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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.

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 Community Choices Small Grants programme offers community groups the opportunity to suggest project and activity ideas they want to make happen and to receive public funds in their ward to do it. The programme supports groups with a project idea that will make a difference to people living in the Falkirk area.The priorities for community grant funding are:- People: Projects that foster good community relationships between people. Projects working with people who are disadvantaged or with protected characteristics are more likely to be successful particularly if the application can provide evidence of how people are coming together to improve relationships between people and communities.- Place: Projects that encourage people to take pride in their community. Projects that clearly set out the history or culture of the community they are celebration are more likely to be successful. - Partnership: Projects that support the Council's approach to early intervention by providing services so that people can live full, independent and positive lives.

The fund welcomes applications from organisations that make a difference across a range of areas: - Community Buildings – projects which maintain and develop buildings being used and run by the community, especially projects which help ensure their sustainability for the future.- Community transport initiatives.- Conservation, wildlife and animal sanctuary projects – in particular those which improve communal land.- Education and skills development.- The elderly – projects focused on improving access to activities and services.- Energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.- Health and sport – projects that help provide access to services that aim to improve the health and well-being of the local community.- Heritage – projects that celebrate protect and promote local culture, history and heritage.- Regeneration – community projects that help to reduce crime levels, increase employment, housing or the physical environment.- Self-help groups – community groups that deliver basic services.- Vulnerable people – projects which enable increased access to services and facilities for people with disabilities, the homeless and those disadvantaged.- Young people – projects which focus on improving access to services where young people can play a key role in decision making.The community fund is open to applications from groups and projects which benefit the communities living in the following community council areas: Crathes, Drumoak and Durris; Newtonhill, Muchalls & Cammachmore; North Kincardine Rural; Portlethen and District; Stonehaven and District.