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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 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.

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.

£4.5 million has already been awarded to 181 projects across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray - now it’s your turn to make a difference.The Scottish Government’s Just Transition Participatory Budgeting (PB) Fund is back for a fifth year, giving communities across the North East and Moray a leading role in the journey to net zero.With £1 million available once again, the Fund supports bold, community-led ideas that make a real difference. Community groups and third sector organisations across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray can apply for up to £50,000 to deliver an eco-friendly project in their area.From installing solar panels and battery storage to introducing electric vehicles, improving energy efficiency in community buildings and protecting local environments, the Fund backs practical capital projects that reflect what matters most to local people. Residents will once again have the final say, voting for the projects they want to see funded.Delivered by ACVO TSI, AVA, tsiMORAY, NESCAN Hub and Money for Moray, the Fund brings partners together once again to support communities across the region. They will be engaging with communities to help you take part in the transition to net zero, sharing ideas and providing project development support and application assistance.Get involved, share your ideas, and help shape a greener future for the North East of Scotland.Bids need to demonstrate that projects are able to receive, and spend the total amount of the funding bid in the 2026 to 2027 financial year. Multi-year bids can be made, and may be considered, if capital funding for the Fund becomes available beyond 2026 to 2027. 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.

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)

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

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.

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