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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 broad aim of the Stratherrick & Foyers Community Trust is to assist charities and community groups (constituted & not for profit with charitable aims) working to improve the quality of life and life chances in the Stratherrick and Foyers areas, especially in circumstances where funding is particularly hard to find and where a grant can achieve significant impact in enabling groups to fulfill their own objectives. Grants are made to groups across a wide spectrum of social, welfare, heritage, educational and community development activity. The majority of funding is directed at locally based work involving, and often initiated by, members of that local community. They also make small sporting grants and educational grants available to individuals.There are several grant types:- Small / Medium / Large Group Grants- Student Grants (available to residents undertaking a further or higher education course or training)- Sporting Grants (available for anyone competing at National or Championship level or participating in a recognised training camp as trainees)- The Knockie Fund (available to anyone in the area who is currently suffering fuel poverty or who require food vouchers)

The Just Transition Fund (JTF) is a £500 million ten-year commitment that will support projects in the North East and Moray which contribute towards the region’s transition to net zero.This bidding round will focus on projects that deliver against the Just Transition Outcome on Jobs, Skills and Economic Opportunities, responding to identified needs in the region. This will ensure the fund is responsive to identified regional needs. It will also ensure fund investment maximises impacts delivering benefits for businesses, workers and communities as we transition to a net zero future.The project/programme must:- contribute to the transition to net zero in Aberdeen, Aberdeen City or Moray- help to diversify the regional economy away from carbon-intensive industries- capitalise on the opportunities, including jobs and prosperity, that the transition to net zero will bringdemonstrate delivery against the mandatory Just Transition Outcome on Jobs, Skills and Economic Opportunities.Whilst not mandatory, you may wish to outline other just transition outcomes that your project will deliver impact against within your application. Bids need to demonstrate that projects are able to receive, and spend the total amount of the funding bid in the 2025 to 2026 financial year. Multi-year bids can be made, and may be considered, if capital funding for the Fund becomes available beyond 2025 to 2026. 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.

Within the Alyth and Mount Blair areas, the Fund aims to promote community spirit and bring people together; enhance quality of life and promote people’s well-being; and foster vibrant sustainable communities. It seeks to do this by awarding grants that:- foster social networks & activities that support older people in the community - assist young people to maximise their potential and improve their life chances - promote better relationships between different generations - encourage healthy lifestyles and good mental health - support the acquisition, development and use of new community assets, and maintain and enhance existing ones - address the effects of rural isolation, improving access to services and improving transport- support skills development and non-profit making initiatives that will nurture a thriving and diverse local economy- protect the environment and advance the area’s heritage; including involving local people in the sensitive and sustainable stewardship of the natural environment and participation in activities that promote sustainable development - strengthen the ability of local people and groups to continue to meet their own needs and make a difference within their communities.Priority for grants will be given to projects that can demonstrate they also meet the following criteria: - That other possible sources of funding for the project have been explored. - For local community groups applying to the Fund: that reasonable efforts have been made to raise money through their own local fundraising activity. - That local suppliers will be used for the provision of goods and services, where appropriate. - That consideration has been given to minimising the environmental impact of projects and reducing your organisation’s ‘carbon footprint’.

The Robin Rigg Community Fund is available to community groups and organisations in the Solway area undertaking activities that contribute to the reduction of the effects of climate change or otherwise benefit the local community.Projects should support and promote the following causes:- Environmental- Renewable energy- Energy efficiency- Sustainable development- Charitable- Educational- Community- General community amenity schemes or projects

The Tannach and District Charitable Wind Farm Trust manages funds from the Wathegar Wind Farm and Wathegar 2 Wind Farm. The Fund supports community groups and charities working in the Tannach and District area that provide activities or services which promote community spirit and bring people together, enhance quality of life and promote people’s well-being and foster a vibrant, sustainable community.The outcomes for the Tannach & District Wind Farm Charitable Trust Fund are as follows:1. There are more and better opportunities to take part in sports and recreational pursuits2. Access to and through settlements is safer3. People of all ages enjoy more, better and varied activities and services4. Community life is enhanced and maintained through a wide range of activities, eventsand improved amenity of settlements5. Economic activity is encouraged within the Fund area6. People have more vocational skills and experience7. The natural and cultural heritage is more valued, experienced and understood by bothvisitors and residents8. Energy use in homes and community buildings is more sustainable9. Tourism opportunities are promoted and created in the Fund area

The Outer Hebrides Community Led Local Development Local Action Group (CLLD LAG) have launched their 2025-26 Fund, which offers capital funding to organisations working in and supporting our communities.Applicants must support the LAG’s overarching ambition of increasing collaboration and community empowerment through inclusion, equality and diversity, and demonstrate that their project has been developed with input from the community/ies they aim to support. Funded activity must closely align with at least one of the LAG’s main priorities for 2025-26, which are:- Community Wealth Building; - Dùthchas and Dualchas[1] with a focus on identifying new approaches that can lead to economic benefits; - Working towards Net Zero; and- Connectivity and efficient & sustainable transport.Funding requests must be for activity which:- has an immediate, demonstrable impact;- helps raise the profile of CLLD;- incorporates a collaborative approach, including projects which demonstrate inter-island or across-community working; - demonstrates community buy-in, alignment with community plans and/or that a significant community need is being addressed.

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.