Grant Directories

The £150 million Community Ownership Fund, which is part of the government’s strategy to build back better from the Covid-19 pandemic, provides grants for communities throughout the UK to take ownership of local facilities, community assets and amenities at risk of closure such as pubs, theatres, post offices, sports grounds, parks and corner shops, etc. Voluntary and community organisations can bid for match funding of up to £250,000 to support the purchase and/or renovation costs of these assets. Expressions of interest can be submitted at any time. Successful applicants will be invited to submit a full application during a specified bidding window which will be announced in due course. The fund will run until 2024/25.

Foundation Scotland exists to benefit disadvantaged communities by making grants to support relevant charitable or voluntary organisations, which make a difference to their local communities. Through the Watten Wind Farm Trust the foundation provides grants of up to £10,000 to support charitable activities that: Encourage community activity, promote community spirit, and increase opportunities for socialising; Improve the ability of groups/organisations to meet local priorities; Improve telephone and broadband connections; Provide or improve access to, and enjoyment of, the local environment; Provide or improve opportunities for people to develop as individuals, make connections and improve their life chances; Provide or improve sports and recreational facilities or activities; Encourage economic activity within the Fund area.

The Community Led funding programme aims to support communities in improving the areas in which they reside and the well-being of those most in need. Organisations are funded to deliver work that enables everyone in the community to have the opportunity to influence and participate in community-led activities and to ensure that people within the community are better connected and cooperate to enhance their well-being.  This can include projects that tackle problems associated with the cost of living crisis.

The Regeneration Capital Grant Fund supports projects that will help to deliver local regeneration in disadvantaged areas with the involvement of local communities themselves. Projects supported will focus on areas that suffer from high levels of deprivation and disadvantage; demonstrate clear community involvement; deliver large scale transformational change with strong regeneration outcomes and encourage additional investment and address market failure. All 32 Scottish local authorities are eligible to apply either individually or through urban regeneration companies (URCs) or other Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs). Applications to the fund are made annually by deadlines published on the website.

The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee that promotes the conservation and sustainable re-use of historic buildings at risk for the benefit of the public. The Project Viability Grant (PVG) scheme is intended to be an initial assessment of whether it is viable to bring an at risk building that is listed or in a conservation area and of acknowledged architectural or historic merit back into a sustainable use. In particular it aims to enable not for profit organisations to explore the evidence of need for a suggested use, or uses, for a building and the sustainability of that use, with a view to the likely requirements of grant funders. Grants are available up to £15,000.

The AHF is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee that promotes the conservation and sustainable re-use of historic buildings at risk for the benefit of the public. The Project Development Grant (PDG) scheme is intended to assist not for profit organisations looking to put to beneficial use an at risk building that is listed or in a conservation area and of acknowledged architectural or historic merit. Funding will cover some of the costs of developing and co-ordinating a project and taking it towards the start of work on site and can include a combination of non-recoverable professional fees and project organiser costs. Organisations must have established that the end use of the project is likely to be viable and have decided to take the project forward. Grants are available of up to £20,000.