Funding

Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund Year 3 - Now open!

This fund aims to support community-based initiatives which promote mental health and wellbeing at a small scale, grass roots, community level. National organisations undertaking initiatives locally are also eligible to apply but are not the main focus of the fund. Funded organisations do not need to have to have mental health and wellbeing as their sole focus, however, applications should clearly outline the benefits to mental health and wellbeing of people in their community, promoting and developing good mental health and wellbeing and/or mitigating and protecting against the impact of distress and mental ill health within the adult population (aged 16 or over), with a particular focus on prevention and early intervention.

To view initiatives funded in Year 1 & 2 in North Ayrshire click here

Click here to hear more about our Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Networking Event that took place in October 2022.

Islands Cost of Living Grant – NOW OPEN

The Scottish Government’s Islands Emergency Cost Crisis Fund has been established to support island communities across Scotland. The funding is being provided in response to the rising cost of living, which has been particularly challenging for islanders. The fund for North Ayrshire (Arran and Cumbrae) will be distributed by Arran Community and Voluntary Service.

A funding pot of £30,000 is available to support the valuable work that Third Sector groups are doing on Arran and Cumbrae during the cost-of-living crisis.

The amount available to island charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups is from £50 to £5000. Applications for more than £1000 must consider their project “inspirational”. Applicants must be constituted, voluntary organisations.

Applicants must offer activities or events that meet one of the following four criteria:

Support access to food with dignity
Reuse and Recycle: assist communities to live in a more sustainable and economic way
Help tackle travel or transport-related issues so that communities or individuals can access services/resources that help ease the effects of the Cost-of-Living Crisis
Target residents’ immediate needs and offer help those who are struggling due the Cost of Living

To view Guidance Notes click here

To apply click HERE

For further assistance please contact Arran CVS on info@arrancvs.org.uk - Closing date for applications 3pm Friday 10^th November 2023.

Sea-Changers Marine Conservation Social Fund

Charities, community groups, and other not-for-profit organisations across the UK can apply for funding to deliver projects and activities that combine marine conservation with social, health, and well-being benefits for local communities.

Sea Changers is offering up to seven grants of between £3,000 and £5,000 for UK-based charities and other not-for-profit groups to deliver marine conservation projects that also deliver health and wellbeing outcomes for participants and disadvantaged communities.

Through the Marine Conservation Social Fund, a total of £23,000 is available in 2023 for:

Marine conservation education and engagement projects - such as campaigns or activities reaching out to and including those who do not access/engage with the sea and educating them about marine conservation issues and what they can do to help.
Citizen science and/or practical/direct action projects – particularly where they engage disadvantaged communities and where they can show increased community cohesion/engagement and personal/health benefits of volunteering.

Sea-Changers is particularly interested in grassroots projects that galvanise community action, projects that increase the number of people acting for marine conservation, projects that may be formed through partnerships between marine conservation organisations and social welfare organisations, and pilot programmes that might be continued, expanded, or replicated with additional funding in future years.

The deadline for applications is 22 December 2023.

https://www.sea-changers.org.uk/marine-conservation-social-fund

The Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust

THE AUSTIN AND HOPE PILKINGTON TRUST ANNOUNCE THEMES FOR 2024/25 FUNDING

Funding for registered UK charities that work with communities in the UK for projects that address specific categories set out by the Trust each year.

The Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust has announced the themes for 2024 and 2025 for which it will offer funding.

The Trust operates a three-year rotation system, with different fields of interests being funded each year.

In 2024, support will be available for the following priorities:

Rounds 1 and 2 – Disability, specifically employment and training for people living with disabilities to ensure better access.
Rounds 3 and 4 – Food Poverty (due to the increasing levels across the UK).

In 2025, support will be available for the following priorities (full details published toward the end of 2024):

Rounds 1 and 2 - Access to the Arts.
Rounds 3 and 4 - Refugees and Asylum Seekers.

The project must fall within the relevant category for the year the application is submitted, and organisations may only make one application during any one year.

The Trust awards grants of either £1,000 or £5,000 depending on the grant round.

Organisations registered with the Charity Commission (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or OSCR, or exempt from registration, can apply.

The level of grant awarded is determined by the income of the charity:

Grants of £1,000 are available for charities with an operating income of between £100,000 and £1 million.
Grants of £5,000 are available for charities with a minimum operating income of £1 million. There is no maximum level.

There are four grant rounds each year. Charities may only apply for one grant per calendar year.

The first round is expected to open on 1 February 2024 and close on 29 February 2024.

https://austin-hope-pilkington.org.uk/

North Ayrshire Council - Community Outdoor Access Grant Scheme

The main purpose of the scheme is to assist the development of community based access works. The scheme is funded by North Ayrshire Council and operates on an annual cycle. Suitable for Community councils and voluntary bodies, such as community groups. The scheme offers assistance towards the cost of eligible work, such as:

improving or extending routes
inclusion of furniture (eg seats, cycle stands)
way marking and signage
production and/or printing of promotional literature

Type of funding: Grant

Type of cost: Capital, Revenue

Fund award sizes: Maximum: £500

Who can apply - Community councils and voluntary bodies, such as community groups. Voluntary groups must be constituted and operate on a voluntary basis.

Applicants are advised to keep their local elected member informed of the works in order that guidance may be obtained.

Apply at any time.

How to apply

More information about North Ayrshire Council

North Ayrshire Council - Community Benefit Fund

An annual community benefit payment is made by Infinis, the operators of the Ardrossan Wind Farm, and administered by North Ayrshire Council. Applications can only be accepted from constituted groups located with in Ardrossan, Saltcoats, Stevenston and the Isle of Arran.

Applications for environmental projects will have a priority in grant funding, but the Fund will continue to support applications which do not have an environmental perspective. Local groups will be given a priority, national organisations will only be considered if their applications demonstrates a direct benefit to the communities of Ardrossan, Saltcoats, Stevenston and Arran.

Who can apply?

Applications can only be accepted from constituted community groups are located within the towns of: Ardrossan, Saltcoats, Stevenston and from the Island of Arran.

How to apply?

Application form and guidance are available on the Council website.

More information can be found here

Scottish Recovery Consortium – Recovery Seed Fund

SEED FUNDING FOR LIVED EXPERIENCE RECOVERY ORGANISATIONS IN SCOTLAND

Substance and behaviour Lived Experience recovery organisations (LEROs) can apply for funding to trial or develop new ideas and services and build organisational capacity.

Scottish Recovery Consortium is offering grants of up to £5,000 for new and non-constituted LERO voluntary groups, charities, and social enterprises with an annual income of less than £30,000 to support start-up and running costs, improve sustainability and organisational capacity, and develop ideas, services, and products.

The Recovery Seed Fund can be used for a range of costs, such as:

Start-up costs.
Operational running costs.
Insurance.
Marketing, branding, and website and logo designs.
Service development.
Small items of equipment.

To apply, groups must be a substance and/or behaviour Lived Experience Recovery Organisation that is led by knowledgeable staff or volunteers and run by people with lived experience.

Applications can be submitted at any time.

https://scottishrecoveryconsortium.org/recovery-seed-fund/

The National Lottery Community Fund (Scotland) - Scottish Land Fund

The fund will help communities take ownership of the land and buildings that matter to them, as well as practical support to develop their aspirations into viable projects. It supports communities to become more resilient and sustainable through the ownership and management of land and land assets.

The Scottish Land Fund is open to organisations in both urban and rural Scotland which are community-led, community-controlled, and defined by a geographic area.

For more information please visit the website here - https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/

The National Lottery Community Fund - National Lottery Awards for All Scotland

National Lottery Awards for All offers funding to support what matters to people and communities. The programme is a partnership between the National Lottery Community Fund Scotland, sportscotland and Creative Scotland. It has three funding priorities:

bringing people together and building strong relationships in and across communities
improving the places and spaces that matter to communities
enabling more people to fulfil their potential by working to address issues at the earliest possible stage.

If you are applying for a project involving the arts, they will prioritise projects that: engage people from areas of high deprivation; remove financial barriers to access creative activities; address rural isolation and encourage activity in rural areas; engage older people, people in care homes and carers; engage care leavers; support integration of refugees and asylum seekers.

If you are applying for a project focused on sport, they will prioritise projects that: engage young people from our most deprived areas; engage girls and young women; engage disabled young people.

Type of funding: Grant. Type of cost: Capital, Revenue

Fund award sizes: Minimum: £300 - Maximum: £10,000

Who can apply - Suitable for Voluntary or community organisations, Public sector organisations

When to apply - There are no deadlines and applications can be submitted at any time. It will take up to 12 weeks to get a decision.

Suitable for Voluntary or community organisations, Public sector organisations.

Pacific House 70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, G2 6UA
tnlcommunityfund.org.uk
advicescotland@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk
0141 846 0447

More information about The National Lottery Community Fund (Scotland)

Barchester's Charitable Foundation

Barchester's Charitable Foundation helps older people and other adults with a disability across England, Scotland & Wales. Grants are to help people lead more fulfilled lives and reach their full potential.

The priority is to make a difference to the lives of older people and other adults with a physical or mental disability; supporting practical solutions that lead to increased personal independence, self-sufficiency and dignity.

This year the focus is on connecting or re-connecting people with others in their local community. Due to Covid-19, they will be awarding more part grants in order to help more people and groups in these challenging times.

Type of funding: Grant - Type of cost: Capital

Fund award sizes: Minimum: £100 - Maximum: £5,000

Notes on award amounts: Annual total and average for grants to organisations across UK from 2020 accounts. 90 grants were awarded, ranging from £100 to £5,000.

Who can apply - The fund helps small community groups and small local charities. They do not have a formal definition for a small charity, but if a charity has financial reserves in the hundreds of thousands or millions, it is very unlikely that they would be able to help.