Welcome to the latest funding update from Volunteer Centre East Lothian.
| FUNDING NEWS
Tesco Stronger Starts applications needed.
Applications needed in your area from schools, charities and community organisations.
Get your application in now!
Tesco Stronger Starts needs applications from schools and organisations working with children and young people.
Examples of eligible projects include:
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School Breakfast clubs
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Holiday clubs
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Play areas
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Food banks
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Counselling and support services for children
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Equipment or non-statutory services for nurseries or schools e.g. forest schools, library books
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Equipment for Brownie, Guide or Scout Groups e.g. camping equipment, badges
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Services or equipment to support children and young people’s health
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Equipment/kit for youth sports teams
Funding up to £1500 is available for projects and Tesco customers will be able to choose which project receives the most funding by voting in store every time they shop. The scheme is open to registered charities and not-for-profit organisations, via an on-line application form. To find out more or to apply, please visit the Tesco Stronger Starts page.
https://www.greenspacescotland.org.uk/grant-funding
| ARTS & CULTURE
Hinrichsen Foundation
Funding is available to support organisations and individuals undertaking projects to promote music, particularly contemporary music, in the UK. There are two levels of funding available:
One-off small grants typically between £500 and £3,000.
Multi-year partnerships (only accepted in the May funding round).
Deadline: 19 December 2025
Welcome to the Hinrichsen Foundation – Hinrichsen Foundation
Look Aside Films – Short Film Fund
Discretionary funding is available for new and established filmmakers from any country to support short film projects taking place in the UK.
Deadline: 21 December 2025
Short Film Fund – Look Aside
Look Aside Films Fund – FilmFreeway
BBC Radio and Music Indie Development Fund
Funding of up to £25,000 is available to UK-based independent production companies to support their growth through expert mentorship and strategic guidance, with a focus on the Nations and Regions.
Deadline: 22 December 2025
BBC Radio & Music Indie Development Fund
BBC Small Indie Fund
Discretionary funding is available to small UK independent production companies with turnovers under £10 million to support their TV and digital work, with a particular focus on diverse-led businesses and those based in the Nations and English regions.
Deadline: 22 December 2025
The Small Indie Fund
Foundation Scotland – Gateway Exchange Fund
Grants to benefit people in Scotland to challenge an individual’s sense of worth and identity through creative solutions. The Gateway Exchange Fund was created to continue the work of the original Gateway Exchange: a centre in Edinburgh which in the 1980s offered help and support to those returning to the community from prisons and mental health institutions or recovering from drug addiction. The current Gateway Exchange Fund continues the original premise through the use of the arts and creative self-expression, plus through building a strong and connected sense of community. Grants up to £5,000 are available.
Deadline: 5 January 2026
The Gateway Exchange Fund | Foundation Scotland
Craft Pottery Charitable Trust – Ceramic Art: Grants to Artists
Small grants are available to studio ceramic artists in the UK to support their professional practice, research, and the development of new work. Grants of up to £1,500 are available.
Deadline: 15 January 2026
Apply for a Grant | Craft Potters Association
Art Fund – Student Opportunities
Grants are available to harness the talent of university students to help realise a project at a museum or gallery in the UK. Grants of up to £10,000 are available. Art Fund will consider 100% funding towards the costs associated with paying students for their time to help cultural organisations deliver projects.
Deadline: 16 January 2026
Student opportunities – Get funding – Art Fund
Fidelio Charitable Trust
Grant funding of up to £5,000 available to help individuals (over 21 years) and groups of exceptional ability in the UK that would not otherwise be able to carry out an artistic project or activity without financial support.
Deadline: 16 January 2026
Fidelio – Applications for grants in support of the Arts | Fidelio Charitable Trust
Scotland – Visual Artist and Craft Maker Awards (VACMA)
Visual artists and crafts makers in Scotland can apply for funding through small grants. The Visual Artist and Craft Maker Awards (VACMA) are a programme of small grants schemes delivered in partnership with local authorities and art organisations across Scotland. The schemes are managed locally by these partners. VACMA is offering fixed bursaries of £500 and £1,000:
The £500 Early-Career Bursary is for artists and makers who have graduated within the past three years, or those who can demonstrate experience of the public presentation of their work within the same timeframe.
The £1,000 Bursary is for artists and makers who can demonstrate more than three years’ experience of the public presentation of their work.
Creative Scotland is working with partners across Scotland to deliver the scheme across 24 local authorities, including Argyll and Bute.
Deadline: 03 February 2026 (17:00hrs)
Visual Artist and Craft Maker Awards | Creative Scotland
Theo Moorman Trust for Weavers
The Trust provides biennial grants to support weavers in further developing their craft through equipment, sabbaticals, or creative projects. The objective is to enable creative freedom, craft development, and the advancement of hand-weaving as an art form. Grants of between £500 and £5,000 are available.
Deadline: 05 February 2026
how to apply — Theo Moorman Trust for Weavers
Youth Music NextGen Fund
Grants are available to young creatives in the UK to help them take a step forward to participating in and changing the music industries. Grants of up to £3,000 are available. Applications will be accepted from 18-25 year old creatives (under-30s who identify as d/Deaf, neurodivergent or Disabled) in the UK who lack the finance to develop their creative project or idea. The scheme will support the future of the music industries, which may include singers, rappers, songwriters, producers, DJs, A&Rs, managers and agents, right through to roles that have yet to be defined. Round 13 opens on 9 January 2026. The deadline for applications will be 6 February 2026.
Deadline: 06 February 2026
Youth Music Funding Nextgen-fund
Association for Industrial Archaeology – Restoration Grants
Funding is available for the restoration of historically, technically, architecturally, and/or archaeologically important industrial buildings, structures, machinery, vehicles and vessels within the UK. Two funding streams are available: Major projects – up to £30,000. Grants must form a significant portion of the total project costs (normally, at least 20% of the total project costs).
Small projects – up to £10,000 for projects with total costs of no more than £12,500.
The grant is for capital funding only, not ongoing revenue funding.
Deadline: 31 March 2026
Association for Industrial Archaeology website
Music for All – Community Project Funding
Discretionary grants are available to UK-based community groups that aim to bring musical projects to their local communities. In the current round, support will be available in the following distinct areas:
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Groups working with those facing chronic diseases and conditions affecting quality of life
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Groups working with those facing financial hardship
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Youth clubs and comparable organisations
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Pure tone classical guitar 1/2 size C45A Natural
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Descant recorders
Deadline: 31 March 2026
Music for All | Music Charity in the UK | Music Funding & Grants
Paul Hamlyn Foundation – Arts-based Learning Fund
The funding of up to £ 300,000 is intended to create a more equitable school system where high-quality arts-based learning is a core part of all children’s education. Applications will be accepted from:
Arts and cultural organisations working in partnership with formal education settings (including state-funded primary and secondary schools, SEND specialist schools, Further Education colleges, alternative provision settings such as Pupil Referral Units, and some types of state-funded Early Years settings).
Organisations that are developing established programmes of work and/or testing new approaches.
Deadline: Ongoing
Paul Hamlyn Foundation – Arts-based Learning Fund website
Creative Scotland – Open Fund for Individuals
Supports a wide range of activity initiated by artists, writers, producers and other creative practitioners in Scotland. The fund is intended to support periods of research, development and/or delivery of creative activity, such as specific projects and productions for up to 24 months. It can support an individual’s time where this is related to specific creative outcomes. Grants are available for amounts between £500 and £50,000.
Deadline: Ongoing
Creative Scotland – Open Fund for Individuals website
National Lottery Open Fund for Organisations
This fund aims to support organisations who seek funding to undertake creative activity such as a specific project or production, a programme of creative work, or a period of research and development. This includes funding for: a specific one-off project or production or a period of creative research and development or a longer term programme of work.
It can also support organisations to undertake business and organisational development that will:
enhance their business sustainability through the development of new or more diverse income streams, or consider broader organisational development costs.
Eligible organisations can apply for funding between £1k and £100k for projects or programmes lasting up to 18 months.
Deadline: Ongoing
National Lottery Open Fund for Organisations website
Awards for Young Musicians
Grants of £100 to £2,000 are available for the UK’s most talented young instrumentalists in any genre, aged five to 17 years of age who, because of financial need, may be prevented from fulfilling their creative potential.
Deadline: Ongoing
Awards for Young Musicians website
BFI National Lottery Audience Projects Fund
Grants of between £20,000 and £200,000 are available to support various audience related activities in the UK, including film festivals, distribution releases, multiplatform distribution proposals, touring film programmes, large scale and ambitious film programmes. Applications are accepted all year round but must be submitted 16 weeks before any funded activity.
Deadline: Ongoing
BFI National Lottery Audience Projects Fund website
| BUSINESS & ENTERPRISE
Business Catalyst (Large) Grants
Grants are intended to support jewellers, silversmiths and allied industry practitioners in the UK to grow their business, develop their skills and expand their business knowledge. Grants of up to £7,000 available.
Deadline:01 February 2026
£7,000 grants for UK based jewellers, silversmiths and small businesses – The Goldsmiths’ Centre
SWEF Business Grants
Grants are available for young entrepreneurs across the UK, aged between 18 and 30, to start or grow a new business. The following levels of funding are available:
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Start-up grants of up to £500 for pre-revenue businesses or businesses turning over less than £500 per month.
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Business grants of up to £2,000 for businesses turning over more than £500 per month that have been trading for less than two years.
Deadline: Ongoing
SWEF Business Grants for 18 – 30 Year Olds in the South West
MMC Venture Capital
Equity investments available to early-stage UK SMEs that demonstrate high growth potential. Although MMC Ventures can provide investments to companies in any sector, they tend to focus support on the following: Business software & Digital Media
Financial services
E-commerce
Business services
Deadline: Ongoing
MMC Venture Capital website
Pentech Ventures
Pentech invests in teams who believe they can build a category leading software company. Areas of interest include: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning; Big Data; Infrastructure such as Blockchain; and verticals that are enabled via the efficient use of AI and new infrastructure approaches, such as FinServ, Health, and Enterprise Transformation. Initial investment is likely to be £500,000 to £2 million, with up to £10 million invested over the lifetime of the investment.
Deadline: Ongoing
Pentech Ventures website
Access to Work
Financial assistance is available to help organisations in Great Britain with any extra employment costs that result from employing a person with a disability. Access to Work provides grants to employers towards extra employment costs which result from an employee having a disability. The programme aims to provide practical advice and support to disabled people and their employers, in order to overcome work related obstacles which result from disability.
Deadline: Ongoing
Access to Work website
Kaleidoscope Investments (Ki)
Kaleidoscope is aimed at giving financial backing to help disabled entrepreneurs in the UK start their own business. The fund will assist in the development of the businesses it invests in and ensure they make a worthwhile return for investors.
Deadline: Ongoing (link may be slow to load)
Kaleidoscope Investments website
Foundation Scotland – Social Investment Fund
Grant and loan investments are available to social enterprises, community organisations and charities across Scotland to benefit local communities. Objectives supported: Prevent and/or relieve poverty, Advance community development, Advance education and urban and rural regeneration.
Deadline: Ongoing (link may be slow to load)
Foundation Scotland – Social Investment Fund website
Growth Impact Fund
Funding is available to early stage growing social enterprises and charitable organisations in the UK to address the structural barriers that diverse organisations face.
Deadline: Ongoing
Growth Impact Fund website
Redundancy Payments – Financial Assistance
Assistance to help employers in the UK with severe cash flow problems to make necessary redundancy payments.
Deadline: Ongoing
Redundancy Payments – Financial Assistance website
Scottish Community Alliance – Community Learning Exchange Fund
Grants up to £1,000 are available to local community groups in Scotland to facilitate learning exchanges with other community groups. To be eligible to apply, applicants can access the fund through the SCA’s member networks.
Deadline: Ongoing
Scottish Community Alliance – Community Learning Exchange Fund website
LaunchMe
LaunchMe is an accelerator programme for ambitious, social enterprise start-ups in Scotland. It aims to develop a pool of strong, capable and ambitious social enterprises that can go on to secure investment, so they can achieve social impact at scale.
Deadline: Ongoing
LaunchMe website
The Prospectory – Idea Fund
The funding is intended to enable people to test out an innovative technical solution that can deliver a social or environmental benefit. The fund offers grants ranging from £250 to £3,000.
Deadline: Ongoing
The Prospectory – Idea Fund website
| CHILDREN & FAMILIES
Serving Families: On the Move Programme
Grants are available for one-year projects within the UK that are aimed at improving the quality of life for newly relocated service families impacted by relocation due to service life. Grants of between £5,000 and £50,000 in total are available towards a project being delivered over a period of up to 12 months.
Deadline: 17 December 2025
Serving Families: On the Move programme 2025-26 : Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust
1001 Critical Days Foundation – Charity Grants
Grants are available to UK registered charities delivering frontline work which supports babies during the first 1001 critical days – from pregnancy to the age of two. The funding is intended for projects demonstrating measurable impact on improving outcomes for babies, and those that deliver integrated services through family hubs and other ‘one-stop shop’ models across the UK. Most grants awarded will fall between £20,000 and £80,000 per year, typically for three to five years.
Deadline: 19 December 2025
Early Childhood Education Funding | 1001 Critical Days Foundation
Baily Thomas Charitable Fund
Grants are available to voluntary organisations, charities and schools in the UK to assist with the care and relief of children, young people and adults with learning disabilities in the UK. The Charity operates the following grant schemes:
Small Grants: from £250 up to £9,000.
General Grants: over £9,000.
Deadline: 31 December 2025
Welcome to Baily Thomas Charitable Fund | Baily Thomas Charitable Fund
Challenger Children’s Fund
Small grants are available to help meet the needs of physically disabled children (under the age of 18) in Scotland. The aim of the scheme is to meet the special needs of children in Scotland who have long-term, significant disabilities by offering funding for anything that would not otherwise be provided by statutory sources. £750 available.
Deadline: 02 January 2026
Challenger Children’s Fund
Trefoil – Organisational Grants
Discretionary grants are available for registered charities and other not-for-profit organisations to deliver projects and activities that support children with additional needs across Scotland.
Deadline: 13 February 2026
Applications — Trefoil
Kelly Family Charitable Trust
Grants are available for UK registered charities, working locally or regionally in the United Kingdom, whose activities nurture and support family life. The three principal areas that the charity wishes to support are:
Interventions that support families and help them in ways that prevent the fracture of the family unit, eg relationship counselling, mediation.
Families where sexual abuse, physical abuse, domestic violence, alcohol abuse and drugs abuse threaten the integrity of the family unit.
Prisoners and in particular their families, during and after the period of imprisonment.
Deadline: 01 March 2026
Kelly Family Charitable Trust – Home
The Big Bang Competition
An annual competition to reward young people in the UK who have shown outstanding achievements in all areas of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). Judging and prizes will be separated into three categories according to the entrant’s year group, for the engineering, science and technology streams: Junior (Years 7 to 9)
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x winner £500
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x runner- certificate
Intermediate (Years 10 to 11)
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x winner £500
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x runner-up certificate
Senior (Years 12 to 13)
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x winner £500
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x runner-up certificate
The winner of each stream will win £1,000.
Competitors in any age category are eligible for this prize. Special awards will also be given at the ceremony.
Deadline: 04 March 2026
The Big Bang website
Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts – JJ Charitable Trust Literacy Small Grants Scheme
Grants are available for organisations undertaking charitable projects focusing on literacy teaching for children with learning difficulties, including dyslexia, in the UK. Grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 are available.
Groups can apply for a multi-year grant, over a maximum period of three years.
Deadline: 04 March 2026
The JJ Charitable Trust – The Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts
Aberlour Urgent Assistance Fund
The Urgent Assistance Fund remains committed to providing emergency cash grants to help families who are struggling to provide essentials such as food, heating, beds and clothing for their children. Applications must be submitted via a sponsor. Sponsors can be frontline professionals working for a registered charity, housing association or public sector organisation who:
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are working directly with the children/young person
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have made a full assessment of the child’s or young person’s needs
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Children and young people must meet the following criteria:
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Aged under 21 OR aged 25 and under if the young person is care experienced.
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Living on a low income and experiencing financial hardship.
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Have experienced a crisis that has recently had a significant and enduring impact on:
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their wellbeing
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their development and education
The family or young person has recently taken action to improve their situation, are actively engaging with support and are moving on from the crisis.
Deadline: Ongoing
Aberlour Urgent Assistance Fund website
True Colours Trust – UK Small Grants
Small grants are available to UK registered charities and community interest companies that are working to make a difference to the lives of disabled children (up to 25 yo) and their families in the UK. Grants of up to £10,000 are available.
Deadline: Ongoing (link may be slow to load)
True Colours Trust – UK Small Grants website
Buttle UK – Chances for Children
Grants of up to £2,400 are available for children and young people who have experienced a crisis that has recently had a significant and enduring impact on their wellbeing and educational engagement.
Deadline: Ongoing
Buttle UK – Chances for Children
Variety Club – Equipment Grants
Grants are available for specialist equipment for the direct use of children up to the age of 18 years who are sick, disabled or disadvantaged and are resident in the UK.
Deadline: Ongoing
Variety Club – Equipment Grants
Percy Bilton Charity – Grants for Organisations
Grants up to £5,000 are available to UK registered charities with primary objectives to assist one or more of the following groups: disadvantaged/underprivileged young people (under 25 years old); people with disabilities (physical or learning disabilities or mental health problems); older people (aged over 60).
Deadline: Ongoing
Percy Bilton Charity – Grants for Organisations website
Happy Days Children’s Charity
Funding for families with children aged 3-17 who are disabled, have a special needs or have been abused. The aim is to help as many people as possible by funding trips, experiences, respite breaks and group activity holidays for those who need them most. Details of the different types of trips that we offer can be found on the website.
Deadline: Ongoing
Happy Days Children’s Charity
| COMMUNITY FUNDING
W.G. Edwards Charitable Foundation
Grants are available to UK-based charities that can demonstrate how they are making the lives of people over the age of 65 years better. Grants tend to be between £1,000 and £1,500.
Deadline: 12 December 2025
W.G. Edwards Charitable Foundation website
Thomas Wall Trust – Grants for Registered Charities
Grants of up to £5,000 are available for UK registered charities for specific projects that improves communication skills for disadvantaged adults and supports NEET people into employment.
Deadline: 22 December 2025
Thomas Wall Trust | Thomas Wall Trust
Future Woodlands Scotland – Urban Forestry Challenge Fund
Grants are available to community groups, local authorities, not-for-profit organisations, charities and schools in Scotland for planting, forestry management and educational projects that will address the need for more trees and green spaces in Scotland’s urban areas.
Deadline: 23 January 2026
Urban Forestry Programme | Future Woodlands Scotland
Anton Jurgens Charitable Trust
Grants are available to UK based charities for projects that support people of all ages who are socially disadvantaged and/or have disabilities.
Deadline: Ongoing
Anton Jurgens Charitable Trust website
Pub is the Hub
Pub is the Hub encourages rural pub owners, licensees, and their local communities to work together to support, retain and locate local services, where possible, within the pub, whilst often improving the viability of the business itself. The provider may be able to assist some projects through its own Community Services Fund, which aims to support projects as a fund of last resort, where no local funding for services currently exists. A grant of up to £3,000 may be provided. Pub is The Hub does not always have funds to be a direct provider of grants or loans for individual diversification projects. It does, however, provide advice help and support at no cost to licensees and seek to work with the local authorities to find the potential funding sources.
Deadline: Ongoing
Pub is the Hub website
Robertson Trust’s Community Spaces Fund
Funding is intended to support the running costs of local community centres, hubs or anchor organisations that are delivering and/or hosting a range of services and activities in places with high levels of deprivation. Examples of eligible work include: The running costs of an accessible community hub based in a town with high levels of deprivation. The hub hosts and delivers services for local people, including community meals, family activities, a youth group and drop-in sessions with partner organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau and local employability service.
The running costs of a village hall in a rural community where there are no other community facilities. The hall hosts a range of groups and services, such as a parent and toddler group, a food pantry, and warm space, and provides access to IT facilities. Grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 per year for up to three years are available to registered charities working in Scotland. Organisations should demonstrate the various services they deliver and/or host related to preventing or reducing poverty and trauma for local people.
Deadline: Ongoing
Robertson Trust’s Community Spaces Fund website
Royal Countryside Fund – Supporting Rural Communities
The UK-wide Supporting Rural Communities grant programme launched on Friday 10th January 2025.
This new differentiated funding will support transformative, community-led initiatives across the UK, unlocking the huge potential for positive change in rural communities. The aim is to support innovative solutions that will “power up, not prop up” communities, inspiring change and encouraging economic vibrancy.
Organisations can apply for grants of up to £25,000 over a period of 24 months to deliver activities along the themes of:
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Keeping young people in the countryside
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Powering up rural communities
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Increasing environmental sustainability • Building emergency resilience in rural areas.
Support will be focused on isolated rural areas where the activity is required due to a lack of alternative services. Projects must be community led and show that they actively listen to, understand and respond to the needs of their local community. The fund is also looking for community organisations that demonstrate one or more of the following characteristics:
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Working towards a long-term vision • Facilitating collaboration/connectedness
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Demonstrating innovation.
Deadline: Ongoing
Royal Countryside Fund – Supporting Rural Communities website
National Lottery Awards for All – Scotland
The National Lottery Awards for All programme is a partnership between The National Lottery Community Fund
Scotland, Sportscotland and Creative Scotland. For arts and sports projects, applications can be made for up to £10,000 supporting projects for up to 12 months. For community-led projects (that are not primarily arts or sport focused), applications can be made for up to £20,000 per year supporting projects for up to two years. Groups can only hold one National Lottery Awards for All grant at a time.
Deadline: Ongoing
National Lottery Awards for All – Scotland website
Cruden Foundation
This fund aims to support charitable projects and activities in Scotland for the benefit of people living there. Funding is intended to support projects with a strong focus on community welfare, medical support and research, the arts, education, and conservation. Most grants are in the £2,500 to £5,000 range, although both smaller and larger grants can also be requested.
Deadline: Ongoing
Cruden Foundation website
UK Community Foundations
Grants for projects in all sectors of the local community. Each foundation has its own character appropriate to the location and grants may be made to a wide range of activities including :health; children and young people; arts and culture; the environment; services. Community foundations can meet all areas of community need, including but not limited to:
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Arts and culture.
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Education.
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Environment.
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Health.
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Community development.
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Children and young people.
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Older people.
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Employment and training.
Deadline: Ongoing
UK Community Foundations website
Robertson Trust – Wee Grants
Grants of up to £5,000 are available. Revenue and capital funding for constituted community groups and small charities who support people who are experiencing (or are at high risk of experiencing) poverty and trauma, with an annual income of under £30,000.
Deadline: Ongoing
Robertson Trust – Wee Grants website
National Lottery Community Fund – The UK Fund
Grants of £500,000 to £5 million are available to not-for-profit groups for projects which forge connections between communities to create a better-connected society across the UK.
Deadline: Ongoing
National Lottery Community Fund – The UK Fund website
| ENVIRONMENT & CONSERVATION
National Lottery Community Fund – Climate Action Fund – Our Shared Future
Large grants for partnership projects that involve more people in climate action in the UK and to inspire ‘bold and exciting change’. The minimum grant is £500,000. It is expected that most grants will be between £1 million and £1.5 million over three to five years. Consideration will also be given to larger or longer-term projects.
Deadline: 17 December 2025
Climate Action Fund – Our Shared Future website
Scottish Hydro Electric Community Trust
Grants are available to support charities and community projects with the cost of electricity supply connections either to a new property or to upgrade an existing supply. For community projects a grant of routinely between 50% and 75% may be awarded and the benefit to the community will influence the grant.
Deadline: 18 December 2025
Home – Scottish Hydro-Electric Community Trust
National Lottery Heritage Fund: Strategic Initiatives – Landscape Connections
Grants are available for not-for-profit organisations to deliver projects and activities that improve protected landscapes across UK and make them more accessible. Grants range from £10,000 to £10 million.
Deadline: 26 February 2026 (noon)
Strategic initiatives | The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) – Development Fund
Grants are available for community groups in Scotland at the early stages of their community-owned energy or shared ownership journey. Local Energy Scotland administers the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES). Local Energy Scotland provides free impartial advice and support for community groups, rural businesses, social enterprises and other stakeholders to advance local energy projects. Grants of up to £30,000 to cover up to 100% of eligible costs are available. Scottish constituted non-profit distributing organisations can apply.
Examples of support for early-stage capacity building activities include:
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Funding for events.
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Community consultations.
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Community energy plans or action plans.
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Renewable energy option appraisals.
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Initial legal advice.
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Support for part-time or temporary staff or a development officer to take your project forward.
Deadline: 28 February 2026
CARES Development Fund · Local Energy Scotland
The Mushroom Trust
This fund aims to support the creation, enhancement, and upkeep of green spaces throughout Scotland. This includes both the creation of urban spaces, such as public parks, community gardens and allotments, as well as other environmental and conservation projects, such as ancient woodland restoration projects. Grants of between £500 and £10,000 are available. Eligible projects include:
Formal gardens.
Public parks and pathways.
Community gardens, woodlands, orchards, and allotments.
Cycle ways.
Woodland restoration.
The Trustees encourage applications for the initial costs for design work in connection with new projects where this has not yet been considered.
Deadline: 31 March 2026
The Mushroom Trust website
Sea-Changers Grant Programme UPDATED
One-off grants of up to £2,500 are available to UK-based marine conservation charities and not-for-profit organisations for projects that address specific marine conservation areas. Two levels of funding are available:
Small Grants programme – up to £500.
Main Grants programme – between £500 and £2,500.
Deadline: 31 March 2026
Marine Conservation Charity UK | Sea-Changers
Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund (SMEEF)
Funding is available to enable investment in tangible, effective marine and coastal restoration projects in Scotland, undertaken by organisations across all sectors. The main aim of the Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund (SMEEF) is to support practical improvements to Scottish marine and coastal ecosystems. Although it is anticipated that most applications for enhancement projects will initially focus on salt marsh, seagrass, sand dunes, native oysters, marine birds and cetaceans; the funder is keen to receive proposals for research to inform a broader range of potential marine and coastal enhancement opportunities across all relevant species and habitats.
Deadline: Ongoing
SMEEF website
Pets Foundation – Preventing Pet Relinquishment Grants
Grants are available for projects which aim to keep pets with their owners and out of rescue, including projects providing emergency pet fostering for people facing crisis, subsidised veterinary care, neutering schemes and pet food banks. Grants of up to £80,000 per year are available. Multi-year funding applications, up to a three-year period, will be considered.
Deadline: Ongoing
Pets Foundation website
Scottish Forestry Community Fund
Grants are available to voluntary and community organisations, development trusts, social enterprises, charities and local authorities for projects and activities that encourage people to use woods more. The funding aims to encourage and support greater use of woods by people to improve their health, wellbeing and life chances. Applicants will need to provide match funding for projects above £1,000.
Deadline: Ongoing
Scottish Forestry Community Fund website
Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Grant for Staff and Fleets
Grants are intended to support Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the UK with the costs of electric vehicle infrastructure and chargepoints on their business premises.
Deadline: Ongoing
Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Grant website
Pets Foundation – Rescue Centre Grants
Grants are available for charities and non-profit organisations in the UK whose main objective is the rescue and rehoming of domestic pets in the UK.
The Pets Foundation provides three grant programmes:
Rescue Centres – to support organisations whose main activities are the rescue and rehoming of UK pets.
Pets Assisting People – to support organisations whose main activities are one or more of the following:
The provision of temporary or ongoing assistance to ensure pets can remain with their owners, where rehoming takes place only when it is not possible to reunite the pet with their owner.
Changing the lives of adults and children through the provision of animal-based activities or practical assistance.
Preventing Pet Relinquishment – to support projects that aim to keep pets with their owners and out of rescue.
Deadline: Ongoing
Pets Foundation – Rescue Centre Grants website
Plug-in Vehicle Grant (PIVG) Scheme
As announced by the Chancellor at the Autumn Budget, £120 million will be provided in 2025-26 to support the purchase of new electric vans via the Plug-in Vehicle Grant and to support the manufacture of wheelchair accessible EVs. The amount of the grant depends on which category the vehicle is in.
Deadline: Ongoing
Plug-in Vehicle Grant (PIVG) Scheme website
Exchange Market
A pilot funding scheme rewarding arable farmers in the UK for reducing emissions within their supply chains through tailored, verified plans. Farmers can join Exchange Market by having a completed Exchange baseline and a recent Farm Carbon Toolkit assessment. The Soil Association Exchange will then work with applicants to create a verified emissions reduction plan. With annual payments based on verified results, the programme ensures transparency and accountability at every step. Farmers in the scheme can earn up to £60 per tonne of carbon reduced annually, with 50% of payments provided upfront to support their transition.
Deadline: Ongoing (website may be slow to load)
Exchange Market website
Esmee Fairbairn Foundation – Grants
The minimum grant size is £30,000 and available to organisations doing legally charitable work in the UK that focuses on the Foundation’s funding priorities of improving the natural world, securing a fairer future, and strengthening the bonds in communities in the UK.
Deadline: Ongoing
Esmee Fairbairn Foundation – Grants website
National Lottery Community Fund – Climate Action Fund – Our Shared Future
Grants of £500,000 to £1.5 million over three to five years are available to local not-for-profit groups and partnerships for community-driven projects. They want to reach people who are new to climate action by funding other types of organisations too. And by using people’s everyday activities as a starting point for climate action. There is a plan to close to applications in late 2025. The final deadline will be announced nearer the time.
Deadline: Ongoing
Our Shared Future website
Swire Charitable Trust
Grants are available for UK registered charities working to deliver positive and lasting change to UK society under three programme areas: opportunity, environment and heritage.
Deadline: Ongoing
Swire Charitable Trust website
Electric Vehicle Chargepoint and Infrastructure Grant for Landlords
Funding to install electric vehicle chargepoints as a landlord, social housing provider or property factor.
Deadline: Ongoing
Electric Vehicle Chargepoint and Infrastructure Grant website
| GENERAL FUNDING
Stafford Trust
The Trust will consider applications for grants from charities registered in the United Kingdom, with preference being given to charitable organisations operating in Scotland
Grants (between £500 and £5,000) have previously been made for projects in the following areas:
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Child welfare.
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Medical research & support.
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Animal welfare.
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Services personnel welfare.
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Sea rescue.
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Community projects.
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Overseas support.
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Adult welfare.
Deadline: 30 December 2025
Apply for a grant – Stafford Trust
Turtleton Charitable Trust
Grants of up to £25,000 are available to registered charities in Scotland for charitable projects in the fields of heritage, the arts and education.
Deadline: 31 December 2025
Turcan Connell | Turtleton Trust Grant Application
Weir Charitable Trust
Grants of up to £25,000 are available to small charities or community groups in Scotland for work addressing sport, health, culture, animal welfare, or recreational facilities.
Deadline: 06 February 2026
The Weir Charitable Trust
SUEZ Communities Fund Scotland
The SUEZ Communities Fund – Scotland supports community improvement projects that fall under the following categories:
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Land Reclamation (Object A)
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Community Recycling (Object B)
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Public Amenities (Object C)
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Biodiversity (Object D)
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Historic Buildings, Structures or Sites (Object E)
The Scottish Landfill Communities Fund is an initiative which allows landfill operators to release tax credits to environmental and community groups. The scheme broadly aims to benefit local communities in the vicinity of a landfill site. Grants of between £3,000 and £20,000 are available. Projects must have an overall cost of no more than £40,000.
Deadline: 18 February 2026
SUEZ Communities Fund – Scotland – Grantscape Grantscape
MacRobert Trust
Grants are available for UK registered charities with a preference for organisations based in Scotland which have projects that address the themes set out by The MacRobert Trust.
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Theme 1: Armed Forces & Good Citizenship
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Theme 2: Education & Professional Excellence
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Theme 3: Local Community & Other MacRobert Interests
Deadline: Various
MacRobert Trust website
Foundation Scotland
Some of the funds are available on a Scotland-wide basis, and others are aimed at specific geographical areas or themes. You’ll find grant size and criteria information on each fund’s page, together with any unique criteria. Also, every fund lists a deadline for applications, and there may be more than one round of funding each year. When searching, be sure to note all the key dates in the fund listing.
Deadline: Various
Foundation Scotland website
RS MacDonald Charitable Trust
Funding is available for registered charities in Scotland in the following areas: tackling child abuse and neglect; visual impairment; neurological conditions; medical research; and animal welfare. The Trust’s principal areas of interest are:
Tackling child abuse and neglect.
Visual impairment.
Neurological conditions.
Medical research.
Animal welfare.
Small grant applications are accepted any time.
Deadline: Ongoing
RS MacDonald Charitable Trust website
Rhododendron Trust
Grants are available to UK registered charities who are working for the welfare of the disadvantaged in the UK and overseas as well as some cultural and wildlife projects.
Deadline: Ongoing
Rhododendron Trust website
Mickel Fund
Grants of up to £10,000 are available. Funding is available for projects in Scotland that address one or more of the following categories: The advancement of education.
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The prevention or relief of poverty.
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The advancement of health and saving of lives.
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The advancement of the arts, heritage, culture and science.
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The advancement of public participation in sports.
Deadline: Ongoing
Mickel Fund website
Gordon Fraser Charitable Trust
The Gordon Fraser Charitable Trust offers grants to registered charities active in Great Britain.
The funding is intended to support projects relating to young people, people with disabilities, the environment and the arts. Grants usually range from £500 to £2,500.
Deadline: Ongoing
Gordon Fraser Charitable Trust website
National Lottery Awards for All – Scotland
For arts and sports projects, applications can be made for up to £10,000 supporting projects for up to 12 months. For community-led projects (that are not primarily arts or sport focused), applications can be made for up to £20,000 per year supporting projects for up to two years.
Deadline: Ongoing (link be may slow to load)
National Lottery Awards for All – Scotland website
Matthew Good Foundation – Grants for Good Fund
A small number of grants are available for local community groups, charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises in the UK for projects that have a positive impact on communities, people, or the environment.
Deadline: Ongoing
Matthew Good Foundation – Grants for Good Fund
The Rozelle Trust
The Trust will generally support smaller charities, especially those working at grass roots and local community level where the funds will be able to make a significant difference. Awards will be made to support a wide range of charitable activities to benefit young people and children, those experiencing poverty, and the disabled.
Deadline: Ongoing
The Rozelle Trust website
Scottish Government – Heavy Goods Vehicle Market Readiness Fund: SME Fleet Analysis Support
Grants are available to help SME and micro HGV fleets in Scotland assess decarbonisation options through funded fleet reviews, with findings shared with the haulier and Transport Scotland, as part of the Heavy Goods Vehicle Market Readiness Fund programme.
Deadline: 9 December 2025
SME Fleet Analysis Support website
Motability Foundation – Better Access to Active Travel Experiences and Equipment
Grants of up to £1,000 are available for not-for-profit projects in the UK that improve active travel options for disabled people and have an immediate or a longer-term impact.
Deadline: 15 December 2025
Better Access to Active Travel Experiences and Equipment | Organisation grants
Motability Foundation – Support for Travel Training Schemes
The funding aims to increase disabled people’s confidence when travelling, by supporting organisations to deliver and grow impactful travel support programmes. Grants of up to £1,000 available.
Deadline: 15 December 2025
Support for Travel Training Schemes | Organisation grants
Fight for Sight – Digital Inclusion Fund
Grants are available for not-for-profit organisations in the UK to improve access to employment for blind and vision impaired people by driving digital inclusion at crucial points as people start to get themselves work ready and start or develop their careers.
Deadline: 6 January 2026 (noon)
Fight for Sight – The Digital Inclusion Fund
WCIT – IT4Good Grant Programme
Grants of up to £15,000are available for not-for-profit organisations across the UK to deliver IT projects and activities that support the themes of education, inclusion, IT for charities, and understanding of IT.
Deadline: 6 February 2026
Home – WCIT Charity
Walk Wheel Cycle Trust – Love Your Network Grant
Grants are available for community groups and organisations for small, community-led projects that benefit people or wildlife on traffic-free sections of the National Cycle Network routes in Scotland. The value of equipment and training requested should not exceed £1,000.
Deadline: 26 February 2026
Love Your Network support for community groups on the National Cycle Network in Scotland – now open to applications – Walk Wheel Cycle Trust
Motability Foundation – Expanding Access to Driving Tuition for Disabled People
Grants are available for not-for-profit organisations that provide driving tuition for disabled people within the UK to support the continuation or expansion of existing services and support others to access this provision. Grants of between £50,000 and £1 million are available over a period of up to three years.
Deadline: 31 March 2026
Expanding Access to Driving Tuition for Disabled People | Organisation grants
Fat Beehive Foundation
Grants of up to £2,500 are available to small UK registered charities to help them improve their digital presence. The funding is intended to support the creation of websites or digital products that enable small charities to carry out their work in a more efficient and effective way, resulting in positive social benefit.
Deadline: 31 March 2026
How to apply – The Fat Beehive Foundation – The Fat Beehive Foundation
Robertson Trust – Transport Grants
The new-look Transport Grants offer increased funding of between £5K-20K per year for 1-3 years. For registered charities working in Scotland. Currently only accepting applications for Transport Grants for work which addresses our themes of Financial Security, Education Pathways or Work Pathways, or which are focused on removing transport barriers for people and places with higher rates or risks of experiencing poverty and trauma, to ensure they can participate in and connect with their communities. This is in recognition that a lack of access to affordable, reliable transport can impact the ability to participate in society and thrive.
Deadline: Ongoing
Robertson Trust – Transport Grants website
Bus Operator Accessible Information Regulations Support Grant
Small operators of local bus services in Great Britain can apply for grant funding to increase the provision of onboard audible and visible information, in order to comply with the requirements of the Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023.
Deadline: Ongoing
Bus Operator Accessible Information Regulations Support Grant website
Paths for All – Ian Findlay Path Fund
Grants are available for charities, community groups, other third-sector organisations and National Park Authorities for projects that improve path networks and promote walking, wheeling, and cycling across Scotland. Funding of between £10,000 – £100,000 is available, with 30% match funding required. If you are at an early stage of your project, the funder can offer up to 100% of design costs.
Deadline: Ongoing
Paths for All – Ian Findlay Path Fund website
Energy Saving Trust – Plugged in Communities Grant Fund
Grants are available for community transport organisations across Scotland to cover the costs of purchasing or leasing a zero-emission vehicle.
Deadline: Ongoing
Energy Saving Trust – Plugged in Communities Grant Fund website
The Access Foundation
Grants are available to registered charities, CICs, educational establishments and CIOs for projects that mitigate the digital divide by making computing facilities, support and/or learning available to disadvantaged and vulnerable people.
Deadline: Ongoing
The Access Foundation website
Clothworkers’ Foundation
The Foundation aims to use its funding to improve the quality of life for people and communities that face disadvantage and marginalisation. Funding is available for capital costs, including: digital/audio visual equipment.
Deadline: Ongoing
Clothworkers’ Foundation website
HIE Digital Specialist Advice Grant
HIE Digital Specialist Advice Grant offers up to £5,000 to allow you to access expert consultancy to help with feasibility studies or action plans that drive innovation, efficiency, and growth using advanced digital technologies – such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and cyber security.
Deadline: Ongoing
HIE Digital Specialist Advice Grant website
Digital Technology Adoption Grant
HIE Digital and Technology Adoption Capital Grant will support you with funding to implement advanced digital technologies – such as augmented reality, robotics, IoT, and cyber security – to drive transformation, boost efficiency, and reduce emissions. Applicants are encouraged to have a digital action plan or feasibility study in place before applying.
Deadline: Ongoing
Digital Technology Adoption Grant website
| HEALTH
Motability Foundation – Better Access to Wheelchairs and Mobility Aids (Large Grants)
Grants are available for organisations to provide significant volumes of equipment, including at a national level, that help disabled people access wheelchairs and mobility equipment, and additional support such as assessments and maintenance. Grants of up to £1,000,000 available.
Deadline: 15 December 2025
Better Access to Wheelchairs and Mobility Aids (Large Grants) | Organisation grants
Motability Foundation – Better Access to Wheelchairs and Mobility Aids (Small Grants)
Grants are available for organisations working on a local or regional level, or supporting smaller numbers of disabled people, to improve and expand access to good quality, affordable wheelchairs and mobility equipment for disabled people. Maximum grant: £ 249,000.
Deadline: 15 December 2025
Better Access to Wheelchairs and Mobility Aids (Small Grants) | Organisation grants
Ulverscroft Foundation
The Foundation provides funding for projects in the UK that benefit visually impaired people. Funding is at the discretion of the Trustees. Grants range from around £100 to £500,000.
Deadline: 15 December 2025
Ulverscroft Foundation | Serving the Needs of Visually Impaired People | Homepage
Self Management Fund – Self Management for Life
Grants are available to third-sector and community-based groups throughout Scotland for projects that increase the capacity of the people of Scotland to live well with long term conditions. Two levels of funding are available: Small Grants of up to £15,000 for up to one year.
Large Grants of up to £150,000 for up to three years.
Deadline: 19 December 2025
Self Management for Life: Round 3 – Self management
Scotland – Improving Access Fund
The Fund aims to advance equality for disabled people by supporting peer-led initiatives that align with the social model of disability. It is intended to enable financial support for disabled households, promote full inclusion and improve mental health outcomes for disabled people. Grants of up to:
£80,000 are available to incorporated groups.
£5,000 for volunteer led activity are available to unincorporated groups.
Deadline: 19 January 2026
Improving Access Fund – Inspiring Scotland
Macmillan Care Grants Programme
Grants are available for community organisations across the UK for projects that tackle unfairness in cancer care. Up to £1.5 million is available for this first round, with grants ranging from £50,000 to £150,000.
Deadline: 23 January 2026
Macmillan CARE Grants | Macmillan Cancer Support
Blue Light Wellbeing Fund
The funding is intended to support the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of the entire Blue Light Community – across health, emergency, social care, and armed forces – recognising their vital role in society.
There is particular interest in applications for projects that support individuals across multiple Blue Light services, fostering collaboration and shared learning. Priority will be given to initiatives that include clear, well-developed plans for continuing the work beyond the life of the grant. Grants of up to a maximum of £25,000 are available.
Deadline: Ongoing
Blue Light Wellbeing Fund website
Gardening With Disabilities Trust
Small grants are available to groups and individuals in the UK who suffer all kinds of chronic disabilities – mental and physical – to help them get gardening again.
Deadline: Ongoing
Gardening With Disabilities Trust website
Parkinson’s UK Physical Activity Grants Programme
Grants are available for activity providers, communities, networks and organisations across the UK to develop new opportunities for people with Parkinson’s to become and stay active or help increase their levels of physical activity. Grants of between £500 and £3,000 are available. Applications will be accepted from activity providers, national governing bodies, Parkinson’s groups and branches, and sports and healthcare professionals.
Deadline: Ongoing
Parkinson’s UK Physical Activity Grants Programme website
RNIB Technology Grants
The funding is intended for UK residents who are registered blind or partially sighted people and who have been refused funding from their local authority for the items they need. The grant will support the cost of any item that is on the RNIB list of approved equipment.
Deadline: Ongoing
RNIB Technology Grants website
Anton Jurgens Charitable Trust
Grants are available to UK based charities for projects that support people of all ages who are socially disadvantaged and/or have disabilities.
Deadline: Ongoing
Anton Jurgens Charitable Trust website
Vegetarian for Life Grants
Funding is available for charities and charitable organisations supporting older vegetarians and vegans.
Deadline: Ongoing
Vegetarian for Life Grants website
The Family Recovery Initiative Fund (FRIF)
One-off grants of up to £5,000 are available to organisations and groups working to support families affected by alcohol and drugs in Scotland.
Deadline: Ongoing
The Family Recovery Initiative Fund (FRIF) website
Barchester Healthcare Foundation
Grants are available for small local groups and small local charities to improve the quality of life and combat loneliness in older people as well as adults with a physical or mental disability. Grants for individuals and groups available.
Deadline: Ongoing
Barchester Healthcare Foundation website
Fletchers Foundation
Grants are available to charities and organisations in the UK working to support individuals or families who have suffered life changing circumstances as a result of illness (born with or acquired), severe personal injury, accident or medical negligence.
Deadline: Ongoing
Fletchers Foundation website
| LAND & PROPERTY
Help the Homeless Grant Scheme
Grants of up to £5,000 for capital projects are available to small and medium-sized charities registered in the UK working to assist homeless people to rebuild their lives and return to the community.
Deadline: 20 December 2025
Applying for Funding — Help the Homeless
Scottish Government – Cladding Remediation Programme
Homeowners in Scotland concerned about unsafe cladding can access funding to have their buildings assessed. This offer is open both to individual private owners, local authorities and Registered Social Landlords. Owner(s) will be required to apply through a properly constituted body such as a factor.
Deadline: 31 December 2025
Cladding Remediation Programme: factsheet – gov.scot
Historic Environment Scotland – Heritage and Place Fund
Grants are available to support not-for-profit organisations in Scotland to deliver heritage-focused and community-led regeneration schemes of the local historic environment.
Deadline: 16 January 2026
Historic Environment Scotland | Àrainneachd Eachdraidheil Alba
Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) – Project Development Grants for Scotland, Wales and Northern
Ireland
Grants are available for not-for-profit organisations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to cover some of the costs of developing and coordinating a building project and taking it towards the start of work on site. Projects must involve:
A change of primary use and/or a change of ownership.
An historic building i.e listed, or unlisted but in a conservation area, and/or highly valued by the local community for its
historic interest. Up to £40,000 is available for projects in Scotland (up to 50% of the cost of the work)
Deadline: 19 January 2026
AH Fund Scotland website
National Heritage Memorial Fund
Funding for charities, not-for-profit organisations and public bodies to help with the cost of acquiring historic land, buildings, works of fine and decorative art and other objects of interest which are important to national heritage.
Deadline: Ongoing
National Heritage Memorial Fund website
Scottish Land Fund
Grants between £5,000 and £1,000,000 are available to organisations in both urban and rural Scotland which are community-led, community-controlled and defined by a geographic area that can demonstrate significant positive impact for the community as a whole. Applicants will have the opportunity to test out and develop their ideas with support from a Scottish Land Fund Adviser.
Deadline: Ongoing (link may be slow to load)
Scottish Land Fund website
| POVERTY & COST OF LIVING CRISIS
Grocers’ Charity Grant
One-off grants are available to small UK registered charities for work in the specific areas of: relief of poverty, disability and inclusion, the elderly, health, military, environment and conservation, and the arts and heritage. The application link will open on 30th March 2026.
Deadline: 1 September 2026
Visit the Fund Website
National Lottery Community Fund – Fairer Life Chances (Scotland)
Grants are available to voluntary and community and public sector organisations in Scotland for projects that support children, young people and families, or help people to be healthier and have better access to support, with a focus on those experiencing poverty, discrimination and disadvantage. Grants of between £20,001 and £500,000 are available. However, it is expected that most grants will be for £250,000 or less.
Deadline: Ongoing
Visit the Fund Website
BBC Children in Need Emergency Essentials Programme
Funding for the purchase of essential items to meet the most basic needs of children and young people in the UK who are facing exceptionally difficult circumstances. Where possible, items will be provided directly rather than awarding a cash grant.
Deadline: Ongoing
Visit the Fund Website
British Gas Energy Trust
Grants are available to individuals and families across Great Britain to be used to help write off their energy debts. , regardless of energy provider.
The Trust offers two funds:
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Individuals and Families Fund – Open to Credit and Pre-Payment Meter customers
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British Gas Energy Support Fund – now closed
Both are intended to tackle fuel poverty by clearing the energy debts of struggling households and respond to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. You do not need to be a British Gas customer to apply for this fund – you can be a British Gas Customer, or a customer from another supplier with arrears of up to £1,700.
Deadline: Ongoing
Visit the Fund Website
Robertson Trust – Wee Grants
Grants of £300 to £2,000 are available for up to one year for small charities and community groups in Scotland carrying out charitable work in local communities to address poverty and trauma
Deadline: Ongoing
Visit the Fund Website
COSARAF – Hardship Grants
Grants of up to £2,000 but only in exceptional circumstances will individuals receive a grant of more than £500 these are available for third party social organisations to support individuals and families across the UK who are in financial need and have exhausted all other sources of funding.
Deadline: Ongoing
Visit the Fund Website
Faith in Community Scotland – Greener Spaces, Fairer Places
Grants of up to £500 are available to local faith groups and other related organisations for projects that address poverty and climate change in communities across Scotland.
Deadline: Ongoing
Visit the Fund Website
Family Fund Trust
Grants up to £300 are available to support families and individuals for essential personal and household needs to assist families and individuals with low incomes, particularly those living on benefits.
Deadline: Ongoing
Visit the Fund Website
Foux Foundation
Grants are available for registered charities across the United Kingdom and Ireland to deliver a variety of projects
and activities that address health, education, youth opportunity, and the relief of poverty
Deadline: Ongoing
Visit the Fund Website
Cavell
Cavell helps registered nurses, midwives, nursing associates and maternity support workers, both working and retired, when they’re going through tough times. This is often due to illness, disability, older age, domestic abuse and the impact of the rise in living costs.
Deadline: Ongoing
Visit the Fund Website
The Rozelle Trust
Financial assistance is available to smaller charities in Scotland that work to support the poor and disadvantaged in their local communities.
Deadline: Ongoing
Visit the Fund Website
Trusthouse Charitable Foundation
Grants of £2,000 to £10,000 are available for small and medium sized local charities and not-for-profit organisations in the UK with a track record of success working to address local issues in communities of deprived rural areas.
Deadline: Ongoing
Visit the Fund Website
Victim Support Scotland – Emergency Assistance Fund
Grants are available to support people affected by crime across Scotland and provide a wide range of goods and services to people who would typically lack access to financial help.
Deadline: Ongoing
Visit the Fund Website
Pets Foundation – Preventing Pet Relinquishment Grants
Grants of up to £80,000 per year are available for projects which aim to keep pets with their owners and out of rescue, including projects providing emergency pet fostering for people facing crisis, subsidised veterinary care, neutering schemes and pet food banks.
Deadline: Ongoing
Visit the Fund Website
Thomas Wall Trust – Grants for Individuals
The individual grants programme aims to support motivated adults living in the UK to undertake education and training that will increase their chances of employment.
Grants of up to £1,500 are available to undertake accredited vocational training up to level 3 (Qualification levels explained) and towards other costs associated with studying.
Deadline: Ongoing
Visit the Website
Veterans’ Foundation
Grants are available for small and medium-sized charities and not-for-profit organisations that provide support to those in need among serving Armed Forces personnel, veterans, operationally qualified seafarers and their immediate families across the UK. Maximum value: £75,000.
Deadline: Ongoing
Visit the Fund Website
Robertson Trust – Nurturing Relationships
Grants are available to registered charities working to support nurturing relationships within families and communities, to help break the cycle between persistent poverty and intergenerational trauma, and to support recovery.
Small Grants – £30,000 to £200,000.
Large Grants – £200,000 to £2 million.
Deadline: Ongoing
Visit the Fund Website
| SPORT FUNDING
Canoe Foundation/Paddle Trust
Grants of up to £10,000 are available for paddling clubs, community groups, charities, parish councils, and Local Authorities across the UK for canoeing, kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding projects for access and environmental related improvements.
Deadline: 17 December 2025
Paddle Trust | Welcome to the Paddle Trust charity
Rowing Foundation
Grants are available for equipment that will support the participation of young people and disabled people in rowing in the UK. There are two funding streams:
Equipment grants of up to £4,000 in any five-year period; this can be comprised of a single grant or smaller grants aggregated over the period. Grants are for up to 50% of the overall project costs.
Boat refurbishment grants of up to £4,000 for up to 50% of the costs of refurbishments of boats used by juniors.
Deadline: 12 January 2026
The Rowing Foundation
National Events Programme (Scotland)
Support is available towards cultural and sporting events, designed to showcase specific towns and regions across Scotland, outside of the key metropolitan areas of Glasgow and Edinburgh. Awards of between £5,000 and £25,000 are available to events which can demonstrate alignment with key impact areas identified in the national events strategy, Scotland the Perfect Stage. These events will have delivery budgets in excess of £20,000 and attract more than 1,000 in-person attendees, whilst showcasing Scotland’s key event and tourism assets.
Deadline: 14 January 2026
EventScotland National Events Programme | VisitScotland Business Support
Scottish Mountaineering Trust
Discretionary grants are available for organisations and individuals to promote public recreation, knowledge and safe enjoyment of the mountains of Scotland. The aim of this fund is to support projects that promote public enjoyment and knowledge of the Scottish mountains via the promotion of mountaineering, hill walking and other associated activities.
Deadline: 30 March 2026
Apply for a grant – SMT
Sports Charity Scotland
Grants are available to charitable organisations in Scotland who operate within sectors representing children, young people and sport. The funding is intended to provide support which can make a significant difference to the delivery of existing activities that will benefit children and young people, the disabled and disadvantaged in Scotland. Most awards made are between £500 and £5,000.
Deadline: Ongoing (link may be slow to load)
Sports Charity Scotland website
Sports Scotland – Transforming Scottish Indoor Tennis Fund
The aim of the fund is to support the creation of indoor tennis facilities in area of high demand across Scotland, as well as to provide investment in pre-existing facilities. This is part of a wider strategy to create a national community tennis network and generate working partnerships across local communities while increasing participation in tennis clubs across Scotland.
Deadline: Ongoing
Transforming Scottish Indoor Tennis Fund website
RYA Foundation
Grants are available for sailing clubs in the UK to promote participation in boating by those who are disadvantaged by reason of youth, age, infirmity or disability, financial hardship or social circumstances.
Deadline: Ongoing
RYA Foundation website
Boost Charitable Trust
Small grants are available to charities and not-for-profit organisations with a focus on helping disabled and disadvantaged individuals in the UK to participate in sport. Boost has awarded grants across five areas of disadvantage: Social exclusion, Financial hardship, Physical and learning disabilities, Mental health, Medical research and relief.
Deadline: Ongoing
Boost Charitable Trust website
SportsAid Award
Assistance for unfunded talented young sportsmen and women (12-18 years old or up to 35 for disability sports) who participate in specific sports and are preparing to compete in major international competition.
Deadline: Ongoing
SportsAid Award website
Cycling UK – Cycle Access Fund (Scotland)
The Fund aims to remove barriers to cycling for those least likely to have access to a bike. Organisations must be based in Helensburgh & Lomond.
Deadline: Ongoing
Cycling UK – Cycle Access Fund (Scotland) website
| YOUNG PEOPLE
Educational Opportunity Foundation
Grants are available for UK registered charities to advance educational opportunities for vulnerable or deprived children and young people in the UK. Grants are available between £30,000 to £90,000 (maximum £30,000 per year for multiyear projects). The fund supports work that improves the educational outcomes and life chances of care experienced young people (under the age of 25 and living in the UK).
Grants can be used for projects which:
Improve access to educational opportunity – including support for care experienced young people to attend and engage in mainstream school life; increasing the number of education professionals able to understand their needs; equipping carers to understand the education system and support and advocate for the young people in their care, engaging with trauma-informed support; improving access to out of school support and educational activities. Improve educational outcomes – including enabling care experienced young people to learn in ways that works for them; supporting a broad range of activities that develop confidence and mental health in order to improve educational outcomes including support for carers to encourage learning and raise aspirations.
Improve life chances – including improving the support for care experienced young people (aged 16–24) to access further education, employment or training opportunities and improving support for them to remain engaged with these opportunities.
Deadline: 14 January 2026
Main Fund – Educational Opportunity Foundation
Access Without Limits Grants for Community Organisations
Grants are available for voluntary, community and social enterprise sector organisations to allow them to set up and deliver the Duke of Edinburgh Award to create more opportunities for marginalised young people (14 to 24 years) to access the Award.
Deadline: 31 January 2026
Access Without Limits – Community – The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
Weaver’s Company Benevolent Fund
Grants are available for UK registered charities and charitable incorporated organisations that can demonstrate impact with ex-offenders, young offenders or young people at risk of offending, either within a local area or nationally. There are two levels of funding:
Small grants of up to £5,000.
Main Grants have no maximum amount.
Grants are normally awarded for one year only; however, in exceptional cases, applications for multi-year funding of up to three years, will be considered.
Deadline: 12 March 2026
Charitable Grants – The Weavers’ Company
Richard and Siobhán Coward Foundation – Grants for Community Photography
Grants are available to support the provision of participatory projects in the UK which seek to improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people under 25. The use of photography must be a core element of the project.
Grants of between £500 and £1,500 are available.
Deadline: 2 April 2026
Grants for Community Photography website
Sofronie Foundation
Grants are available for charities and not-for-profit organisations across the UK to deliver educational or vocational projects to improve the lives of disadvantaged young people. Funding is for interventions that:
Increase access to higher education – Educational programmes for young people that raise aspirations, build confidence, and develop skills in preparation for university.
Increase access to vocational training – Initiatives that provide young people with practical skills or offer opportunities of work experience in preparation for future employment.
Deadline: Ongoing
Sofronie Foundation website
Wooden Spoon Charity
Grants are available for not-for-profit organisations that are working in the UK to support the lives of children and young people with a cognitive age under 25 years who are disadvantaged physically, mentally, or socially.
Deadline: Ongoing
Wooden Spoon Charity website
Cash For Kids – Holiday Hunger Grants
Grants are available to charities, voluntary and community groups to provide food and activities for disadvantaged children and young people during the school holidays. No minimum or maximum values are stated, but awards are usually between £1,000 and £3,000.
Deadline: Ongoing
Cash For Kids – Holiday Hunger Grants website
Ernest Cook Trust – Outdoor Essentials Grant
Grants are available to UK state funded primary and secondary schools to enable them to get their pupils learning outdoors.
The current round of funding offers grants for the following options:
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Nature and Nurture – school grounds improvements.
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Transport and Travel – transport costs to outdoor learning venues.
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Wellies and Waterproofs – outdoor clothing.
Deadline: Ongoing
Ernest Cook Trust – Outdoor Essentials Grant website
National Lottery Community Fund – Fairer Life Chances (Scotland)
Grants are available to voluntary and community and public sector organisations in Scotland for projects that support children, young people and families, or help people to be healthier and have better access to support, with a focus on those experiencing poverty, discrimination and disadvantage. The Fund is intended for projects working to achieve the following objectives:
Children, young people and families thrive.
People have better relationships, connections, and physical or mental health.
Deadline: Ongoing
Fairer Life Chances (Scotland) website
Hargreaves Foundation
Grants are available for charities and educational institutions that support those under the age of 18 years, and living with a mental health condition, disability or growing up in poverty through the mediums of sport and education. The Foundation aims to distribute a total of around £2 million in grants per year. There is no minimum or maximum grant size. The following organisations can apply:
Registered Charities or Charitable Incorporated Organisations.
Schools and Further Education Colleges (usually exempt charities).
NHS Trusts.
Deadline: Ongoing
Hargreaves Foundation website
Trefoil – Lilias Finlay Holiday Fund
Trefoil offers holiday grants to children and families who meet the development needs criteria.
Applicants for holiday grants should be under eighteen years old and living in Scotland. Trefoil only funds holidays in the UK and does not support overseas trips.
Applications for holiday grants are open and considered all year. Please apply at least 12 weeks before your holiday. Your applications should be supported by two references.
Deadline: Ongoing
Holiday Fund website
Lilias Finlay Holiday Fund Flyer
Leslie Sell Charitable Trust
Grants for trips or projects associated with the Scouts or Guides movement within the UK. Please note the Trustees are unable to consider applications for trips or events submitted within four months of your proposed departure or event date due to processing times.
Deadline: Ongoing
Leslie Sell Charitable Trust website
National Lottery Community Fund – Young Start Fund
Grants of between £20,001 and £100,000 for up to three years are available to voluntary and community organisations in Scotland for work that helps young people (aged 8 to 24) to become more confident and play an active part in realising their potential.
Deadline: Ongoing
