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pilot a small number of grants to organisations to provide additional capacity to review their governance

Partick and Thornwood Ideas Fund is a Participatory Budgeting initiative funded by the Scottish Government Investing in Communities fund.The fund gives individuals and groups an opportunity to apply for grants to realise their ideas which will deliver a positive change for local people in the community. Everyone living or working in the Partick and Thornwood area will have the opportunity to vote and decide which projects are funded. Funds must be used to benefit the community of Partick and/or Thornwood. Funds can be used for a wide range of things from training, buying equipment, starting you own group, group running costs, activities, running events or trips.

The Employability Fund is being distributed by VASLan on behalf of UK Government and is funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The overall aim of the fund is to strengthen capacity of community-based employability support for individuals.For full guidance, visit the VASLan website.Your project should fit with one or more essential priorities:- People taking part in work experience programs. An example could be organisations supporting people in job-searching activities i.e. identifying volunteering options, any other work experience programs.- People engaged in job-searching following support, for example organizations supporting people in job-searching activities i.e. job clubs, identifying skills, writing CVs, identifying volunteering ortraining options.- People in employment, including self-employment, following support, i.e. when organisation is offering advice- how to find job and matching with current skills, advice or working in partnership on self-employment.- People in education/training in order to gain skills needed to employment in the future i.e. volunteers identifying education destination as a result of support during volunteering experience,staff in particular roles looking to enhance their skills in order to support individuals better.- People experiencing reduced structural barriers into employment and into skills provision, i.e. when organisation is helping with project like mentorship for people with low self- confidence and mental health barrier which previously stopped them from employment, supported employment options etc.

The Gambling Harm and Mental Health Fund exists to support community-based activity to further work on mental health and gambling harms, including a focus on suicide. The main purpose of this fund is to understand the impact of Gambling Harms on specific disadvantaged, marginalised, and minoritised communities and how this intersects with wider social, economic, and environmental factors.The fund will be administered by the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) on behalf of the Scottish Government. The Scotland Reducing Gambling Harm (ScotRGH) team will lead this work and be the main point of contact for potential and successful projects.

The aim of the Scottish Strategic Timber Transport Scheme is to facilitate the sustainable transport of timber in rural areas of Scotland for the benefit of local communities and the environment, maximising the value of monies available through innovative Regionally and Nationally Strategic projects and partnerships. Projects should have community and social and environmental benefits and reduce damage and disruption to public roads.

The Community Enterprise Fund is a funding programme that helps community organisations to start trading or set up social enterprises in Scotland. It offers grants to be spent over 6 months. Funding comes from the Scottish Government’s Social Entrepreneurs Fund (SEF).The Community Enterprise Fund is for you if your group wants to begin trading activities or set up a social enterprise so you can generate income, become more financially resilient, reduce reliance on grant funding and be better equipped to support your community.Your community group is ready to apply for a CE award if it can demonstrate:- A strong business model- showing how the idea will generate income, so it does not rely on grants in the long term.- A clear social impact– demonstrating that your group has identified a social or environmental issue they want to tackle.- A determined and motivated team – SEF focuses on the people involved in the idea, so we want you to tell us about the skills, knowledge, and passion within their team for the issue they are tackling and how these will help to make the idea a success.Your proposal must:- Be or plan to be a social enterprise – i.e. an asset-locked organisation where all profits will be reinvested into the business and its social aims (no private individuals or bodies can benefit from the assets or uncapped dividends of the business)- Be in the early stages of development – i.e. the ‘start-up’ phase and not yet regularly trading- Request eligible costs associated with starting up a social enterprise- Cover a 6-month period, with a timetable for spending the funds by the end of that period- Detail how the enterprise will become financially sustainable through trading as opposed to grant income.- Provide direct, measurable social impact to individuals, communities, and/or the environment- If the proposed social enterprise requires premises before it can start trading, demonstrate that you have found suitable premises and obtained an agreement in principle from the owner/landlord.The grant can be used for most start-up and development costs -- see website for details.

The Scottish Government’s Ecosystem Fund is designed to back programmes and organisations that help new businesses start, grow and scale, and plays a central role in strengthening the entrepreneurial infrastructure across the country. It provides grants to organisations that are driving entrepreneurial growth and innovation across Scotland.Funding is available to support projects that:- Expand access to entrepreneurship for underrepresented groups.- Deliver skills development, mentorship, and collaboration.- Boost Scotland's visibility as a global hub for startups.- Increase access to funding and investment opportunities.- Encourage innovation.The Fund is opportunity-focused, seeking initiatives that do not duplicate existing activity but fill gaps in the current ecosystem offering in Scotland. It is committed to supporting initiatives that enhance diversity, inclusion and accessibility within Scotland's entrepreneurial community. All proposed activity must be delivered, and all project costs incurred by 31st March 2026.

AIS is a capital grant scheme designed to help agritourism businesses in Scotland to be financially sustainable, profitable, and resilient businesses that will play a key role in sustaining the future of Scottish agriculture.The scheme offers funding to ensure agritourism businesses have access to capital support to allow them to carry out capital investment(s) that will help deliver this.

Part of the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES), the Community Energy Growth Fund helps communities take community energy projects from idea to delivery.The fund is designed for communities that are ready to develop or deliver a renewable energy project. You may be in the right place if:- Your organisation is a non-profit distributing Scottish charity or company and is eligible for CARES funding.- You have identified a community energy opportunity or project idea.- You have identified potential sites or locations for the project.- You are seeking support to assess feasibility, develop or construct the project.Funding can support community-owned renewable electricity generation projects, including solar PV, wind and hydro, and the integration of energy storage and demand flexibility technologies. Support is also available for projects that combine these technologies through innovative approaches and business models.Whether you’re exploring an idea, developing a proposal or preparing to deliver a project, this fund could help you take the next step.

Scotland’s Heat Network Fund (SHNF) offers capital grants to businesses and organisations in the public, private and third sectors to develop heat network projects.It aims to support the roll-out of zero emission district heat networks and communal heating systems.SHNF supports:- new low or zero direct emissions district heat networks or communal heating systems- the expansion of existing district or communal heating systems where the heat demand of the extension as a minimum is supplied by a low or zero direct emissions heat source - the decarbonisation of existing district heat networks or communal heating systems where a zero direct emissions heat source replaces an existing polluting heat source