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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.

The Social Enterprise Just Transition Fund aims to finance organisations, businesses, communities and individuals to transition to net zero, creating jobs in low carbon industries and contributing to the region’s future prosperity.Applicants must deliver at least one of the following outcomes:- Decarbonisation and efficiencies: contribute to resource efficient and sustainable economic approaches that actively encourage decarbonisation, support low-carbon investment and infrastructure, and avoid carbon 'lock-in'- Citizens, communities and place: support affected regions by empowering and invigorating communities and strengthening local economies;- Jobs, skills and education: equip people with the skills, education and retraining required to support retention and creation of access to green, fair and high-value work- Fair distribution of costs and benefits: address existing economic and social inequality by sharing the benefits of climate action widely, while ensuring that the costs are distributed on the basis of ability to pay- Business and economy: support a strong, dynamic and productive economy which creates wealth and high quality employment across Scotland, upholds the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and continues to make Scotland a great place to do business- Adaptation and resilience: identify key risks from climate change and set out actions to build resilience to these risks, ensuring our economy is flexible, adaptable and responsive to the changing climate- Further equality and human rights: address fuel poverty and child poverty in a manner consistent with Scotland's statutory targets on each, while furthering wider equality and human rights across all protected characteristics- Environmental protection and restoration: commit to act within our planetary boundaries while protecting and restoring our natural environment.

The Fund aims to strengthen an informed, engaged and active global citizenship community in Scotland. It supports organisations and communities to work in partnership with counterparts in the Global South to address shared global challenges and contribute to the achievement of the [United Nations Sustainable Development Goals](https://sdgs.un.org/goals).Global Solidarity Fund has a particular focus on strengthening the capacity and impact of smaller organisations and community groups. It is designed to support capacity development by empowering small Scottish‑based civil society organisations (CSOs), social enterprises and local groups that operate on a not‑for‑profit basis. By providing targeted, accessible funding, GSF enables these organisations to develop, build meaningful international partnerships, and engage people across Scotland in global issues.The fund aims to achieve this through three grant types:- Scottish Civil Society Organisation (CSO) Strengthening Grant- Global Citizenship Engagement Grant- Shifting the Power Grant

The Linder Foundation provides funding to projects which fall under five main categories:- The Environment- Young People- Medical Electives (by invitation only)- Hospices and Respite Care (by invitation only)- The Arts (by invitation only)UK organisations supporting young people or the environment can apply to the respective funding stream.Young People Fund Priorities:- Projects will include those supporting young people in the community, in prison or young offenders institutions, or on release.- Providing the above support to looked after children and children in care.- Projects that show potential to be replicated or scaled up.The funder seeks to fund at least 50% of the total cost of projects supporting young people aged 10 - 24 where the majority of those who benefit have suffered from adverse childhood experiences or childhood trauma.Environment Fund Priorities:- Projects that show potential to be replicated or scaled up.- Projects involving volunteers and/or community engagement.- Projects aiming for biodiversity improvements seeking to deliver improvements for targeted species or projects that promote, implement or manage habitat improvements.- Local or regional projects.- Projects seeking to improve carbon capture.- Regenerative farming projects focusing on healthy soils, farmland eco systems for sustainable food production and carbon capture.The funder seeks to fund Environment projects where the grant represents more than 50% of the total project cost and where the project has strong community/volunteer engagementSee the website for more details of project priorities, eligibility and exclusions.

Grants for organisations working with racially minoritised young men aged 18–25 in contact with the criminal justice system.Your organisation will:- Provide specialist services for racially minoritised young men, that meet their specific needs- Have a track record of at least 18 months of delivering this type of provision- Provide person centred, holistic and long-term services- Have lived experience voice throughout their services, organisation and governance, although this may be less well-developed in some smaller organisations.Evidence shows that young men from racially minoritised communities are over-represented at many points in the justice system. This is not by chance. It’s the result of ongoing systemic bias combined with a lack of specialist services that understand their needs and the racism they have experienced, both personally and structurally. They recognise that Muslim men are also disproportionately represented in the prison system and will fund organisations working with young men from this community. The Foundation will provide multi-year grants to organisations with a focus on direct service delivery providing specialist, culturally appropriate support, centring lived experience. The Foundation values both lived experience and the importance of highly skilled staff who may not share the lived experience of those they support. They will prioritise organisations ‘led by and for’ the racially minoritised communities they serve and at least 50% of the budget will be ring-fenced for them.To receive funding organisations will fall into one of these two categories:- Organisations ‘led by and for’ the racially minoritised community they serve. - Definition of a ‘led by and for’ organisation is one where 50% of trustees/directors and 50% of staff are from the community they represent. - At least 50% of their expenditure and time is to be spent providing support to racially minoritised young men in contact with the criminal justice system. While it is understood that many of these organisations will be working across the community, they need to ensure there is a focus on the type of work being targeted.- Non-racially minoritised-led organisations providing specialist services to racially minoritised young men - Definition of specialist services is those which have been specifically designed for, and ideally co-produced with, the young men they are supporting. - It is expected that the specialist services are to be a significant part of the organisations’ work. This means clear evidence that the organisation has a focus on racial disparity in the criminal justice system, alongside delivery of specialist services that meet the needs of this group. Download the [full funding guidelines](https://henrysmith.foundation/grants/equity-in-justice/) from their website.

Go See Share is a small fund for individuals, organisations and creative businesses to explore new ways to expand their business activity and make them more financially sustainable. The aim of this fund is to help recipients undertake trips or remote meetings, allowing them to gain knowledge and insight, build relationships, and to share this knowledge back in Scotland.They are looking to support visits that will help you to consider the ways you could expand your business activity and increase your economic sustainability. This learning should also help the creative communities you will share with to do the same. Examples include:- Local, national and international trips to see examples of best practice or new business models in operation- Remote meetings which help you to research best practice or alternative business models- Relevant event, festival, and professional development opportunities that will support your business development, business practices or business sustainability- Visits to a person, organisation or business, to explore new ways of workingFunding can be used to support business sustainability, such as:- Travel and accommodation costs- Relevant event or conference tickets- Time to attend meetings with other businesses or individuals you feel you can learn from- Time to prepare presentations and materials for sharing Proposed activity should take place between May to October 2025.

This funding, which reinvests criminal assets recovered through the Proceeds of Crime Act, will provide the opportunities and the tools to support young people to make informed decisions about their future.In this phase, CashBack partners will deliver early and effective prevention activities for children and young people aged 10-25. By strengthening ties with local communities, Cashback for Communities will provide positive activities for young people facing the greatest challenges.This phase will focus on:- Providing safe spaces and suitable activities for young people to combat boredom, frustration, and isolation, which can contribute to antisocial behaviours.- Supporting young people to understand their own value and become positive influences and leaders within their communities.- Delivering holistic support for particularly vulnerable young people which includes their family or care environment. Where a young person may have the potential to come into conflict with the law, support will be extended for family and caregivers.- Offering support for young people who are already in conflict with the law to reflect on past behaviours and work towards a more positive future.

Financial support is available to communities to utilise existing Community Right to Buy legislation, allowing communities to register an interest in acquiring land or buildings and have the first option to purchase if/when it's offered for sale.

The Argyll and the Islands Community Led Local Development (CLLD) Fund has been provided by the Scottish Government's CLLD programme. The delivery will be overseen by the Argyll and the Islands Local Action Group (LAG) and will be administered by Argyll and Bute Council as the Accountable Body. Projects must demonstrate that activity will advance inclusion, equality, and diversity, and support one or more of the main fund priorities for 2026/27 which are: - Eradicating child poverty - Growing the economy- Tackling the climate emergency- Improving public services Projects must be for additional activity which your organisation is not already doing. This cannot be to fund the core costs of our organisation to meet its day-to-day objectives. Routine work should not be repackaged and presented as a project.