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Young people across the Scottish Borders are full of inspiring ideas to help tackle the climate crisis and promote community climate action– and SBCAN is here to help bring those ideas to life. They're inviting youth groups, schools, clubs and voluntary groups to apply for grants to run a project that makes a difference in your community. This fund will support projects or activities that include: - Community Action which benefits our planet- Developing Sustainable practices- Encouraging Climate Resilience and Adaptations- Learning new skills and discovering natureThey are particularly keen to support projects which show:- Youth-led projects where young people are involved in taking ownership and deciding what they want;- Collaborative working between groups;- Inter-generational working;- Groups that promote inclusive activity with under-represented groups;- Projects which support the young people to achieve recognition for their achievements- for example Dynamic Youth Award Climate Action Challenge/ John Muir Award/ Saltire Awards- A long-term vision for Climate Action within your school/ group.

The Council has a number of settlement trusts which support projects under a wide range of categories including education, arts, local communities and the environment.Check the website for a full list of trusts and for contact details for each.You can apply for funding from a Settlement Trust if it falls under the following categories:- Prevention of Poverty- Advancement of Education- Advancement of Religion- Saving of Lives-Advancement of Citizenship- Advancement of Arts- Advancement of Public Participation in Sport- Provision of Recreational Facilities- Advancement of Human Rights- Promotion of religious or racial harmony- Promotion of Equality- Advancement of Environmental Protection- Relief of Those In Need- Advancement of Animal Welfare- Analogous Purposes- Advancement of Health

Local community planning is about making a positive difference to the communities we live in. Fife Council does this by bringing together local communities with public, voluntary, private sector and other organisations to improve our communities and quality of life.Projects should meet some of the priorities of your local area’s community plan. There are individual plans for each area on the Council's [Local Community Plans page](https://www.fife.gov.uk/about-your-council/council-performance/local-community-planning).Examples of the types of projects they will be looking to support are:- taking a pride in your community- improvements to community facilities- community events- employability initiatives- vulnerable or disadvantaged groups in a community

The Forestry Grant Scheme offers financial support for the creation of new woodland and the sustainable management of existing woodland. Within the scheme's eight categories, there are a range of support options covering planting, woodland protection, harvesting and more.

The Growth Guarantee Scheme (GGS) is designed to support access to finance for UK small businesses (third-sector) as they look to invest and grow. The Scheme provides a 70% government backed guarantee on loans, and aims to improve access to finance to boost overall investment and economic growth. The Scheme supports term loans, overdrafts, asset based lending and invoice finance facilities. Term loans and asset finance facilities are available from three months up to six years, with overdrafts and invoice finance available from three months up to three years.To find out more, visit the SIS website or contact them to speak with a member of the team.

The Community Buildings Fund, part of the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES), provides grants to help community organisations reduce their building’s energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. It does this by funding the installation of renewable technologies like heat pumps, battery storage, and solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, as well as some energy efficiency measures.Grants up to £80,000 for 80% of eligible costs are available to eligible community groups to help you reduce energy costs and make your building more sustainable. The funding can be used towards the cost of installing renewable energy and energy efficiency measures. It can also be used for costs like building warrants, planning permission and grid connection applications which are essential to install some measures. What improvements will CARES fund?**1. Heating requirement**CARES funding is prioritised to buildings that have or will decarbonise their heating. Your building must have:- A heat pump (air source, ground source or water source).- A connection to a heat network.- Direct electric heating (including storage heating or electric boilers) biomass heating.Or as part of your CARES project you will be installing:- A heat pump; or- A connection to a heat network.**2. Core measures eligible for CARES funding.**You must install at least one core CARES measures:- A heat pump (air source, ground source or water source).- A connection to heat network.- Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels.- Solar water heating.**3. Add-on measures**In addition to installing a core measure(s), you can also apply for funding to install one or more of the following:- Energy storage – heat/thermal or electrical.Insulation – any loft, underfloor or cavity wall insulation.- Secondary glazing.- Draught proofing.- Appropriate energy saving controls that are linked to new installations to ensure they operate efficiently.Eligible community buildings include, but are not limited to:- Village halls.- Community centres.- Community hubs.- Sports facilities.- Faith buildings.The building must be used by the local community or charitable organisation.

If you are interested in starting a tenant and resident’s association in your local area you can apply for a grant to help meet running costs of the group.The grant can cover the cost of:- Publicising and holding meetings- Responding to requests for help, from tenants and the Council- Producing information for those they represent- Keeping up to date with developments in housing- Organising events and initiatives that benefit their community

The Essentia Foundation is a charity that once operated Health and Social Welfare telephone counselling and information services supported by data processing and analysis in the field of public information. Their clients included HEBS, the Scottish Government, the Department of Health and the Central Office of Information as well as pharmaceutical companies. When the company was sold, the Essentia Foundation was established.The Foundation provides financial support to charities and community groups to help achieve the following objectives:- Improved health and social welfare of children and young people up to the age of 25 years old.- Increased opportunities for training, enhancing learning, upskilling, and developing career opportunities, and supporting young people up to the age of 25 years old to move towards employment.- To learn more about the Essentia Foundation, please visit their website (https://www.essentiafoundation.org.uk/)The fund is looking for projects that:- Support the participation in mainstream society for individuals with learning disabilities or long-term life limiting health conditions- Support young people who face long-term challenges living in poverty and inequality. - Support those who have been excluded from school to access or return to education or training opportunities- Provide skills and training to those who are furthest from the labour market- Aim to improve the health and welfare of children and young people (being those under 25) Please note the above are all in relation to supporting young people up to the age of 25 only.

Funding for an organisation to deliver ongoing support to sector organisations in Scotland, to help them drive transformational change in response to national, regional and place-based climate ambitions and policy. They want to fund a specialist organisation that can:- Help the sector track progress towards a climate ready, net zero Scotland by supporting data collection and reporting on progress.- Provide practical tools, clear guidance and training so organisations can achieve their goals for change.- Provide expert advice and connections to key networks, including tailored advice for the Screen sector.For activity between 1 April 2026 and 30 March 2027 (with a possible extension to 30 March 2028, following a review).

The primary objective of this funding call is to empower community groups and third-sector organisations to develop and implement projects that enhance resilience to natural hazardswithin their specific communities. They will support 12-month projects that that not only address immediate vulnerabilities butalso consider the broader context of community well-being.Projects should address one or more of the following key areas:1. Community-Led Risk Assessment: Develop initiatives that engage the community in a comprehensive assessment of local natural hazards, vulnerabilities, exposures and risks.2. Place-Based Resilience Planning: Support projects that facilitate the development of community-specific resilience plans that consider the unique characteristics, resources, and cultural aspects of the local area.3. Collaboration and Networking: Encourage community groups to form partnerships with local government agencies, emergency services, educational institutions, and other stakeholders to create collaborative networks that strengthen overall resilience.4. Knowledge Sharing and Replicability: Emphasise the development of project frameworks, documentation, and best practices that can be shared with other communities across Scotland, enabling them to replicate successful approaches.