Links to funding sources
Local authorities, NHS Boards and Community Health Partnerships in your area may have pots of funding that you may be able to apply for. Contact them directly to find out what is on offer.
Small grants
Community Food and Health (Scotland) small grant scheme (£500–£4,000)
Although this grant scheme is over subscribed every year, it is worth reading the guidance to see if your project fits. This small grant scheme has an easy to complete form and friendly advice on the phone.
Awards for All (£500–£10,000)
Any community group can apply to this fund which distributes money raised by the National Lottery. Groups should have a constitution but not necessarily be a registered charity.
www.awardsforall.org.uk/scotland
Fairer Scotland Fund
Funds available to charities delivering targeted services which tackle social inclusion and community regeneration in Scotland. The money is allocated and managed by community planning partnerships around Scotland (until 2011). Funding priorities will be decided locally and based on the local authority Single Outcome Agreements. For more general information visit
www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/regeneration/fairer-scotland-fund
For information about the fund in your area contact your area’s community planning partnership.
Sheila McKechnie Award (£5,000 per year for three years)
This award scheme is made annually to community food initiatives to commemorate the contribution that Dame Sheila McKechnie made in helping to set up the Food Standards Agency. Two community food initiatives will be chosen every year and each will receive £15,000 (£5,000 a year) over a three-year period.
www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/webpage/damemckechnieaward/
The Esmee Fairbairn Foundation
This is one of the largest funding trusts in the UK. In addition to its normal grant stream for charitable aims, it has recently launched a fund particularly for food. The fund will aim to promote an understanding of the role of food in enhancing quality of life. Applicants do not have to be a registered charity and the Foundation welcomes applications from social enterprises. There is no set grant limit.
www.esmeefairbairn.org.uk
2014 Communities
A new funding programme from the Big Lottery Fund Scotland, focused on building a legacy of wellbeing before and beyond the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014.
Sports clubs, voluntary and community organisations, community councils and schools are invited to apply for grants of between £300 and £1,000 to support and stimulate grass roots involvement in sport and physical activity, including gardening projects.
www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_2014_communities
The Scottish Co-op Community Food Discount Card
Community food initiatives likely to spend at least £50 per week can apply for a Community Food Discount Card giving a 10% discount at Scottish Co-op food stores. Applications should be sent to Regional Secretary, Co-operative Group, Scotland and NI, Robert Owen House, 87 Bath Street, Glasgow G2 2EE.
Co-operative Membership Community Fund
The Co-operative Membership Community Fund is a grants scheme that helps local communities throughout the UK. The scheme is funded by Co-operative members donating some or all of their share of profits, which is then given away in the form of small grants in their local communities. Grants are available from £100 to £2,000.
To be successful, a group must carry out positive work in the community and a project must: address a community issue; provide a good long-term benefit to the community; support co-operative values and principles; and ideally be innovative in its approach.
www.co-operative.coop/membership/local-communities/community-fund
Voluntary Action Fund
The Climate Challenge Fund
Funding is available for Scottish not-for-profit community groups to help them reduce their carbon dioxide emissions. Groups do not have to be constituted at the time of applying; however support is available for groups to constitute and a group bank account is required to receive funds. An example of a project that could be considered for funding is facilitating the local production and consumption of food. There is no set amount. Support is also available for communities who want to get to grips with measuring emissions. Applicants will be supported through the application process by Keep Scotland Beautiful, the fund administrator.
www.infoscotland.com/gogreener/61.html
Scotland Unlimited Millennium Awards
This grant pot supports individuals demonstrating enterprising solutions to social problems. Initially individuals can apply for up to £5,000 to support their work. This can be followed on by a second level award of up to £15,000.
www.unltd.org.uk/template.php?ID=1&PageName=whatareunltdawards
Scottish Community Foundation (up to £5,000)
This body gives grants to a broad cross-section of constituted groups involved in social welfare and community development activities. Grants available include general grants, grants for women's projects, and the sports relief programme.
www.scottishcf.org/strengthening-communities/apply-for-a-grant/
B&Q One Planet Living Grants
Schools, registered charitable organisations, and recognised community groups are eligible to apply to their local store for materials (£50-£150) for projects to save energy, conserve nature, support local culture and heritage, and grow your own.
www.diy.com/grants
Comic Relief
This fund supports work by community-led organisations to change things for the better. Check deadlines and funding priorities on the website. Large and small grants are available to charities or constituted groups.
www.comicrelief.com/apply_for_a_grant
Charles Hayward Foundation
The Foundation sees the value in supporting activities which have been demonstrated to work and can be replicated. It predominantly funds capital costs. Its preferred area of impact is at the community and neighbourhood level.
Small grants up to £5,000 only to charities with an annual turnover of less than £250,000. Other larger one-off grants are also available.
www.charleshaywardfoundation.org.uk
O2 It’s your community
Awards of up to £1,000 are available to local groups and individuals, for projects that will benefit a community.
www.itsyourcommunity.co.uk
Waste Recycling Environmental Limited (WREN)
WREN funds projects with a total cost of under £50,000 and grants can be awarded between £2,000 and £15,000. Typical projects suitable under the WREN small grant scheme might include village halls, community centres or play areas.
www.wren.org.uk/how-to-apply/small-grants
(To find out if your project is near a landfill site and you may be eligible for the Landfill Communities Fund check www.wrg.co.uk.)
Tesco Charity Trust - Community Awards
The Trust can provide practical benefits, such as equipment and resources for projects that directly benefit children, the elderly, and adults and children with disabilities, living in the local communities around their stores in the UK. The Trust provides one-off donations of between £1,000 and £4,000. Tesco also gives a 20% top-up to monies raised by Tesco employees for charity.
www.tescoplc.com/plc/corporate_responsibility_09/community/making_difference/charitablegiving/tesco_charity_trust
Action Earth: Small Environmental Grants
Small grants of between £50 and £250 to assist groups in carrying out environmental projects. The fund is administered by Community Service Volunteers.
www.actionearth.org.uk/contact.php
Gateway Exchange Fund
Grant awards of up to £5,000 are available to constituted, not-for-profit groups. Priority for grant awards will be given to projects that seek to involve or empower people to move on with their lives or fulfil their potential where they would otherwise not have the opportunity. For example, ex-offenders, people recovering from addiction or individuals with mental health problems or recovering from abuse. The fund is administered by Scottish Community Foundation.
www.scottishcf.org/page11264.cfm
The Gannochy Trust
Funds Scottish registered charities in the areas of health, education, social welfare, recreation and arts. Grants up to £200,000 (but normally smaller amounts). Application by letter. Trustees meet monthly.
www.gannochytrust.org.uk/
Lankelly Chase
Small grants available for play schemes. Other larger grants available for registered charities and Community Interest Companies. Check guidelines on the website and note guidelines will be revised in 2009.
www.lankellychase.org.uk
The Baily Thomas Charitable Fund
This charity was established primarily to aid the research into learning disability and to aid the care and relief of those affected by learning disability by making grants to voluntary organisations (including schools and Parent Teacher Associations) within the UK. It offers grants from £250.
www.bailythomas.org.uk
The Hugh Fraser Foundation
Funds projects conducted by registered Scottish charities. Favours projects which are well focused and which might not otherwise attract funding. Application is by letter. Trustees meet quarterly, no website available.
Contact c/o Turcan Connell, Princes Exchange, 1 Earl Grey Street, Edinburgh, EH3 9EE 0131-228-8111
Hilton In The Community Foundation
The Foundation makes grants to a wide range of charities and organisations that work with young people on health issues. Small grants of up to £5,000 are processed quickly, although it is possibly to apply for more. Hilton hotel vouchers are available to community groups for prizes in raffles or auctions.
www.hilton-foundation.org.uk, 020 7605 7733 or info@hiltonfoundation.org.uk.
Philip Lawrence Awards
Awards of up to £1,000 for young people between 11 and 20 to reward outstanding achievements in good citizenship. Deadline once a year.
www.4children.org.uk/pla/
BT
Support to improve the communication of community-based organisations who want to make a difference locally. Grants are to help groups communicate through the internet and email. Particularly useful for groups wanting to set up a website.
www.btcommunityconnections.com
UIA Charitable Foundation
Funds registered charities or formally constituted groups which work with victims of domestic abuse; victims of drug and alcohol addiction; rehabilitation of offenders; Third World poverty; and Third World human rights. They are rarely able to support requests over £1,000.
www.uia.co.uk/UNISON/About/Charitable-foundation/
Community Matters
Charities and local good causes are eligible to apply for a new Waitrose initiative called Community Matters. Customers and employees choose who gets the funding.
httwww.johnlewispartnership.co.uk/Display.aspx?MasterId=1d1b3ed8-af38-4649-88fb-ad44b0a97ae9&NavigationId=622
Scottish Centre for Intergenerational Practice
The Scottish Centre for Intergenerational Practice is making available a limited number of grants to small organisations in Scotland, from £250 to £750, through a one-off Micro Grants Programme. The closing date has been extended to 10 May 2010.
www.scotcip.org.uk/Microgrant.html
People's Postcode Trust
The People's Postcode Trust, a trust set up by the 'People's Postcode Lottery' in April 2009, offers funding from £500-£10,000 (£2,000 if not a registered charity to small organisations and community groups working in the areas of poverty prevention;advancement of health; community development; public sports; human rights; and environmental protection. The next round of funding opens on 7 June 2010.
www.postcodetrust.org.uk
Medium grants
The Esmee Fairbairn Foundation
This is one of the largest funding trusts in the UK. In addition to its normal grant stream for charitable aims, it has recently launched a fund particularly for food. The fund will aim to promote an understanding of the role of food in enhancing quality of life. Applicants do not have to be a registered charity and the Foundation welcomes applications from social enterprises. There is no set grant limit.
www.esmeefairbairn.org.uk
The Robertson Trust
This Trust supports work done by charities in Scotland. Application is by letter and there are no deadlines.
www.therobertsontrust.org.uk
The Tudor Trust
Tudor is an independent grant-making trust which supports organisations working across the UK. They aim to support work which addresses the social, emotional and financial needs of people at the margins of our society.
www.tudortrust.org.uk
Voluntary Action Fund
Runs the Volunteering Scotland grant scheme for registered charities that attract harder-to-reach volunteers. Small grants of up to £5,000 are considered through out the year and larger grants have a closing date.
www.voluntaryactionfund.org.uk/grant-schemes/vsgs
The Climate Challenge Fund
Funding is available for Scottish not-for-profit community groups to help them reduce their carbon dioxide emissions. Groups do not have to be constituted at the time of applying, however support is available for groups to constitute and a group bank account is required to receive funds. An example of a project that could be considered for funding is facilitating the local production and consumption of food. There is no set amount. Support is also available for communities who want to get to grips with measuring emissions. Applicants will be supported through the application process by Keep Scotland Beautiful, the fund administrator.
www.infoscotland.com/gogreener/61.html
Paul Hamlyn Foundation
The Foundation funds organisations whose charitable activities help people to realise their potential and have a better quality of life. The foundation is particularly interested in education and social justice. There is no minimum or maximum size of grant that organisations can apply for. Applications can be made at any time.
www.phf.org.uk/default.asp
Healthy Heart Fund
Offers grants to support innovative projects that promote heart health and prevent or reduce the risks of heart disease within specific communities in the UK. Grants can be for up to £10,000 and applications are invited from voluntary and community organisations and researchers. There are two application deadlines per year.
www.heartresearch.org.uk/healthy_heart_grants.htm
Investing in Ideas
The Big Lottery runs the Investing in Ideas grant scheme which awards grants of £500 to £10,000 to test and develop ideas that could be of benefit to your local community.www2.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_investing_ideas?regioncode=-uk
Henry Smith Charity
The Henry Smith Charity makes grants for work throughout the UK. Applications can be made for revenue and capital activity. Priority is given to work with groups experiencing social and/or economic disadvantage, for example, people with disabilities; and work that tackles problems in areas of high deprivation.www.henrysmithcharity.org.uk/grants.html
Large grants
The Esmee Fairbairn Foundation
This is one of the largest funding trusts in the UK. In addition to its normal grant stream for charitable aims, it has recently launched a fund particularly for food. The fund will aim to promote an understanding of the role of food in enhancing quality of life. Applicants do not have to be a registered charity and the Foundation welcomes applications from social enterprises. There is no set grant limit.
www.esmeefairbairn.org.uk
The Climate Challenge Fund
Funding is available for Scottish not-for-profit community groups to help them reduce their carbon dioxide emissions. Groups do not have to be constituted at the time of applying, however support is available for groups to constitute and a group bank account is required to receive funds. An example of a project that could be considered for funding is facilitating the local production and consumption of food. There is no set amount. Support is also available for communities who want to get to grips with measuring emissions. Applicants will be supported through the application process by Keep Scotland Beautiful, the fund administrator.
www.infoscotland.com/gogreener/61.html
Investing in Communities
The Big Lottery has recently relaunched its Investing in Communities Programme, offering grants of £10,000 to £1million. There are three investment areas that make up Investing in Communities: Growing Community Assets aims to help communities have more control and influence over their own future through ownership of success; Life Transitions aims to support projects that help people at key times of change, helping them to make their lives better for the future; and Supporting 21st Century Life aims to support projects that build stronger families and stronger communities.www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_investing-in-communities.htm?regioncode=-sco
Themed
Rural Direct
A new service to help rural communities in Scotland apply for a range of funding programmes aimed at tackling climate change, reducing waste and improving environmental management. Rural Direct is operated by the Crofters Commission and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations.
www.ruraldirect.org.uk/
Young Scot Action Fund
Grants for 12-26-year-olds in Scotland to take ideas and turn them into action. Grants of £200 and £750 are given out to individuals and groups respectively. Deadlines are normally every three months but they can fast track the process in emergencies. Applications can be made online.
www.youngscot.org/actionfund
The Joanies Trust
The Trust helps registered charities who work with young people aged 11-25. The Trust funds projects that offer intensive support to young people, as well as those that promote preventative work and diversionary activities. The average grant size is £1,000, which can be used for project, core costs and capital costs.
www.joaniestrust.org.uk
Elizabeth Finn Care
Elizabeth Finn Care is the UK's largest, independent, direct grant-giving charity, helping individuals of British or Irish nationality, their partners and children with one-off grants or regular allowances towards meeting life's essentials. The Charity gives practical help, advice and support. For more information, visit
www.elizabethfinncare.org.uk
Changing lives
Crisis is the national homeless charity, dedicated to providing realistic opportunities for single homeless people to move towards financial independence. Changing Lives is its grant awarding project, and provides financial awards of up to £2,500 to people who have been homeless to help them move towards a work-based vocational goal. The award could be used to pay for a course, for materials to use at work or for start-up equipment to set up a business.
www.crisis.org.uk/pages/crisis-changing-lives.html
Scottish Investment Fund
This is a fund managed by Social Investment Scotland for social enterprises. The fund opened in September 2008 and is looking for third sector organisations which assist achievement of the 15 National Outcomes as laid out in Scotland Performs.
www.scottishinvestmentfund.co.uk
Third Sector Enterprise Fund
This £12 million Fund, available from April 2009 to March 2011 ‘aims to support ambitious third sector organisations that wish to operate in a more business-like and enterprising way, with a view to achieving increased sustainability’. One of the initial priorities for investment from the fund is tackling the underlying causes of health inequalities. Awards will be between £25,000 and £100,000.
www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/15300/funding/enterprising-skills-fund
The Social Entrepreneurs Fund
This fund, managed by Firstport, opened in March 2009 and is available to individuals who wish to establish new businesses with social purpose. Awards are made at three levels ranging from £5,000 to £20,000 and the programme works in conjunction with the current Scotland UnLtd awards.
www.socialentrepreneursfund.co.uk
Rosa
Rosa, a new UK-wide fund devoted exclusively to championing and investing in charities working with women and girls. Work which improves the wellbeing of women will be funded.
www.rosauk.org
Coalfields Regeneration Trust
Funds organisations based within the former coalfield wards. The Trust will fund community, voluntary and statutory organisations that provide opportunities and services to residents of former mining towns. The Trust is particularly keen to support projects which: help people get back into work, such as information, advice and guidance services or work experience programmes; improve confidence and skills levels for people of all ages; encourage healthier lifestyles and participation in leisure activities; make access to community facilities and services easier for residents. The grants available range between a few hundred pounds to much bigger. Applications can be submitted at anytime.
www.coalfields-regen.org.uk/applyingforfunds/default.asp
Development Awareness Fund
The Fund is run by The Department for International Development (DFID). The aim of the fund is to promote awareness and understanding of global poverty and development issues. The Fund is open to any UK-based not-for-profit organisation or network who can apply for grants ranging from £10,000 to £100,000 per annum for a maximum of three years. Projects have included farm visits and groups tackling fair trade issues. For more information visit
www.dfid.gov.uk/Working-with-DFID/Funding-Schemes/Funding-for-not-for-profit-organisations/DAF/
Leonardo Di Vinci fund
All Leonardo projects involve working with European partners to build partnerships, exchange best practice, increase the expertise of staff and develop the skills of learners. The programme is open to every organisation involved in vocational education and training, so why not have a look at the opportunities available?
www.leonardo.org.uk/default.asp?section=00010001§ionTitle=Home
The Links Foundation
The Links Foundation reinvests funding back into the communities and those surrounding areas Working Links (www.workinglinks.co.uk) work within. There is no set amount to apply for but average awards are £20,000.
www.linksfoundation.org
Women's Fund for Scotland
Grants of up to £5,000 are available from the Scottish Community Foundation for International Women's Day 2010 events, or for projects that benefit women run by not-for-profit groups. Project funding is for between 25% to 100% of project costs, and projects should support women's development, self-sufficiency and economic and social equality; applications that support social enterprise are also of interest.
www.scottishcf.org
The Learning Launchpad
Organisations that work with young people, whatever their background, to help them achieve their potential have the opportunity to apply for funding through The Learning Launchpad. The Learning Launchpad is a grant-making fund delivered by the Young Foundation working in partnership with Edge that provides investment to organisations in their early stages of development.In particular, the Learning Launchpad is looking to support ideas that have a profound social impact both on individuals and on society as a whole; are innovative; are sustainable; can be replicated and are run by passionate and competent people.
www.learninglaunchpad.org
Area specific funds
Have you checked to see if your area has access to these funds?
Mineral Trust Fund
In some areas of open-cast mining the commercial operator gives a percentage of profits to a community fund. Ask your local authority for details.
Wind Farm money
In some areas communities have negotiated a payment from windfarm profits; ask your local authority for information.
Landfill funds
Contact Forward Scotland (www.forward-scotland.org.uk) to see if your area is eligible for Landfill funds. Or try WREN (www.wren.org.uk/how-to-apply/small-grants) which provides grants from Landfill funds.