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The Community Empowerment Fund (part of the broader UK Shared Prosperity Fund or UKSPF) is a community capacity building initiative that aims to boost local community projects across the Falkirk area.There are two programmes:- Capital Facilities Improvement Grant: Up to £15,000 capital funding towards projects that result in the creation or significant improvement of a building/facility owned or controlled by a non-profit, community benefit organisation. - Small and Start-Up Grants: Funding to deliver new or expanded services within our communities, including activities, events and volunteering opportunities (up to £5,000).The UK Government have introduced a revised set of outcomes for the SPF programme. The 25/26 Outcomes for the Community Empowerment are listed below:- Number of amenities/facilities created or improved - Number of local events or activities supported - Number of people reached - Number of volunteering opportunities supported - Improved engagement numbers - Number of volunteering opportunities created as a result of support For projects aiming to be completed by 31 January 2026.

The fund supports a broad range of community activity and development by supporting the charitable activities of community, not-for-profit groups.Six community councils are eligible for funding through the CREPL Community Fund: Cree Valley; Kirkcowan; New Luce; Port William; Stoneykirk; Old Luce.Payments are made directly to Community Councils, or similar organisations, to use or distribute to active groups in their communities. Old Luce funds are transferred to the Old Luce Community Fund to be distributed through the open grantmaking process.

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 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.

The Moray Local Action Group offers funding for projects across Moray, that enable community led local development. The fund is intended to enable community led activity focusing on the main aim of supporting a just transition to a Wellbeing Economy working for people, places and planetAll projects must demonstrate that they advance inclusion, equality and diversity while addressing at least one of their priorities:- A Fair & Just Moray - Moray in Harmony with Nature- A Resilient & Thriving Moray- A Connected & Accessible Moray- An Economy Promoting Wellbeing for People & PlanetThey are particularly interested in funding projects that will help address some of the root causes of poverty and child poverty, support a move to a sustainable, carbon-neutral future, and/or help reduce pressures on public services through prevention, community capacity-building, and increased community resilience.The funding for 2025-26 is largely capital funding with a limited amount of revenue/admin funding for operating costs available.

Clyde Wind Farm (Scotland) Ltd operate a 206-turbine wind farm in the Clyde Valley. The Clyde Borders Community Fund has been established as a means of enabling a contribution to the communities located around the wind farm. The fund supports the community council areas of Skirling, Upper Tweed and Tweedsmuir. The funding decisions are made by local advisory panel, made up of local residents and representatives from the community councils.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 - assist young people to maximise their potential - promote inter-generational relationships - 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; - strengthen the ability of local people and groups to continue to make a difference within their communities

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:- Large Group grant (for over £25,000)- Constituted Groups for Community Benefit grant (up to £25,000)- Non-Constituted Group/Individual for Community Benefit grant (up to £1,000)- Student Grants (available to residents undertaking a further or higher education course or training)- Sporting and Excellence Grants (for individuals competing at a national or international event or participating in a recognised training camp as a trainee)- The Knockie Fund (available to anyone in the area who is currently suffering fuel poverty or who require food vouchers)

Argyll and Bute Council is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from public sector and community organisations who are looking to deliver for large-scale capital projects. By gathering this information early, they can better understand which projects may be suitable for external funds that may become available. The Council administers a range of external funding programmes where the Council must be the applicant, but they can apply on behalf of another public sector or community organisation, usually on a competitive basis, for them to deliver projects in their local area.As there have been no announcements of funding, organisations should be aware that submitting an EOI comes with no guarantee that there will be suitable funding available or if funding becomes available that they will be selected to go forward to application stage.Projects must be:- Capital projects being delivered within Argyll and Bute with a minimum value of £50,000- Projects which are delivering significant regeneration or economic benefits to their community i.e. they should be creating new facilities or expanding existing to enable them to offer new facilities or services;- Projects which can demonstrate a community need and support e.g. through community survey, plan or local place plan;- Projects which can be delivered (i.e. construction started) in either the 2026/7 or 2027/8 financial year;- Projects which will be self-sustaining and viable in the long-term and where the proposals include plans for the operation and ongoing maintenance of the capital investment.EOIs will be assessed on how organisations demonstrate: - Local needs, local support and community involvement- Deliverability- Long-Term Viability

The Aviva Community Fund supports projects that are fighting climate change and building stronger, more resilient communities across the UK and are investing in two key areas:- Climate Action: Promoting healthy, thriving communities by preventing, preparing for and protecting against the impacts of climate change- Financial Wellbeing: Helping people take control of their wellbeing by giving them the tools to be more financially independent and ready for anythingAny projects submitted should aim to:- develop a new approach, product or technology; or- implement a new initiative or pilot a new scheme; or- expand existing services to a new area or beneficiary group; or- adapt services to meet today's needs without compromising those of future generationsIf your Climate Action project is focused on action for nature you may be eligible for addition funding through the Save Our Wild Isles Community Fund. You must be working towards:1. Nature restoration2. Nature connectedness and pro-environmental behaviours3. Community cohesion and connection.For full details, visit the Community Fund website.