurement- Sustainable development- Local consultation- Partnership working

The fund supports projects located within or directly benefiting Ballantrae, South Ayrshire. Applications must benefit the community, which is geographically defined by the community council boundaries. Priority will be given to applications that fit with the Ballantrae Community Action Plan 2024 - 2029 Priorities: Theme 1, Working and LearningDevelop a local economy, including a visitor economy, underpinned by upskilling the workforce.Theme 2, Good Local InfrastructurePrioritise protecting and enhancing local facilities and spaces.Theme 3, Affordable Housing for All AgesEnsure that there is accessible and affordable housing for people at all stages of their lives. Theme 4, Getting About EasilyTraffic and road safety will be a focus to create a safer place. Invest in walks and cycle paths and better transport to enhance connectivity within the community and across the region.Theme 5, Care and WellbeingWork towards being a place that looks after its own and has good health and care for older people.Theme 6, Things to DoCreate events and leisure activities to make Ballantrae a vibrant place to live.Awards can support a wide range of costs and activities including equipment costs, running costs for local groups, staff or sessional worker costs, consultations, maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities etc.