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Through the Kelvin Valley and Falkirk Community Led Local Development Fund (the CLLD Fund), grants are available for eligible applicants based in defined Kelvin Valley and Falkirk communities for 2026/27. 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 Sunday 28 February 2027, with final reports submitted to CVS Falkirk & District by Sunday 14 March 2027.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

Funding is available to stage an event as part of the Highlands & Islands Climate Festival.There are two stages of funding available exclusively for Community Groups:- small monetary event contribution- Invitation to apply for funding and support for Marketplace style larger events **Marketplace:**They are looking to partner with a lead organisation in each area of Highland and Orkney (they already have a partnership event underway in planning for Shetland) to host similar events. You can either work as a collaboration across many organisations or nominate yourself as the lead organisation for your area to bring partners together. Your event should bring together a wide range of groups in your area and include a range of activities. HICH can support with funding including venue & equipment hire, refreshments, activities, marketing and cover some staffing and organisational costs.They have funding available and also can provide Community Development Officer support and the support of their wider team to help you to plan and deliver the event. Their one criteria is that within your event there should be time and space for a Climate Engagement workshop which they will either provide the tools or the staffing to support. Community views from that engagement will help to shape HICH's Climate Conference on 8th October 2025. All events funded must be confirmed with dates/time by 22nd August 2025 for inclusion in the Highlands & Islands Climate Festival Programme. Your event must be environmentally sustainable.

The aim of the fund is to develop and support substance and/or behaviour Lived Experience recovery organisations to trial, grow and develop their ideas, services or products and build organisational capacity.The Recovery Seed Fund has Startup and Support funding for Lived Experience voluntary groups, charities and Social Enterprises. In addition to the Recovery fund SRC are also offering support and business development advice to individuals, groups and social enterprises to allow them to grow, develop and become sustainable. If this is something that would be of interest please contact fiona@scottishrecoveryconsortium.org

The Historic Environment Grants Programme can support a wide range of projects which clearly relate to and will benefit Scotland’s historic environment.Projects that can be supported through the programme should be focussed on an aspect of Scotland's historic environment, from the tangible (e.g. historic buildings, ancient monuments and archaeology, designed or cultural landscapes and historic gardens and battlefields) to the intangible (e.g. historic environment skills, stories and traditions). Full criteria and eligibility guidance can be found on the Historic Environment Scotland website.

The overarching aim of the Fund is to support community-based initiatives that promote and develop good mental health and wellbeing and/or mitigate and protect against the impact of distress and mental ill health within the adult population (aged 16 or over), with a particular focus on prevention and early intervention. Specifically, it aims to: - Tackle mental health inequalities through supporting a range of ‘at risk’ groups (as outlined in the Equalities section). - Address priority issues of social isolation and loneliness, suicide prevention and poverty and inequality with a particular emphasis on responding to the cost of living crisis and support to those facing socio-economic disadvantage. - Support small ‘grass roots’ community groups and organisations to deliver such activities. - Provide opportunities for people to connect with each other, build trusted relationships and revitalise communities. It can support both new and existing groups or projects, and it is AVA’s intention that new and unconstituted groups will be supported with governance, funding and volunteering advice that facilitates them to build internal capacity. These do not have to have mental health and wellbeing as their main focus, but their application does have to clearly benefit the mental health and wellbeing of people in the community that they serve, be that a community of geography or a community of interest.

The West Lothian Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund supports local third sector organisations to deliver community-based activities that promote good mental health and wellbeing for adults across West Lothian.The fund was established in 2021 and is part of a national Scottish Government programme, delivered locally through Third Sector Interfaces. To date, it has supported a wide range of grassroots initiatives helping people to stay well, feel connected and access support within their own communities.The fund has a strong focus on prevention and early intervention, aiming to support people before mental health challenges reach crisis point.

The Fore offers development funding and strategic support to early-stage charities and social enterprises. It makes unrestricted grants which have the potential to have a transformational impact on an organisation. For example enabling your organisation to take a step forward in its development or giving you the chance to do something you couldn’t before. It will also match successful applicants with friendly professional support including ongoing mentoring, strategic advice, governance support or other assistance.

Maoin nan Ealan Gàidhlig is a scheme funded by Creative Scotland and administered on its behalf by Fèisean nan Gàidheal. It is open to organisations and individuals. Maoin nan Ealan Gàidhlig is designed to assist the delivery of Gaelic arts projects. In 2026-27, priority will be given to arts projects which:- Are delivered through the medium of Gaelic- Contribute to the use or learning of Gaelic- Enable individual artists, groups of artists, or arts organisations to create and/or present work - Involve international partnerships- Enable individual artists to address personal development needs- Develop skills within arts organisations or communities as a means to creating sustainability.

The Dr Gavin Wallace Fellowship allows a creative organisation to host a mid-career or established writer for a year. There is funding available for a host organisation, and also for an author. This funding is to enable them to focus on new work. Following appointment of a host organisation, they would be expected to manage the recruitment process for selecting a writer.

The Digital Specialist Advice Grant offers organisations based in the Highlands and Islands area towards the costs of obtaining digital specialist advice. Introducing digital technologies into your business has many advantages, including cutting costs, speeding up processes, improving customer insights, creating the ability to make faster business decisions and increase revenue. This funding is available to cover the costs of one-to-one consultancy on digital technologies leading to an action plan or a feasibility study for your business.Digital technologies may include:- robots/robotics/cobotics- sensor technologies- Internet of Things- data innovation- artificial intelligence- cyber security/risks- software development- augmented reality/virtual reality/3D visualisations- additive manufacturing and laser machining- cyber security solutionsProjects that have an element of ‘deep tech’ will also be considered (e.g. blockchain, photonics, aerospace and space technologies, electronics, cyber threat intelligence, fusion power and quantum computing).This funding can be used for projects focused on the adoption of advanced digital technologies including artificial intelligence or robotics.The funding is for consultancy costs to develop a feasibility study or action plan for digital technologies leading to, for example, increased productivity, impact on jobs, skills or workforce development, efficiency gains, reducing energy costs, or carbon reduction.The consultancy can include:- market research / testing, opportunity analysis and market assessments- energy efficiency feasibility study associated with application of a digital technologies- project feasibility, identify and appraise options and preparing a business case for investment- feasibility and impact analysis of new workplace practices and organisational structures and approaches to learning and development to reduce costs or improve resource utilisation- research supporting emerging digital technologies e.g. Industry 4.0 related, within the business- specialists to fill a skills gap relating to adoption of digital technologies