Grant News
Inspiring Scotland has announced the Outdoor Community Play Incubator Programme, a new initiative to expand outdoor play opportunities for children in rural and remote areas of Scotland.
The programme will support small grassroots groups and charities that can deliver free, child-led outdoor play, with a strong focus on improving children’s health, wellbeing, and freedom. Grants of up to £5,000 are available, alongside capacity-building support to help organisations develop and deliver high-quality local play opportunities.
The initiative seeks to address the limited access to safe, accessible, and imaginative outdoor play spaces in rural communities. By prioritising community-led approaches, Inspiring Scotland aims to empower local groups to create environments where children can play freely, build resilience, and enjoy the proven benefits of time outdoors.
Applicants will be asked to demonstrate their ability to provide inclusive, free-to-access play opportunities that promote children’s physical and emotional wellbeing.
The application window will open on 1 September 2025 and close at 12 noon on 22 September 2025. Successful projects must be delivered between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2028.
The type of projects supported could include:
-
Forest Play Adventures – Weekly woodland sessions where children design their own activities, such as den-building and mud kitchens, fostering resilience and wellbeing.
-
Pop-Up Play Hubs – A mobile play project visiting rural or island villages, using beaches and fields for child-led games with natural materials, tackling isolation and promoting inclusion.
-
Inclusive Play Park Revitalisation – A community-led project transforming a rural green space into an inclusive outdoor play area with open-access play days for all children.
Useful Links:
Application Hints and Tips (AI Generated)