Grant Directories

The John Spedan Lewis Foundation supports UK registered charities with natural history, wildlife conservation, entomology, ornithology and horticulture among their stated charitable aims. The Foundation awards small grants at their bi-annual meetings.

The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust was established in for the advancement of the arts, health and medical welfare and environmental protection or improvement.   Through the Environment programme the Trust aims to protect the countryside, species and habitats as well as well as the UKs heritage and rural crafts and skills.

The Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund has two main aims: To promote skills development and knowledge transfer in the primary agricultural sector and to deliver on-the-ground improvements in agricultural competitiveness, resource efficiency, environmental performance and sustainability. Funding for skills development will be provided to organisations to deliver vocational training, coaching, workshops, courses and farm visits designed to develop skills and transfer knowledge. Funding for agricultural improvements will be granted to meet the running costs of operational groups made up of different individuals or organisations seeking to implement innovative projects with the aim of supporting partnership formation between farmers, advisers and businesses working on the ground.

The Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation scheme supports suppliers and producers whilst enabling them to contribute to the Scottish Government's overall vision for food and drink in Scotland to make Scotland healthier, wealthier and smarter, with stronger communities and production that is socially and environmentally sustainable. Through this scheme, supplier and producers can apply for start-up grants for a new business or development grants for an existing business. Capital and non-capital costs may be funded, examples of activities include developing or creating food processing facilities, including buildings and equipment; marketing products in home and export markets; running co-operative ventures to make sure more value is retained by both farmers and growers; improving supply-chain efficiency

Through the Scottish Rural Development Programme, the Scottish Government provides grants for small farmers to make improvements to their holdings, help to sustain their businesses and reduce production costs. Funding for eligible capital projects can cover all aspects of the project including the cost of materials; transportation of materials; costs of contractors and own labour and capital projects, such as the construction or improvement of agricultural buildings. Examples of projects include improving stock control; protecting crops from damage by deer; wintering of livestock; storing winter fodder and improving grassland management.

Through the Scottish Rural Development Programme, the Scottish Government aims to encouraging a new generation to farming with overcoming barriers to entry and attracting talented people to agriculture a key priority. The Programme offers help for new entrants by supporting young farmers with the costs of starting an agricultural business through the Young Farmers Start-Up Grant Scheme. The Scheme aims to help young farmers or crofters and grants are linked to the delivery of business plan objectives that must be central to core agricultural activities. For example, the grant may be used for the acquisition of land or livestock. One-to-one specialist consultancy advice and mentoring from experienced farmers will also be available through a new advisory service.

Through the Scottish Rural Development Programme, the Scottish Government aims to encourage a new generation to farming with overcoming barriers to entry and attracting talented people to agriculture a key priority. The Programme includes important help for new entrants through two dedicated funding schemes: Supporting new entrants to farming who have started their agricultural business within the last 12 months through the New Entrants Start-Up Grant Scheme and business improvement grants; One-to-one specialist consultancy advice and mentoring from experienced farmers will also be available through a new advisory service.

The objectives of the Scottish Government's Beef Efficiency Scheme are to assist in the development of suckler herds to increase efficiency, reduce the emissions from beef production and improve overall herd profitability making herds more sustainable both economically and environmentally. This is a five-year scheme that will contribute to a range of improvements focusing on cattle genetics and management practice on-farm. The Beef Efficiency Scheme will pay farmers and participating suckled calf producers approximately £32 per calf each year for the first three years. The Scheme also offers access to a free advisory service to assist in developing suckler herds and in making the national herd as efficient as possible.

The Agri-Environment Climate Scheme promotes land management practices that protect and enhance Scotland's natural heritage, improve water quality, manage flood risk and mitigate and adapt to climate change. The scheme will also help to improve public access and preserve historic sites. The funding will help to: support appropriate management for vulnerable and iconic species and habitats; contribute to climate change targets by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and securing carbon stores in peatlands and other organic soils; meet obligations to improve water quality under the EU Water Framework Directive by reducing diffuse pollution; control flooding through natural flood risk management; support organic farming; preserve the historic environment; improve public access.

The MacRobert Trust makes grants to registered charities in the areas of Services and Sea; Education and Training; Children and Youth; Science, Engineering and Technology; Agriculture and Horticulture; and Tarland and the Local Area. Grants can range between £1,000 and £50,000 and occasionally the Trustees make a recurring grant of up to three years. In addition a small grants programme facilitates awards of up to £10,000.

The ARC-Addington Fund, which is one of the Farming Help charities and helps maintain the economic and social fabric of the farming community and offers grants to help viable farming businesses that experience financial hardship due to unforeseen and unexpected circumstances and have no other means of short term support. Examples of what the Trust may be able to help with include a sudden illness where paying extra staff may be a problem; extreme weather which has caused irreparable damage to crops or livestock or certain animal diseases which prevent you from moving or selling your stock.

The Stanley Smith (UK) Horticultural Trust provides grants of up to £5,000 to promote horticulture; the conservation of the physical and natural environment by promoting biological diversity; the creation, development, preservation and maintenance of gardens (preference will normally, but not exclusively, be given to gardens accessible to the public); and the advancement of horticultural education. The type of activities funded include restoring gardens of historic interest; developing new gardens for public access and enjoyment; and gardeners' training schemes run by appropriate organisations; etc.

The Sylvia Waddilove Foundation focuses on providing grants to charities CICs and Registered Societies for projects relating to the following purposes: Education (organic farming, animal husbandry, veterinary science, animal welfare and animal surgery); The visual and performing arts; Medical Research; The relief of disability and severe illness; The preservation of buildings of historical or architectural significance; The accommodation of those in need; The skills based training of young people. Applications are considered in January, April, July, and October. Funding amounts vary dependent on the project type, please see funders website for details.