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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 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- Constituted Groups for Community Benefit grant- Non-Constituted Group/Individual for Community Benefit grant- 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)

The Rhododendron Trust is a grant-making charity focused mainly on the welfare of the disadvantaged in the UK and overseas, but also supporting arts and wildlife charities.The general aim is of course to select charities which will make good use of a donation from the trust, i.e. where the charity’s goals align with the trust’s aims and where the charity is effective in achieving its goals. An important further consideration is that a donation from the trust should make a significant contribution to the charity’s work – which leads the trust to favour smaller charities over charities which already have a large income.Priority themes are:for UK Charities:- Carers and Breaks- Disability and Mental Health- Deprivation- Prisoners and Refugees- ArtsDeveloping world charities:- Children and Education- Development- Disability and Medical- Women and Justice- Nature

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 and activities that support older people- assist young people to maximise their potential- promote better relationships between different generations- encourage healthy lifestyles and good mental health- support the acquisition, development and use of community assets- improve access to services and transport- support skills development for a thriving and diverse local economy- protect the environment and advance the area's heritage.

The Outer Hebrides Community Led Local Development Local Action Group (CLLD LAG) have launched their 2026-27 Fund, which offers funding for projects which support the LAG’s mission of responding directly to local needs and delivering action while taking cognisance of local culture across the Outer Hebrides.Applicants must be able to demonstrate that collaboration and community empowerment through inclusion, equality and diversity is at the heart of their proposed project and that the funded activity will align closely with at least one of the 2026-27 LAG’s funding priorities, which are:- Community Wealth Building (including addressing the causes and impacts of poverty); - Dùthchas and Dualchas with a focus on identifying new - approaches that can lead to economic benefits; - Mitigating Climate Change and 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, e.g. projects which - demonstrate inter-island or across-community working; and- demonstrates community buy-in, alignment with community plans and/or that a significant community need is being addressed.Projects are further encouraged to use CLLD funding:- as part of a wider match-funding package (ideally either as a final input or to unlock funding from other sources); and- to support their organisation’s sustainable development and business plan.

Crossdykes Community Benefit Fund can support a wide range of charitable activities providing benefit to the five community council areas of Langholm Ewes & Westerkirk, Lockerbie and District, Middlebie & Waterbeck, Eskdalemuir, and North Milk. In particular, priority will be given to applications that align with the findings of the East Dumfriesshire Community Consultation (2020). Funded activities must align with the charitable purposes laid down in Crossdykes Community Benefits Limited’s own Articles and Memorandum of Association. These purposes are focused principally on the fund area and include community development, rural regeneration, the prevention and/or relief of poverty, the advancement of education, health, arts, heritage, culture and science, public participation in sport, the provision of recreational facilities, projects which improve the quality of life or wellbeing of residents, environmental projects, specifically those relating to climate change, the relief of those in need due to age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage and animal welfare.

The Skipton Building Society Charitable Foundation has two focus areas through which it aims to drive social impact.Helping people experiencing hardship and/or underserved groups to:- access a place to call home.- and improve financial wellbeing.1. A Place to Call Home The target outcomes include:- People have access and support into a safe and secure permanent place to call home. They want to support charities that enable people most in need to live independently.- People have access and support into a safe and secure temporary home in times of crisis. Enabling people into temporary accommodation in emergency situations such as homelessness, palliative or end of life, or for those experiencing domestic abuse.2. Financial WellbeingThe target outcomes include:- People have the support needed to prevent and/or address financial difficulty. They want to support charities who provide help and guidance on how to manage money and improve financial wellbeing.- People have access to financial education. They are looking to support charities whose work will support financial independence and education.If your charity's mission meets one or more of the target outcomes, the Foundation will consider funding core costs, project costs and small capital contributions, for example:- Salary requests for personnel delivering the proposed project should be structured to ensure they are longer-term and sustainable. Applicants must provide evidence that funding has been secured to cover the full cost of these salaries.- Overhead expenses such as rent or utilities.- Scaling up successful programmes or developing new ones.- Investing in infrastructure or technology to improve operations.- Daily essentials such as pots, pans and white goods for people who have secured a permanent place to call home.- Aids such as a ramp/stairlift in a community centre in order to remove any physical barriers to access for local people.- Books or resources which support financial education.Laptops or online systems used to deliver digital competence sessions.

This new community fund is open to projects that support residents in the community council areas which proudly host SSE's hydro assets. The Hydro Community Fund priorities are:- To protect the natural environment of the local area, including landscapes, natural habitats and biodiversity.- To enhance access to safe, affordable and sustainable community transport opportunities and low-carbon solutions within the local area.- To improve access to affordable, quality and safe housing, including developing community housing initiatives, enhancing local housing stock and improving home energy efficiency schemes.- To encourage the establishment and sustainable economic growth of small businesses, including social enterprises.- To develop and improve community assets and infrastructure such as halls, hubs and paths.- To promote the physical and mental well-being of communities through community arts, culture, sports and recreation.For this fund, the panel are also interested in projects that support education, skills development, and employment opportunities. However, no specific priority will be given, as all project areas will be considered equally.

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 Learning**Develop a local economy, including a visitor economy, underpinned by upskilling the workforce.**Theme 2, Good Local Infrastructure**Prioritise protecting and enhancing local facilities and spaces.**Theme 3, Affordable Housing for All Ages**Ensure that there is accessible and affordable housing for people at all stages of their lives.**Theme 4, Getting About Easily**Traffic 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 Wellbeing**Work towards being a place that looks after its own and has good health and care for older people.**Theme 6, Things to Do**Create 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.

The Panel will welcome applications that propose to work across the Community Council area and which would benefit the the community of Cockburnspath & Cove. Groups located outwith the Fund area can apply, provided that the project can clearly demonstrate and evidence impact for the area.The fund provides grants to support charitable activities that:- Enhance the quality of life for the local residents.- Contribute to vibrant, healthy, successful and sustainable communities.- Promote community spirit and encourage community activity.- Preserve, enhance or give better access to culture, heritage and the environment.Cockburnspath & Cove Community Council has published a Community Action Plan for the area, based on consultations with local residents. The Fund will particularly welcome applications for grants that contribute towards the priorities and themes identified in the Community Action Plan. As well as demonstrating a fit with at least one of the outcomes above, priority for grants can be given to projects that demonstrate the following additional criteria:- Local procurement- Sustainable development- Local consultation- Partnership working