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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

The fund aims to build the capacity of the community energy sector and deliver impactful renewable energy projects. It seeks to demonstrate how a just transition to net zero can benefit everyone.The priorities of the scheme are to support energy consumers in vulnerable situations, develop innovative products or services and empower consumers to reduce their carbon emissions.The scheme will fund new projects in the following funding streams:- The Small and Main Funds: aimed at projects that will support energy consumers in vulnerable situations.- The Impact Fund: aimed at projects monitoring the impact to households, of energy advice and other interventions.- Innovation Fund: aimed at projects that will develop innovative products or services to benefit households.- Carbon Emissions Reduction Fund: aimed at projects that will reduce UK carbon emissions and empower households to reduce their carbon footprint.- Just Transition Fund: aimed at projects that will develop community renewable energy which will benefit vulnerable energy consumers.

The Foundation supports civic voices to share their stories, learn and act together and influence the institutions that shape people’s lives. They support projects that seek to facilitate constructive engagement between civil society and decision makers, including civil society participation in policy development and decision-making. Applications must address one or more of their three priority themes:1. Health justice2. Climate justice3. Freedom of expression All applications are required to demonstrate how they intend to integrate considerations of gender into their project design and implementation.

The Victim Surcharge Fund (VSF) is available to organisations who provide direct support to victims of crime. It can be used to provide emergency household, food, utility, or clothing expenses for those escaping domestic abuse, or for installation of alarm systems to help victims feel safe, in line with published Guidance.The VSF is intended to supplement and enhance support services that Victim Support Organisations (VSOs) already provide to victims of crime and is primarily intended to help victims who are already accessing the services of VSOs.

This Scottish Government-funded programme was set up to support the development of co-produced, person-centred, self-management activity across Scotland. Learning from people’s lived experience of living with long-term conditions, and their unpaid carers, is at the heart of what the Fund is designed to achieve.The Self Management for Life cycle of the fund aims to support project that put people and communities at the centre. In the 2026 round, we hope to focus more clearly on two specific points of a person’s journey with a long-term condition as well as health inequalities. Applications must demonstrate their project supports, guides and enables self-management in one of the following ways:- Work that aligns with secondary prevention by working to embed self-management soon after a long-term condition or disability is identified, or early in someone’s unpaid caring role.- Work that seeks to address health inequalities while increasing the self-management capacity of people with long-term conditions, disabilities and/or unpaid caring responsibilities who experience these inequalities- Work that develops the self-management capacity of people living with long-term conditions, disabilities, and/or their unpaid carers, whilst awaiting health or social care support

The Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund (CMHWF) for Adults was established in October 2021 and to date, it has distributed grants to community initiatives supporting mental health and wellbeing across Scotland. Local TSIs have their own version of this fund.The priorities are:- 1. Tackle mental health inequalities through supporting a range of ‘at risk’ groups.- 2. Address priority issues of social isolation and loneliness, suicide prevention, poverty and inequality with a particular emphasis on responding to the cost-of-living crisis and support to those facing socio-economic disadvantage.  - 3. Support small ‘grass roots’ community groups and organisations to deliver such activities.  - 4. Provide opportunities for people to connect with each other, build trusted relationships and revitalise communities. 

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.