Tag: funding

Greater urgency needed to tackle flooding in Scotland’s communities

Whilst some public bodies and councils are working well together to tackle flooding, they face gaps in leadership, skills and data, and there is uncertainty about funding. This is limiting what can be achieved and opportunities to maximise the benefit of money spent are being missed.

Climate change is increasing the severity and frequency of flooding in Scotland, with almost 400,000 properties potentially at risk by 2080. But there is a risk that the action needed to prevent and tackle the already clear harms of flooding won’t happen at the scale and speed needed.

With the Scottish Government placing much more emphasis on flood resilience, there remain multiple barriers to effective collaboration across the public sector and to support communities. There is a lack of clarity in roles, responsibilities and funding. More also needs to be done to support communities to prepare for, and recover from, flooding.

The process for allocating funding for major flood schemes is currently not fit for purpose. Existing major flood schemes are taking longer to complete, with expected costs more than doubling to over £1 billion. This means that fewer homes and communities are protected than originally expected.

Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland said: “The Scottish Government and other public bodies must urgently address critical gaps in roles, responsibilities, information and data. Failing to do this risks ambitions to build communities that can better withstand and recover from flooding.

“Whilst there are good examples of the Scottish Government collaborating with councils, communities and other public bodies, this isn’t sufficient given the scale of future risks.

“It is vital that greater certainty and clarity about the funding available for major flood schemes is provided, with costs and impacts managed and measured, and national agreement on collaborating and engaging with communities secured.”

Andrew Burns, Deputy Chair of the Accounts Commission, said: “Communities are at the heart of future flood resilience. Whilst there are good examples of the work councils are doing, they face significant challenges. There are gaps in the data they need, uncertainty over funding and a shortage of skilled staff.

‘There are inconsistencies in the advice, money and support to enable communities to become both more resilient to flooding events and recover more quickly.

“These challenges need to be addressed by both local and national government.”

Thousands granted to Edinburgh’s community food growing initiatives

More than £50k in funding has been awarded to food growing projects across Edinburgh.

The City of Edinburgh Council’s £52,500 Grow Your Own Fund has been shared between 13 community and voluntary groups whose work includes creating food growing spaces and providing food growing education. 

Applications for funding were individually assessed by a panel, with grants of up to £5000 awarded to a range of schemes. Amongst the initiatives are Tuk Tuk and Grow, which brings mobile growing and cooking sessions to families across Edinburgh using a tuk tuk bike, and Nuclear Growth, which plans to set up a food growing project on the site of a former nuclear bunker on Corstorphine Hill.

Funding is intended to be spent in areas such as: purchasing seeds, plants, and tools; equipment for community garden cooking areas; education and training activities; personal protective equipment; and staff time directly related to establishing the growing area.

Councillor Margaret Graham, Culture and Communities Convener, said: “The standard of applications to the fund was extremely high, and the panel were really impressed – the successful projects demonstrate real creativity and ambition.

“Urban food growing is important for the health of both people and nature. These initiatives will really benefit local communities and the wider city by bringing people together, reducing food waste and supporting biodiversity.”

Full list of successful projects:

  • Nuclear Growth, Barnton Bunker Preservation Society (awarded £4640)
  • Get Blackhall Growing, Blackhall Parent Carer Council (awarded £2000)
  • Tuk Tuk Grow and Go, Edinburgh Community Food (awarded £5000)
  • Redhall Grows, Friends of Redhall School (awarded £5000)
  • Gate 55 Community Food Growers, Gate 55 Community Centre (awarded £4946)
  • Growing Together, Goodtrees Neighbourhood Centre (awarded £5000)
  • Longstone Primary Farm and Garden, Parents at Longstone School (awarded £1400)
  • Community Garden at Pilton Equalities Project, Pilton Equalities Project (awarded £4000)
  • StJV Allotment: a growing space for the campus community, St John Vianney Primary School Charitable Trust (awarded £5000)
  • Community Garden and Foraging Trail, St Mary’s Episcopal cathedral (awarded £5000)
  • Flourishing Together at Gracemount Medical Practice, Transition Edinburgh South (awarded £5000)
  • Garden @ the Snake, Fountainbridge Canalside Community Trust (awarded £2625 – partial funding)
  • Edible Garden at The Action Group, The Action Group (awarded £2889 – partial funding)

Patricia Lee from Gate 55 said: “We were really keen to support a new community food growing group here and this grant makes a huge difference to us.

” The funds will enable us to provide the group with resources for propagation space and for fruit bushes and compost, as well as supporting them with a project worker who will help with capacity-building and growing the membership of the group.”

Ryan Lytwyn, Mental Health Worker with the Pilton Equalities Project, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to receive this funding from the Grow Your Own grant scheme.

“It will make a huge difference to our community garden at the Pilton Equalities Project, allowing us to expand our growing space, install greenhouses, and involve more local people in growing fresh, sustainable food.

“This support means we can promote food security, improve wellbeing, and help our community take positive action for our climate.”

Jonathan Baxter from A+E at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral said: “We were delighted to hear about the Grow Your Own Fund and even more delighted when we heard that our application had been successful.

“Community food growing is a key part of that commitment and securing funding for a community gardener/development worker allows us to realise our aim of establishing a Community Garden in the West End of Edinburgh.

Alongside local residents and current users of Walpole Hall, the Community Garden aims to support the wider climate justice movement in Edinburgh. It does this by providing a welcoming space where horticulture and ecological design skills can be learnt in a hands-on way.

Marginalised Edinburgh communities could receive major funding as national Parkinson’s charity launches new grants offer

Parkinson’s UK has launched a new physical activity grants programme for marginalised communities across the UK to help more people living with the condition to get active. 

The pilot grants programme will run from Monday 2 June to Sunday 10 August 2025. It will run in conjunction with the charity’s established physical activity grants programme, which has been delivering funding of up to £3,000 for exercise professionals and local Parkinson’s groups since 2021. 

In that time, more than £700,000 has been delivered and more than 200 physical activity projects have benefitted from the funding.   

The grants for marginalised communities aim to deliver more innovative exercise, wellbeing and physical activity projects in targeted areas across the UK. They will also offer more opportunities for those in these communities to shape the future delivery and development of the Physical Activity Grants programme. 

Funding of up to £3,000 is available for any of the following social groups affected by Parkinson’s: 

  • Global majority (including all those who are previously categorised as ethnic minorities)
  • People with other disabilities, be it a physical, neurodiverse or hidden disability
  • People from a low socio-economic background
  • People from the LGBTQIA+ community 
  • People from Refugee, Asylum Seeker and Migrant communities
  • Women 

The following community groups and organisations that support the Parkinson’s community are also eligible to apply: 

  • Community-based not for profit organisations (including charities, CICs, and constituted community groups, excluding Parkinson’s UK Local groups/branches) 
  • Community Amateur Sports clubs (CASCs) 
  • Community benefit societies and Co-operatives 
  • Social Enterprises

Funding can be offered for exercise classes, consultation with the Parkinson’s community and towards engagement events. 

Applicants will need to complete a brief project description and discuss their ideas with local Parkinson’s UK staff and area managers. Once they have spoken with a local Parkinson’s UK representative, applicants will be invited to complete an application form.

Selected locations across the UK are now eligible to receive funding if they work with Parkinson’s communities from marginalised groups. 

A full list of these locations can be found by visiting the Parkinson’s UK grants for marginalised communities page. 

Roma Hashim, Physical Activity Grants Manager at Parkinson’s UK, said: “We’re really excited about launching the Physical Activity Grants for Marginalised Communities pilot programme this year.

“The Physical Activity Grants Programme was established to support the Parkinson’s community and the leisure industry to develop and deliver opportunities to be active at a local and regional level. 

“However, we’ve since recognised that there is an increasing number of people from marginalised communities getting a Parkinson’s diagnosis who have limited access to support groups or programmes. 

“Every grant aims to support people with Parkinson’s from marginalised communities to engage in physical activity, to improve their wellbeing. Their insights will also help us understand their needs and shape the future development of exercise and physical activity from Parkinson’s UK.”

For more information about the pilot grants programme for marginalised communities, contact physicalactivity@parkinsons.org.uk 

or visit 

www.parkinsons.org.uk/information-and-support/physical-activity-grants-marginalised-communities 

College future secured until 2027

£1.4 million in funding for continued pilot

Scotland’s first dedicated complex needs college will receive up to £1.4 million to secure its future for the next two years.

Since launching in 2022, the Corseford College pilot has received over £1 million from the Scottish Government, which has helped to provide 35 students with complex and additional needs an opportunity for further learning beyond school.

An independent evaluation found the pilot provided valuable support to young people with complex needs. It also included key recommendations for the future model of provision in Scotland which the Government will be considering in the months ahead.

The College has now received additional funding to continue the pilot for two more years. A total of 41 young people will benefit from specialist support in the 2025-26 academic year starting in August.

Further Education Minister Graeme Dey said: “Corseford College has delivered vital support to many young people with complex additional needs since its launch three years ago. This has been recognised in an independent evaluation of the model, which is why we are securing the College’s future for another two years to ensure that its students can continue to be supported.

“We are keen to explore a sustainable approach for specialist provision going forward, and the continued pilot at Corseford will help inform this. The evaluation provided a number of important insights and recommendations which we will be reflecting on and will allow us to evolve the best possible model for the future.

“We are determined to support Scotland’s young people with complex additional needs and disabilities. Last month, we published our first national strategy that ensures young disabled people can access the help they need as they transition to adulthood. Our continued funding for Corseford will support this work.”

Capability Scotland Chief Executive, Brian Logan, said: “The Scottish Government’s funding decision following the independent evaluation is a vital endorsement of Corseford College’s pioneering approach to specialist post-school education.

“We would like to thank Minister Graeme Dey and his team for their cooperation and unwavering commitment in making this possible.

“This success reflects the dedication of the college’s staff, whose work is transforming the lives of young people with complex needs. The funding secures Corseford College’s future, but also marks a key step towards a national solution for those young people living with complex needs across the country.”

The Scottish Government published its National Transitions to Adulthood Strategy for Young People in June 2025.

Community-based charities invited to apply to £275,000 fund

Small Edinburgh charities struggling with rising costs and loss of income are being encouraged to apply to the council for emergency support.

Brought forward by councillors as part of an urgent package of support for the city’s third sector, the £275,000 funding pot aims to support local organisations working to prevent and tackle poverty across Edinburgh. 

Small and medium-sized charities based in the city will be able to apply for Phase two of the council’s Third Sector Resilience Fund until applications close at 1pm on Friday 4 July. Grants of up to £10,000 will be made available to support charities between September and March.

Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “With funding becoming ever scarcer and more people struggling with the cost of living, we can see that many local charities are in a difficult position. We need to find a better way forward for this sector that brings so much good, and our latest funding package is part of the urgent support we’re putting in place.

“Many of the city’s small, local charities are helping those with the greatest need and I urge them to apply quickly.

“Meanwhile, we’ve asked the Edinburgh Partnership to conduct a review of how it supports and works with third sector organisations across the city, to ultimately to find long-term solutions for funding for the sector in future years.”

An information event for interested charities will be held by EVOC at 1pm on 24 June on how to apply for the fund.

An online consultation is also available to take part in, seeking ideas for making collaboration between Edinburgh’s public and third sectors simpler and more stable. 

Please share your views on our Consultation Hub. 

ECCAN’s Greenlight seedgrant fund opens next week

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Greenlight – ECCAN’s Seedgrant Funding Opens June 16th!

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We are excited to announce that this year we will be sharing £115K for climate action projects delivered by community groups within the city of Edinburgh. We will also accept applications from individuals on behalf of informal groups.

Organisations and groups can apply for grants in the following categories:

Grants of up to £20,000 each (large grants for co-designed projects with partner working) – nominally two awards.

Grants of up to £10,000 each (large grants – can be co-designed) – nominally two awards.

Grants of up to £5,000 each (medium grants) – nominally 4 awards.

Grants up to a value of £1,000 each.

Small grants of up to £500. For individuals or informal groups the limit is £350.

You need to be an ECCAN member to apply (membership is free).

For more information, check our website on the day: 

https://www.eccan.scot/greenlight-funding

#seedgrantfunding

#funding

#edinburgh

#edinburghcommunity

#nonforprofit

#ClimateAction

Grant funding targets heritage for all

HES’s annual grants report, published today (Wednesday 11 June) as part of Scotland’s Historic Environment Forum, shows a significant increase in support for projects in Scotland’s most deprived areas.

Investment through HES grant programmes in areas in the most deprived quintile of Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) account for 20% (20.9%) of the total £12.4 million funding package administered by the public body.

The SIMD is the Scottish Government’s standard approach to measuring deprivation and looks at the extent to which an area is deprived across multiple domains, including income and employment.

£2.5 million of HES’s grant funding for 2024-25 was awarded to projects in the most deprived 20% SIMD, beating the previous figure of 6.34% by a significant margin. This figure surpasses previous years and speaks to HES’s Heritage for All vision set out in its new Corporate Plan 2025-28.

HES is committed to using insights from its annual grants report to refine and enhance its funding approach, promoting greater transparency and helping the organisation’s ambition to achieve equitable grant distribution.

The most popular type of grant awarded to these areas was HES’s express grants (up to £25,000). These grants are open to applications year-round with a target ten-week turnaround period. This programme of funding is vital for communities to be able to repair, care for and cherish their historic environment.

Projects successfully awarded express grants in the past year include the Whithorn and the Machars Pilot Archaeology Field School (hero image), where 51 pupils worked on excavating in one of the de-turfed areas of Sinniness, and the community of Luing and surrounding areas where a HES express grant funded guided tours, art demonstrations, multilingual song and more, all in celebration of Luing’s slate heritage past and its future.

With in-house experts on everything from traditional thatching to archaeological fieldwork, HES offers bespoke advice and works closely with projects to establish early success. This is vital for building confidence in new entrants who have not worked with the historic environment before and helps set them up for further success with more ambitious projects that may be eligible for larger grants.

Almost 50% of the overall funding (48.49%) went towards area-based regeneration schemes, including the successful Heritage and Place Programme which funds community-led regeneration projects.

In the past year the programme has celebrated projects such as the revitalisation of Granton Waterfront in Edinburgh, the development of a state-of-the-art heritage quarter in Forres, and more. These projects demonstrate how investment in heritage can help support local economies and enrich communities’ sense of place.

Alison Turnbull, Director of External Relations and Partnerships, said: “For too long, heritage funding has mirrored the inequalities we see in wider society. Our ‘Heritage for All’ vision means we seek to allocate our grants equitably to ensure our historic environment belongs to everyone.

“By working with communities in the most deprived SIMD quintile, we increase the diversity of voices and projects in the historic environment. We are committed to supporting projects that include a wide variety of people in decision-making about their heritage.

“We encourage new entrants to heritage projects in particular to reach out and learn how we can help you engage with and look after the heritage in your community.”

Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said: “This report highlights the real impact that investment in our historic environment can have in addressing inequalities and supporting regeneration in communities that need it most.

“By targeting funding towards the most deprived areas, Historic Environment Scotland is helping to unlock opportunities, support skills development and bring people together through a shared connection to place and heritage.

“This level of progress is welcome and reaffirms the commitment to ensuring that our historic environment is accessible, inclusive and benefits everyone across Scotland.”

Marine Fund Scotland 2025-26 launched

Delivering Scotland’s ‘Blue Economy Vision’

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.”

Blue Economy Vision

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/

Funding Boost for Charities at Scottish Building Society AGM

Charities set for up to £5,000 funding from Scottish Building Society Foundation

Scottish Building Society marked its Annual General Meeting (AGM) by announcing funding to support eight local charities and good causes across the country.

The funding comes via the Scottish Building Society Foundation which awards individual grants of up to £5,000 to help an applicant’s cause.

To date the Foundation as granted over £150,000 to good causes across Scotland since it launched in 2023.

The grants were awarded to Very Inclusive Play Club, Forth Canoe Club, Ochil Trail Association, Bridgeton Community Learning Campus, The Birks Cinema Trust, Works+, Trossachs Tigers Hockey Club and Duntocher Village Hall whom all received donations to support their initiatives in their community.

The Very Inclusive Playgroup in Edinburgh offers an inclusive and compassionate community for families who have a child with additional support needs. Funding will allow expansion of its services to offer more of its structured groups for children under 5, which focus on specific areas in order to support development. 

Forth Canoe Club, in Edinburgh is a charity set up to encourage more public participation in sport. Funding from the Foundation will support the provision of access to canoeing for local children and their parents.

Ochil Tail Association operates various mountain bike and walking trails across Clackmannashire and will use its funding to support the maintenance of these paths for all users.

Bridgeton Community Learning in the East End of Glasgow will use its grant to further its work supporting local businesses and organisations based in Bridgeton.

The Birks Cinema Trust based in Aberfeldy will use its funding to support a programme of community activities designed to support social inclusion and enhance wellbeing.

Scottish Border’s based employment charity, Works+ will use the grant to support the work they do to help young people aged 16-24 get into work, further education or training. 

Trossachs Tigers Hockey Club based in Stirling will be using its grant funding to purchase new equipment and facility hire costs for children across rural Stirlingshire to encourage more kids to get into hockey.

Duntocher Village Hall will use its support to fund essential repair work to the hall’s wooden floor, ensuring it can reopen for community use once again.

Paul Denton, Chief Executive Officer, Scottish Building Society said: “As we welcome members to our AGM this year, it feels fitting to celebrate the incredible work charities do in their local communities, and we are proud to support their efforts through this next round of funding.

 “The Scottish Building Society Foundation is designed to give back to communities and since it began it has supported good causes to make a difference right across Scotland, from Highlands to the Scottish Borders.

“All the charities and community organisations who have been successful in their applications have a fantastic cause and we look forward to seeing their positive work go further as a result of the funding they have received. By investing in good causes, we are building stronger communities.”

Scottish Building Society Foundation was established by Scottish Building Society in partnership with Foundation Scotland in May 2023 to align with the organisation’s 175th anniversary, with an initial £175,000 earmarked for local charities and good causes across Scotland.

Since then it has provided over £150,000 shared among 43 charities, with the latest funding coinciding with a successful year for the world’s oldest remaining building society.

In April the society revealed total assets rose by 17% in the last 12 months, seeing them double since 2020 to £866.5m, while its mortgage portfolio grew by 7% and retail savings balances rose by 20% – well above the market average.

Additionally, for the fifth consecutive time, Scottish Building Society was recognised as the ‘Best Building Society’ at the 2024 Scottish Mortgage Awards, with Mr Denton also receiving the ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award.

Mr Denton said: “Over the past 12 months we’ve seen strong results driven by our commitment to the communities we serve, building loyalty and trust with our members to provide them with the services they need.

“As a mutual, we make decisions exclusively for the benefit of our members, not shareholders and today, that feels more important than ever.

“That’s why we continue to invest in relationship centres, passbook savings accounts, and a personal approach, while at the same time developing our digital tools to give members secure, convenient access to their accounts.”

For more information on the Scottish Building Society Foundation, visit: 

https://www.scottishbs.co.uk/scottish-building-society-foundation

£106 million to reduce waiting times

SCOTLAND’S LONGEST WAITS TO BE TARGETED

More than £106 million has been allocated to health boards in Scotland to help tackle the longest waits for procedures and operations.

The funding has been assigned to specialty areas for the year ahead where it can have the greatest impact against the longest waits – this includes £25 million for trauma and orthopaedics, £21 million for imaging, £14 million for cancer treatment and more than £12 million for ophthalmology.

The investment is part of the £200 million announced as part of the Programme for Government to build capacity, tackle delayed discharge and improve patient flow through hospitals.

Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “This government is focussed on taking the action needed to cut waiting lists – significant activity is already underway through this additional investment which will help us target the longest waits for treatment.

“We are determined to reduce patient waits in the year ahead and this £106 million of additional funding will help us to deliver more than 150,000 extra appointments and procedures in 2025-26. This funding is just part of our record investment of £21.7 billion for health and social care this year.

“Last year, health boards vastly exceeded the commitment to deliver 64,000 appointments and procedures – instead delivering more than 105,000 through our targeted approach.  This investment will allow us to build on this progress and deliver tangible improvements for patients.”