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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. The principles of bottom up, partnership, integration, innovation, co-operation, networking, and area-based approaches will apply to the fund.Projects must demonstrate that activity will advance inclusion, equality, and diversity, and support one or more of the main fund priorities for 2024/25 which are: - Eradicating child poverty - Growing the economy- Tackling the climate emergency- Ensuring high quality and sustainable public services Applications will be managed via Aspiring Places. Aspiring Places is a new digital space for community groups and organisations across Argyll and Bute to share information about projects that they would like to carry out. The Council's vision is to create a vibrant bank of community projects that supports joint working and connects community groups to funding, making Argyll and Bute an even better place to live, work, and visit.

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.

The Council has a number of settlement trusts which support projects under a wide range of categories including education, arts, local communities and the environment.Check the website for a full list of trusts and for contact details for each.You can apply for funding from a Settlement Trust if it falls under the following categories:- Prevention of Poverty- Advancement of Education- Advancement of Religion- Saving of Lives-Advancement of Citizenship- Advancement of Arts- Advancement of Public Participation in Sport- Provision of Recreational Facilities- Advancement of Human Rights- Promotion of religious or racial harmony- Promotion of Equality- Advancement of Environmental Protection- Relief of Those In Need- Advancement of Animal Welfare- Analogous Purposes- Advancement of Health

This fund supports charitable activity benefiting people living in the community council areas of Benarty, Cardenden and Kinglassie in Fife.The fund provides grants to 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.Grant may support a wide range of costs, e.g. equipment costs, running costs for local groups, staff or sessional workers, consultations and maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities.Different criteria and amounts apply for each fund. See the area-specific pages on the Foundation Scotland website.

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.

Through the Kelvin Valley and Falkirk Community Led Local Development Fund (the CLLD Fund), grants of up to £15,000 are available for eligible applicants based in defined Kelvin Valley and Falkirk communities for 2025/26. Communities include: Airth, Avonbridge, Baldernock, Banknock, Banton, Bonnybridge, Colzium, Croy, Denny, Dennyloanhead, Dunipace, Fankerton, Kinneil, Kirkintilloch (north of the Canal only), Lennoxtown, Milton of Campsie, Queenzieburn, Shieldhill, Slamannan, Torrance, Twechar, Waterside, and Whitecross.The Fund will once more be overseen by the Kelvin Valley and Falkirk Local Action Group (LAG) and administered by CVS Falkirk & District as the Accountable Body. Funded activity should take place by Saturday 28 February 2026, with final reports submitted to CVS Falkirk & District by Saturday 14 March 2026.The fund will focus on four key priorities:- Supporting community facilities and eligible organisations to contribute to the achievement of net zero- Sustaining, improving, and adding initiatives in rural communities that are the most isolated, disconnected, in need of investment, or likely to experience inequalities- Helping communities to address the cost-of-living crisis and eradicate poverty for individuals and families- Enabling communities to carry out research, engagement, feasibility studies, or other activities supporting the development of rural communities

Funds projects and initiatives that support the rural regeneration and sustainability of communities within the Solwaybank Windfarm area and enhance the lives of those living and working in the area will be supported.Applications are welcomed that fall into the following categories:- Enhance the quality of life for local residents;- Contribute to vibrant, healthy, successful and sustainable communities;- Promote community spirit and encourage community activity.Priority will be given to projects which can demonstrate:- Local consultation – evidence that the local community has been consulted and is supportive of the project;- Strategic projects – with longer term impacts and benefits;- Partnership working – working with other organisations (e.g. voluntary, local, regional or national) to add value to a project.- Local procurement – using local suppliers and providers for goods and services, where possible.- Environmental considerations – consideration of the project’s carbon footprint and minimising the environmental impact.Match funding of at least 10% of the project cost will normally be required, but projects with more match funding to add to the value of the project and maximise the Community Benefit funding are preferred.

Large Grants focuses on work that addresses the impacts of poverty and trauma under one or more of the following themes: - Financial security- Education pathways- Work pathways- Relationships (this pathway will launch later in the year).They seek to fund work that: meets people's immediate needs, provides earlier help, tests new approaches or does more of what work, and is universal or targeted. See website for details of target groups.

The fund is a vehicle through which two different funds are administered, provided by:- Nadara, the owner and operator of the Galawhistle Wind Farm in South Lanarkshire (opened in 2017)- Greencoat UK Wind, the owner of the Douglas West Wind Farm in South Lanarkshire (opened in late 2021)The Fund supports community projects benefiting those living in Douglas (incorporating Glespin and surrounding areas) and/or Coalburn community council areas. It supports positive change by investing in a wide range of inspirational, community-led activity that is strategic, positive and creative and helps deliver a legacy of lasting impact.Applications are expected to address one or more of the following outcomes: - help people into work- improve local transport- improve quality of life, health and well-being- build capacity for local groups and individuals- building sustainable community assets, including capital assets, community enterprises, local exchange systems, people’s skills and abilities, culture and the local environment.