CashBack for Communities is now open for applications.
The next phase will run from April 2026 to March 2029. Up to £26m is available and organisations can apply for grants of between £150,000 and £1,500,000.
Find out more and apply:
Applications are now open for the fifth year of the Marine Fund Scotland.
The fund will make £14 million available in 2025-26 to help deliver Scotland’s Blue Economy Vision, transform the way the marine environment is used and how Scotland’s ‘blue’ resources are managed.
Eligible individuals, businesses, and organisations can apply for funding for new projects that will contribute to an innovative and sustainable marine economy, support coastal communities, and help Scotland reach net zero emissions.
Last year, a total of 67 projects received funding, with grants ranging from under £1,000 up to £1.6 million. These projects included the modernising of seafood processing facilities to reduce energy consumption and improve efficiency; the first Scottish facility to recycle mixed material from fishing and aquaculture nets and marine litter prevention; support for young fishers purchasing their first fishing vessel; and marine research and innovation to protect iconic wild salmon.
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands Mairi Gougeon said: “Since 2021 the Marine Fund Scotland has awarded more than £55 million in grants to 330 projects, facilitating a total of £121 million of investment and supporting jobs and communities right around our coastline and throughout our islands.
“I urge all those with ideas for projects to help marine industries to evolve and flourish to apply.
“We are backing Scotland’s marine economy, which is crucial to the economic, social and cultural fabric of our rural, coastal and island communities. They now need the UK government to do the same and to provide Scotland with its fair share of funding.
“The UK Government recently announced a new £360 million Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, and I am calling for a fair share of the budget allocation to be devolved. This multi-year funding will be key to delivering benefits for the marine economy and environment, as well as supporting coastal communities, for years to come.
“If this newly announced funding isn’t devolved to Scotland, it will duplicate the current funding programmes, causing stakeholder confusion and dilution of intended benefits.”
Donna Fordyce Chief Executive of Seafood Scotland said: “The Marine Fund Scotland funding has been vital to not only retain existing markets for our premium Scottish seafood but to develop new markets to achieve the highest value for the industry.
“Funding also allowed Seafood Scotland to further develop the Seafood in Schools programme launching the Scottish Seafood Ambassador scheme and Teach the Teacher curriculum-linked educational resources.
“The aim is to increase consumption of our delicious seafood and highlight the sector as a career of choice; this is very relevant given the labour shortage the industry is currently facing.”
Information on eligibility and how to apply can be found at:
https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781836916017
Details of all projects that have received grant funding from the Marine Fund Scotland to date can be found here:
https://www.gov.scot/policies/marine-and-fisheries-grants/grants-awarded/
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS is FRIDAY 25th APRIL
YESTERDAY (Wednesday 26 March) we launched the first North Edinburgh Community Benefits Fund. This is a flexible fund aimed at local third sector organisations working in North Edinburgh to help support their services.
There is a total of £10,000 available which has been provided by Cruden Group as part of their contract to deliver the Silverlea development, which will see 143 new homes for social and mid-market rent built on a site off Muirhouse Parkway.
Application Deadline: Friday 25 April 2025
You can find out more on the fund page: https://yourvoice.edinburgh.gov.uk
Or attend one of our drop in sessions either in person or online:
Tuesday 1 April, 2.00pm – 4.00pm – Application Support Drop in – Granton Library
Tuesday 22 April, 10.00am – 11.00am – Online information session – Please email Granton.Waterfront@edinburgh.gov.uk for an online link.
Tuesday 22 April, 6.00pm – 7.00pm – Online information session – Please email Granton.Waterfront@edinburgh.gov.uk for an online link.
Thank you to R2 for their support and guidance in setting up this fund.
The industry charity, Hospitality Industry Trust (HIT) Scotland, is inviting aspiring chefs working in Scotland to apply for this year’s Andrew Fairlie Scholarship as applications open.
Interested candidates can find more information about the application process on the HIT Scotland website here.
An invaluable opportunity for chefs looking to gain first-hand experience within some of the world’s most renowned establishments, the Andrew Fairlie Scholarship offers an exceptional culinary education for the next generation of cheffing talent.
Launched in 2019 by the late Andrew Fairlie, the scholarship is provided in partnership with HIT Scotland, an industry charity Andrew was closely associated with. Now in its fifth year, the Andrew Fairlie Scholarship is supported by HIT Scotland, Restaurant Andrew Fairlie, Perth College UHI and The Gleneagles Hotel.
Last year, two winners were awarded the prestigious scholarship. Lecturer of Culinary Arts at City of Glasgow College, Darren Seggie, and Rachel Bremner, Commis Pastry Chef at The Balmoral, were selected for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to advance their culinary horizons.
An all-star panel of the country’s finest chefs will judge the 2024 competition. Lead judge, Stephen McLaughlin, Head Chef at Restaurant Andrew Fairlie, will be joined by fellow 2 Michelin starred ChefPatrons, Tom Kerridge of the Hand and Flowers and Sat Bains at Restaurant Sat Bains. Gary Maclean, the Winner of MasterChef The Professionals and National Chef of Scotland, will also be judging the candidates on their performance.
The winner of this year’s Andrew Fairlie Scholarship will be taken on a 2-day educational trip to France with Grande Cuisine, gain hands-on experience at the 2-star Restaurant Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles, and undertake a stage at the 3-star Core by Clare Smyth in London. Held over two years, these educational experiences will inform and inspire the scholar’s professional development and knowledge over a period of time.
Stephen McLaughlin, Head Chef at Restaurant Andrew Fairlie, commented: “The Andrew Fairlie Scholarship is Scotland’s finest Chef Scholarship.
“It is a true chance to showcase your talent and passion, along with the opportunity to help yourself be guided and nurtured into being as good a chef as you want to be. The prizes for this year’s scholarship recipient are some of the best educational and development driven learning experiences in the world!
“Be mindful in your application to stay true to yourself and to pull from all your resources to make sure that your application is as polished as it can be. Only the very best applicants will make it to finals day. Good luck Chefs and happy cooking!”
David Cochrane MBE, Chief Executive of HIT Scotland, added: “Applications for the 2024 Andrew Fairlie Scholarship are officially open, and with it, the chance for aspiring chefs in Scotland to advance their career and broaden their professional horizons.
“The scholarship is a fantastic opportunity for upcoming culinary talent to gain practical experience in the finest establishments and learn from the very best chefs the world has to offer. With so much at stake, applicants must give it their all to impress the judges!”
Candidates must complete an application form which can be found on the HIT Scotland website. They will be asked what inspires them to be the best chef they can be, and about their proudest career moment to date.
The applicants will also need to showcase their creativity and expertise by designing an autumnal sharing dish for four people, made from a short saddle of Scotch lamb. Those awarded a Finals Day place will be asked to recreate the recipe in real-time for the judges, along with some other culinary challenges which will be revealed on the day!
Up to 6 chefs will be chosen to take part in the Grand Final, a skills test on Wednesday 27th November at Perth College UHI, followed by a presentation to the winner at The Gleneagles Hotel.
The test will focus on the candidates’ technical skills, knowledge, and creativity, with the winner carefully striking a balance between passion and professionalism throughout.
Applications open 12 August 2024 and close 22 September 2024. Find out more information and apply here.
Community groups in the Capital can now apply for up to £5,000 worth of funding as part of the Edinburgh 900 programme.
Edinburgh 900 is a celebration of the nine centuries of history and traditions in Scotland’s capital city since the founding of the royal burgh by King David I around 1124.
As part of the wider programme, £100,000 has been allocated to the Edinburgh 900 Community Fund to allow our residents to celebrate their city’s rich heritage and inspiring present. Community fund applications need to be led by an Edinburgh-based community group and focussed on activities or events held within their local area. Each application can be to a maximum of £5,000.
There is also a separate civic fund of £100,000 focussed on city-wide events with applications led by an Edinburgh-based cultural or heritage organisation. Each application can be to a maximum of £15,000.
For both the civic and community fund applications must demonstrate a commitment to the Edinburgh 900 programme aims and themes. The full criteria and guidance for applications are available on our website.
The deadline for applications to the civic fund is 20 May 2024. For the community fund the deadline is 27 May 2024.
The Edinburgh 900 Implementation Programme Board will review all applications and determine funding allocations for both funds. We will let you know the outcome of your application within four weeks of the application deadline.
If you are already planning events for 2024 or 2025 and would like to be part of our Edinburgh 900 programme, you can apply through our separate application process to use the Edinburgh 900 logo and be advertised on the programme website and marketing activity.
For any general queries about the Edinburgh 900 programme please contact edinburgh900@edinburgh.gov.uk
The Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, Robert Aldridge said: “I’m delighted that both the Edinburgh 900 community and civic funds are now open for applications.
“I’m clear that our communities should play an integral part in these celebrations and I’m really excited to see the proposals as they come through in the next few weeks. I have no doubt that our residents will rise to the occasion and show the very best aspects of our city.
“On the civic side this is an opportunity for our cultural and heritage organisations to exhibit Edinburgh and it’s illustrious past like never before.
“Edinburgh 900 represents almost a millennium of our shared history. The full programme will examine how Edinburgh came to be over the centuries, from commerce to conflict and from faith to finance, there are an incredibly rich and varied set of themes.
“The programme will also celebrate Edinburgh in the present day and look ahead to our future ambitions and aspirations. These two funds represent a great opportunity to showcase these stories to our city and the wider world.”
Organisations across Scotland, including community, cultural and education groups, will be able to bid for support from a fund aimed at engaging people in tackling the climate emergency.
The £250,000 Climate Engagement Fund will support activities such as climate festivals, skills workshops, art exhibitions and youth development programmes – all aimed at increasing people’s understanding of climate change and encouraging climate action.
The annual fund has already supported eight projects with funding totalling £550,000. These include the Building Futures Galloway project which has equipped people in the region with the skills to improve the energy efficiency of historic buildings and apply techniques in their own homes.
Net Zero Secretary Màiri McAllan said: “Scotland is fully committed to meeting our target of net zero emissions by 2045 and, as part of this, it is important that people understand the nature and the scale of the climate emergency, the actions they can take to help and the support available to them to do so.
“By supporting grassroots action, the Climate Engagement Fund will help enable individuals and communities to directly contribute to tackling climate change.”
Chairman of the Board of Building Futures Galloway Graeme Davies said: “This fund has previously supported a range of activity to address energy efficiency issues in historic homes and buildings, including a film project with young people from Whithorn Primary School.
“The pupils interviewed our charity’s young trainees and visited some of the heritage restoration projects they are working on. They also produced a film to share what they had learned with others which was screened at an assembly and was broadcast online to other schools in Scotland.”
Applications for the Climate Engagement Fund will close on 7 May 2024.
Do you have an idea that will make a difference to your local community? Applications are now open for a grant of up to £5,000 to make your idea a reality.
The Council set up the Community Grants Fund in 2007 to kickstart projects that benefit local communities. It is part of the Council’s ongoing commitment to empowering communities and fostering grassroots initiatives.
There are 13 local funds, each covering a different area of the city. If you’re part of a community group with a project in mind, apply to your local Community Grant Fund today.
The total amount of funding available in your local fund depends on how many people live in your area. If there’s any money left over after this round, we’ll open another round of applications later this year. Unlike previous years, grants will be awarded a maximum of 3 times a year.
We want to make sure that the projects we fund are the ones that matter most to you. That’s why our funding panels are made up of local community representatives, such as Ward Councillors, Community Councillors, and representatives of community organisations.
If you’re in Leith, keep an eye out for a chance to vote on your favourite projects in January 2025 – information will be available for Leith applicants in the autumn.
The Community Grants Fund has supported some fantastic projects in the past, such as ‘Place to Pause’ at The Eric Liddell Centre and the Broomhouse Street Party. Your project could be next!
For the best chance of securing a grant, apply by the deadline of May 20, 2024. We’ll review all applications in June and let you know if you’ve been successful.
Culture and Communities Convener, Councillor Val Walker said: “Our communities are the lifeblood of our city and we’re committed to ensuring that they have the resources to bring their ideas to life.
“From the Pentlands to Portobello and beyond I’m really excited to see the projects that apply for funding during this round of applications.”
Up to £2.23 million funding is being made available to third sector organisations providing counselling, peer support and practical support to adult survivors of childhood abuse.
Support groups can now apply for the latest round of grants from the Survivors of Childhood Abuse Support (SOCAS) Fund which will be made available from October 2024 to March 2026 and will enable groups to enhance or expand their current services.
Since it was set up in 2020, the SOCAS fund has seen more than 16,000 survivors supported by 29 organisations.
Mental Wellbeing Minister Maree Todd said: “We want all survivors to be provided with services which allow them to lead happy, healthy, and fulfilling lives.
“This latest round of funding, up to £2.23 million per annum, builds on almost £10 million invested since establishing the Fund in 2020, and is designed to reduce the impact of the inequalities and disadvantages survivors often experience as a result of abuse.
“Our recently published Mental Health Strategy Delivery Plan outlines the importance of survivors having access to services which promote sustained recovery through person-centred, trauma-informed support and treatment – this funding will enable more people to get the help which is right for them.”
Director of Funds at Inspiring Scotland Kaylie Allen said: “The Survivors of Childhood Abuse Support fund provides vital help for survivors to enjoy a safe and healthy life with improved wellbeing and sense of safety.
“Helping people affected by trauma is at the heart of the Inspiring Scotland strategy so we welcome the continuation of the Scottish Government’s funding and look forward to supporting applicants through the application process.”
Survivors of Childhood Abuse Support Fund 2024 – 2026 – Inspiring Scotland
Charities providing support to pregnant women, new mums and their families are to share £1.5 million expand and enhance their mental health and wellbeing services.
It has been estimated that up to 20% of mums and up to 10% of dads are affected by poor mental health in the perinatal period.
The Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Fund, which is now open for applications, enables organisations to provide a range of one-to-one and group-based support and care for parents, carers and new babies.
Over 10,000 parents, expectant parents and infants have been supported by existing funded organisations since 2019.
The new round of funding will start from October 2024.
Mental Wellbeing Minister Maree Todd said: “It is very important that all mothers and their families have access to good mental healthcare throughout pregnancy and the postnatal period.
“The third sector provides vital access to perinatal mental health support, and we are dedicated to supporting them to do so.
“This latest round of funding of up to £1.5 million, building on previous awards of over £2.8 million over four years, is designed to increase the provision of parenting and infant support, peer support and counselling or psychological support. The Fund will enable organisations to provide the services that women and their families need.”
Marie Balment, Infant Mental Health Lead, Perinatal Mental Health Network Scotland said: “We’re delighted the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Fund has been opened for a new round of funding for 18 months.
“This will enable statutory perinatal and infant mental health services to work alongside charity partners to continue offering essential perinatal mental health services that support families with babies.
“The contribution of third sector organisations is needed now more than ever, providing necessary support to parents recovering from mental illness and promoting the mental wellbeing of families during a time of vulnerability. This includes vital work promoting positive parent – infant relationships and infant mental wellbeing, which has a lifelong impact.”
Kaylie Allen, Director of Funds at Inspiring Scotland said: “We are pleased to be managing the application process for the next 18 months of Scottish Government Perinatal and Infant Mental Health funding.
“We know from the last three years of managing the fund the extraordinary impact community-based peer, parenting and infant focussed support can make for babies, parents, and families. It is so important that we focus on the early years to give all children the best start in life.”
Perinatal Infant Mental Health Fund 2024 – Inspiring Scotland
Scottish businesses championing sustainability are in the spotlight as entries open for the 2024 VIBES – Scottish Environment Business Awards.
Now in their 25th year, the VIBES awards encourage businesses to show vision and leadership in tackling climate change and other environmental challenges. They also aim to enhance environmental performance and showcase those supporting the wider social and economic benefits of sustainability.
The opening of the competition was marked at the Scottish Parliament last night (Wednesday 28th February 2024), where the outstanding achievements of last year’s winners were applauded by attendees including industry leaders and MSPs. An address was also given by Mairi McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero, and Energy.
Previous winners showcased included ReBlade, a Glasgow and Dumfries based company demonstrating how turbine blades can be dealt with responsibly. Through research and evidence, ReBlade prove that wind energy generation waste can be repurposed, confirming economic viability in decommissioning windfarms sustainably.
Fiona Lindsay, Managing Director at ReBlade said: “Businesses and organisations are increasingly being asked to demonstrate positive environmental impact, and rightly so.
“The way we do business has a huge impact on the world around us, and it makes good business sense to interrogate processes and operations to minimise environmental and climate impacts. For ReBlade taking part in the VIBES awards has been a wholly positive experience and I’d definitely encourage other businesses to consider applying.”
The VIBES Scottish Environment Business Awards are a partnership between multiple organisations including the SEPA, the Scottish Government, Energy Saving Trust, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise, NatureScot, Scottish Water, and Zero Waste Scotland. VIBES is also supported by CBI Scotland, the Institute of Directors, the Federation of Small Businesses, Scotch Whisky Association, Bright Green Business and Prosper.
Nicole Paterson, Chief Executive of SEPA, added: “As Scotland’s principal environmental regulator, we innovate, collaborate and drive collective action to help build a stronger, fairer and more sustainable nation.
“It is truly inspiring to see the achievements of these businesses towards a sustainable future. Their commitment is not only commendable but serves as a beacon for others in the business community to embrace environmentally responsible and innovative practices.
“We know there are many more businesses on the frontline of the net zero transition, continually demonstrating their unwavering commitment. The VIBES awards prove their efforts matter, and I would strongly urge as many of them as possible to enter this year and receive the recognition they deserve.”
Categories open for entries this year include the Vision in Business Scotland Award for companies that clearly set out their strategy, policies, and systems that enable continuous sustainability improvements and contribute to Scotland’s net zero carbon ambition.
Judging will take place over the summer, with a shortlist confirmed in September and the winners revealed at a ceremony in November.
