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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 main aims of the Community Grants Scheme are to fund activities and projects which bring community benefit and involve people in the community by bringing them together to enjoy educational, recreational, leisure and other community activities or improve local environment. Organisations running local gala events and summer festivals can apply for financial help and "in-kind" assistance in the run up to and during these events. They can provide support for play schemes that are run by parents and volunteers to provide activities for children during school holidays.

The YMI Access to Music Making Fund supports individuals and organisations working in the youth music sector to create and deliver high-quality music making opportunities for children and young people across Scotland that address inequity.Activity will reach children and young people who are less likely to participate, this could include children and young people who:- reside in areas of social and economic deprivation, for more information visit the Scottish Government website- are experiencing or at risk of experiencing harm and neglect- are care experienced, for more information visit The Promise Scotland- are in the early years (0-5) of their life- are of the global majority and/or ethnic minorities- have disabilities/learning disabilities- are neurodivergent including autism, ADHD, Tourette's syndrome- are experiencing mental health illnesses such as depression, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, bipolar, schizophrenia, PTSD, eating disorders and addictive behaviours- have experience of the criminal justice system- are young carers (as defined by the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016) and/or young parents- are experiencing homelessness or who have been homeless.

The YMI Strengthening Youth Music Fund supports freelance individuals and organisations working in the youth music sector to deliver activities that will improve, develop and strengthen the sector, and the services offered to benefit children and young people across the country. It does not support music making activity directly with children and young people – this support is offered through the [Access to Music Making Fund](https://funding.scot/funds/a0Rb0000007YdkVEAS/).This fund can support applications that propose any type of activity intended to strengthen, improve and develop Scotland’s youth music sector and services for children and young people, which meet the purpose and criteria of the fund are welcomed. This activity could include, for example: - Partnership working between formal and non-formal sectors supporting networking at local or national level - Conferences, seminars or events sharing good practice or exploring issues pertinent to the youth music sector in Scotland - Development and/or pooling of resources that will widen access to music for children and young people - Delivery of action research projects that develop new approaches or methods of working - Activity that explores ways of creating progression opportunities for children and young people through partnerships between formal and non-formal sectors - Development of technology that will widen access to music for children and young people.

The Scottish Connections Fund offers funding to organisations to set up new projects to promote Scotland’s reputation and interests. It is open to individuals and organisations who consider themselves to have a Scottish connection.You must also be able to demonstrate that your project:- has a clear link to at least one commitment in the Scottish Connections Framework- bring together or contribute to interests across sectors of activity (live/work, study, visit, do business, culture) - those multiple links will attract additional weighting during the scoring process- will increase vibrancy, visibility or connectivity between Scottish diaspora communities outside Scotland, or with Scotland itself- has a credible communications plan that promotes Scotland’s reputation as a place to live, work, visit, study, and do business- promotes inclusion and diversity, for example working in historically marginalised communities and groups, such as with minority ethnic Scots and LGBTQ communities, or encouraging participation of women and young people- is co-funded, where possibleYou can use funding to pay for things directly related to the project, for example:- venue rental- IT hardware and software- learning materials- equipment and implementation costs- travel and accommodation costs where justifiableProjects must be completed by the end of March 2026.

The Scottish Government is clear that no one should suffer disadvantage as a result of military service. The Scottish Veterans Fund (SVF) was established by the Scottish Government in 2008 and has a broad remit to support projects that benefit ex-Service personnel and their families in Scotland. The SVF is particularly aimed at those projects that will help the veterans community to overcome any disadvantage experienced as a result of service; those supporting veterans and their families to achieve a successful transition to civilian life; and projects that aim to make Scotland the most attractive place to be for those leaving Service life.There are two funding streams for small scale / larger projects.

The Public Engagement Grant Scheme (PEGS) aims to support the IOP Limit Less campaign by improving the relationship with physics of young people and their influencers, including their parents and carers. This could be by showcasing relatable role models of those doing physics, actively challenging stereotypes and preconceptions, sharing positive messages about physics, and more!The grant looks to prioritise projects that reach families with young people under the age of 16 who identify with one or more of the following groups currently underrepresented in the physics community:- Girls and young women- Disabled young people- LGBT+ young people- Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds- Black Caribbean young people

The SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration are organised and delivered by SURF in partnership with the Scottish Government.The purpose of the SURF Awards process is:- To recognise and reward best practice in communityregeneration;- To promote and disseminate best practice acrossScotland as means of sharing knowledge and experience, and thereby enhancing future policy and practice;- To highlight the important role that regeneration projects have in improving the wellbeing of individuals and communities.There are five categories of entry in the2026 SURF Awards:- Improving Scotland’s Places- Housing and Regeneration- Creative Regeneration- Removing Barriers to Employability- Community Led Regeneration

The Voluntary Sector Development Fund (VSDF) contributes to the costs associated with meeting required registration qualification criteria set by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and to help employers in achieving a qualified workforce.The fund contributes to costs associated with staff meeting the required registration qualification criteria set by the SSSC. They would particularly like small and medium-sized organisations to apply. Workers eligible for support this year are: social care workers at the level of support worker, practitioner and supervisor, providing care at home service, housing support service or care home service for adults.Funding is available for SVQ Social Services and Healthcare at SCQF level 6 or 7. For 2026-2027, the SSSC and Scottish Government would encourage level 7 applications to support supervisors who have had an extension to their qualification condition and still have to gain their practice qualification.

The Pride in Place Impact Fund is a UK Government funding initiative delivered by local authorities. The fund should be used to target areas in need, with the aim of building strong, resilient, prosperous, and inclusive communities. Applications are invited for projects that will focus on one or both of the following two themes:Environmental projects that are:- Community-led- In collaboration with a local Housing Association(s)- Focussed on, or connected to, a Transformational Regeneration Area (although applications for other areas will also be considered)ORFood system projects that:- Demonstrably improve the development of sustainable provision of healthy and locally sourced food; and/or- Focus on town centres and identified food deserts