Tag: funding opportunity

Applications open for Traditional Arts & Culture Fund

The Traditional Arts and Culture Fund, previously known as Tasgadh, will open for applications at 10am today (19 January 2026). 

The fund, administered by TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland), offers small grants of up to £1,200 to artists, community groups, and grassroots organisations working across Scotland’s traditional music, song, storytelling, dance, crafts, indigenous languages, and wider intangible heritage.

TRACS won the Creative Scotland tender to administer the fund in October last year, with traditional crafts included for the first time as a new addition to the fund.

In 2026, the total fund available is £43k and applications for the first round close on Monday 16 February, with a second round of funding due to open on 6 April and close on 4 May. Awards of up to £1,200 are available (an increase of 20% on previous years), enabling around 18 applicants in each round to be funded the maximum amount. 

Applications can be submitted in Gaelic, Scots, and English language. All applicants are required to demonstrate a positive track record in and/or professional commitment to one or more traditional artforms, and awards are decided by a panel of traditional arts and craft specialists.

TRACS won the Creative Scotland tender to administer the fund in October last year, with traditional crafts included for the first time as a new addition to the fund. 

In 2026, the total fund available is £43k and applications for the first round close on Monday 16 February, with a second round of funding due to open on 6 April and close on 4 May. Awards of up to £1,200 are available (an increase of 20% on previous years), enabling around 18 applicants in each round to be funded the maximum amount. 

Applications can be submitted in Gaelic, Scots, and English language. All applicants are required to demonstrate a positive track record in and/or professional commitment to one or more traditional artforms, and awards are decided by a panel of traditional arts and craft specialists. 

Funding is available for the creation, performance, touring, and showcasing of traditional arts and crafts in Scotland, and for professional development and learning projects.

Previous successful projects include music classes and workshops, dance development and collaborations, composition of new music, tours, personal development projects, internships, and festivals.

Previous applicants who received awards of between £250 and £1,000 include Sangstream Scots Folk Choir celebrating the heritage of Midlothian miners in song; puirt à beul workshops for Dundee Gaelic Choir; Cabraich Community Arts’ weekly song and story cèilidhs in Stornoway; storytelling development at Glenesk Folk Museum with the Grampian Association of Storytellers; and the creation of new work in Scottish stepdance by Deiseil Airson Dannsa. 

Steve Byrne CEO of TRACS said: “We are delighted to have been appointed as the new administrators of this important fund.

“Being able to provide support to artists and organisations at all stages of their development is essential to ensuring that Scotland has a buoyant traditional arts community, and experience shows that a nimble small grants programme like this can make a huge difference to grassroots activity.

“We look forward to announcing the successful applicants in due course.” 

Catriona Hawksworth, Traditional Arts Officer at Creative Scotland said: “The newly redeveloped Traditional Arts and Culture Fund will directly benefit the tradition-bearers and communities upholding Scotland’s many traditions, and we’re delighted that the fund will support traditional crafts for the first time, alongside traditional music, storytelling and dance. 

“With increased funding, more traditional artists and practitioners will be able to boost their offerings within their local communities thanks to National Lottery funding. TRACS are expertly placed as a custodian of this crucial funding as champions of Scottish traditions with their invaluable knowledge and networks.” 

Helen Voce, panellist representing Traditional Craft said: “The Fund’s recognition of traditional crafts for the first time is welcomed and timely.

“A supporter of craftspeople in Scotland, including as a volunteer Regional Coordinator of Scottish members of Heritage Crafts,I know the Fund will make a difference to the practice of experienced and emerging practitioners alike.

“It arrives following a year that saw a number of traditional crafts practised in Scotland listed as endangered (e.g. Shinty Caman Making) and critically endangered (e.g. Highlands & Islands Thatching) on theRed List of Heritage Crafts 2025.

“And, as communities are poised to submit traditional craft practices to the Crafts Inventory of Living Heritage following the UK’s ratification of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.” 

The Traditional Arts and Culture Fund is administered by TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland), with support from The National Lottery through Creative Scotland. 

More information on the fund and a video guide to completing the application form is available at www.tracscotland.org/traditional-arts-and-culture-fund/

Edinburgh’s community groups encouraged to apply to Co-op’s Local Community Fund for share of £5m

Applications are now open for Co-op’s Local Community Fund and local charities and community groups can apply for a share of the £5 Million fund. 

Co-op is looking to support local community causes across the UK that enable people to access food; improve mental wellbeing; create opportunities for young people; promote community cohesion; or build sustainable futures.    

Co-operation and people working together, can be a very powerful tool in making a positive difference in local communities. That’s why Co-op is seeking new local causes that provide opportunities and resources that help people to thrive. 

Thanks to Co-op Members,  the Local Community Fund has helped 39,000 causes across the UK since 2016.

David Luckin, Head of Community Partnerships, Funding and Impact, Co-op, said: “It’s always exciting to start the search for local causes to take part in a new round of funding.

“Our members have told us that they want Co-op to focus on the real issues affecting people’s lives, and act on the issues that matter most. We know that things are  increasingly challenging for communities and through this funding we can make a difference locally and help people to thrive.’’ 

Applications are open until Sunday, 6 July – for more information, and to apply, visit coop.co.uk/causes   

With its history dating back 180 years, Co-op is one of the world’s largest consumer-owned co-operatives. Its 6.5m members own the business and play an intrinsic part in its governance with a say in how the organisation is run.

Edinburgh World Heritage: Funding Opportunity

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ALERT!

You still have time to apply for this cycle of our Conservation Funding Programme!

Does your historic building require major exterior repair? If you’re a property owner, commercial business or community group, with a property within the World Heritage Site or adjacent Conservation Areas, you might be eligible for funding.

Head to our website for more information about applying, eligibility and FAQs:

https://ewh.org.uk/the-unesco-world-heritage-site/grants/

PICTURE: Tom Duffin

£15,000 grants available for Healthy Heart community projects across UK

Community groups that are helping local people look after their hearts can now apply for a grant of up to £15,000 from national charity Heart Research UK. Grants will be awarded in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and England.

The grants are available for new and effective projects working with adults to promote healthy hearts with the aim to reduce the risk of heart disease in their community.

Cardiovascular disease is one of the world’s biggest killers, and the Healthy Heart grants aim to work preventatively within communities that may be marginalised or not have much access to health resources.

Projects should deliver health initiatives mainly focusing on one or more risk factors for heart disease, such as nutrition and healthy eating, physical activity, smoking, or alcohol.

The grants are available to registered charities with an annual income of less than £1m.

Opening dates for applications for each region will be staggered, with Wales being the first to open on the 30th of March with a closing date of the 27th of April.

Since 2001, Heart Research UK has awarded over 300 community grants, directly benefiting the hearts of over 70,000 individuals and countless wider community and family members across all regions of the UK.

Kate Bratt-Farrar, Chief Executive at Heart Research UK, said: “We’ve seen amazing results from our Healthy Heart Grants over the years and are thrilled to be able to continue to award these in 2023.

“We know it’s a challenge to try and change your life for the better when it comes to things like eating and exercising, and through these grants we’ve seen what a massive impact grassroot community projects can have in providing resources, knowledge and tools and motivating people to look after their hearts.

“We’re now looking for new and innovative projects that really will have an impact, especially if they aim to improve the health of at risk or hard to reach communities.”

To see the full list of opening and closing dates for applications, please visit:

https://heartresearch.org.uk/healthy-heart-grants/.

Royal Bank of Scotland announces £160K fund to support communities affected by cost of living crisis

A £160,000 fund to help local charities and good causes supporting communities affected by the cost of living has been announced by the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Royal Bank of Scotland’s frontline colleagues in local branches and offices will be nominating good causes that they have chosen from their communities, to save charities from finding time to nominate themselves, or individuals on their behalf

The fund is part of a £1 million fund announced by the NatWest Group, which will be distributed by the bank’s boards across the UK, and forms part of a wider £5.7 million commitment to provide cost of living support across the country through partner organisations including the Federation of Small Business, the Trussell Trust, and Responsible Finance.

Over the last year, NatWest Group has provided £40 million cost of living support to its personal customers and community partners and this latest fund reaffirms its commitment to help people, families, and businesses with the rising cost of living.

Judith Cruickshank, Scotland Chair, Royal Bank of Scotland, said: “This local funding is a real opportunity for us to tailor the support we provide to Scottish charities and organisations who are delivering vital support to our communities.

“Our colleagues across the country will be shaping how the money is donated, nominating the good causes that are making a difference in their towns and villages.”

Raghu Narula, NatWest Group’s Managing Director of Customer Engagement & Distribution, said: “We are a bank driven by our purpose and values and right now that is to help our colleagues, customers and the communities they live in through the challenges faced with cost of living.

“The funding we are providing directly to our boards across the UK means that we are targeting support on a local level where it can have maximum impact.”

Charities urged to bid for prize pot offered by insurance specialist

Charities in The Lothians have a chance to win a share of a £25,000 prize pot offered by expert charity insurer Ansvar as part of its Community Campaign.

Many good causes in the region have been struggling to raise funds during the current cost of living crisis and Ansvar, which has insured charities, churches and voluntary groups for more than 60 years, is offering help.

The money will be split three ways: £15,000 for the overall winner with £5,000 each going to two additional charities.

Applications for funding can be submitted between Monday 6th March and Monday 17th April, with winners announced by Wednesday 31st May.

Charities simply need to complete a short online form and explain in 500 words or less why their project deserves the prize.

Judges will be looking for projects that are about to start, or already running, which positively impact the local community.

Sarah Cox, Managing Director at Ansvar, said: “These are tough times for many charities, so we’re delighted to announce our search for three registered charities to benefit from a £25,000 prize pot.

“We know how much that money will mean to projects being run across the country and the judges are particularly keen to receive entries that provide a detailed outline of how the money would be spent.”

A judging panel will meet to decide the winner – and entries need to be made online via the Ansvar website. Entrants must be a registered charity and their charity number will be needed to apply.

Sarah Cox added: “We’ve been insuring charitable organisations at the heart of the community for a long time and giving back to the community is an important part of what we do.

“So, we’re really looking forward to hearing from a wide breadth of charities and learning how they could benefit from this funding boost. We strongly urge any eligible charities in need of funding to submit an application.”

For more information, please visit: https://www.ansvar.co.uk/community-campaign-2023/community-campaign-2023/

Corra Foundation announces £1m Henry Duncan Grants

Funding to support children and young people experiencing inequality

Corra’s Henry Duncan Grants are open to organisations supporting children and young people (aged 6-26 years) experiencing inequality. Grassroots organisations with an annual income of £500,000 or less can apply for up to £8,000 a year for up to five years.

This year Corra is working alongside children and young people to support the design and decision-making processes for Henry Duncan Grants.

The theme for this year was developed with children and young people, and two key priority areas were identified:

  • Organisations that are supporting children and young people to shape their own lives.  
  • Organisations that are supporting children and young people to develop skills for the future. 

Carolyn Sawers, Corra Acting CEO said: “Our strategy is all about listening to people’s voices, shifting power and getting alongside people to create change. This means grant making needs to be shaped by the people it exists to serve.

“We’re enormously grateful to the children and young people who helped us design this year’s Henry Duncan Grants, and to those who will participate in making the funding decisions.

“One of the things we’ll be looking for is organisations that engage children and young people in their own design and decision-making processes.”

Corra welcomes applications from organisations working to:

  • Provide advice and advocacy services that are person-centred and led by the child/children or young person/people. 
  • Support safe spaces for children and young people to connect with each other and access support. 

At least £300,000 (approximately 30%) of the fund budget will support organisations that are led by Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities. This reflects the historic inequity of funding and Corra’s proactive focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. 

The closing date for applications is 12pm on Tuesday 5 July.

Corra will be holding information sessions for organisations interested in applying to Henry Duncan Grants as well as opportunities to discuss ideas with a Grants Advisor.

To find out more, including how to sign up please visit the Corra Foundation website.

Call to apply for funding through Scotmid Community Connect award scheme

Scotmid is calling on charities and community groups in the East of Scotland to apply for Community Connect funding.

The Scottish convenience retailer is seeking applications for financial support ahead of the deadline of 25th March 2021. Nine successful groups across Scotland will receive a share of £75,000.

The funding is made possible through sales of single-use carrier bags in Scotmid stores. Money from each bag sale contributes to the pot which is then distributed through the Community Connect award scheme, with Scotmid Members voting on how the funding is distributed.

Harry Cairney, President of Scotmid, said: “Community Connect is one of the main ways we support our communities, and we are delighted to invite applications from the many charities and good cause groups that work hard to support our communities each day.

“We are encouraging community initiatives in the area to apply ahead of the deadline on the 25th of March.”

Past recipients of the funding in the East of Scotland include Blood Bikes South Queensferry, Community One Stop Shop, Kids Love Clothes and Street Assist.

Since Scotmid’s Community Connect scheme launched in 2017, more than £385,000 has been awarded to good cause groups to enable key community projects to come to life, making a valuable difference to the lives of the many people who have benefited as a result.

For further information on how to apply, eligible groups can visit:

 www.scotmid.coop or send specific queries to membership@scotmid.co.uk.

The shortlisted groups will then be announced in April