VCEL Monthly Funding Update | June 2026
Welcome to the latest funding update from Volunteer Centre East Lothian.
1 | FUNDING NEWS
East Lothian Sets Budget with Major Investment Plans
East Lothian Council has approved its 2025/26 budget, committing to major investment in local services despite ongoing financial pressures.
Over the next five years, more than £211 million will be invested in infrastructure, including schools, roads and public buildings. [eastlothian.gov.uk]
The budget also prioritises funding for:
Adult social care
Children’s services and education
Housing and road improvements
While challenges remain—particularly due to below-average funding per head—the council says the budget focuses on protecting services and supporting communities.
Council budget agreed | East Lothian Council
2 | ARTS & CULTURE
Universal Music UK Sound Foundation (UMUKSF) - School Funding
Grants are available to UK schools to support the purchase of musical instruments and equipment. Grants of up to £800 are available.
Deadline: 17 June 2026
UK Sound Foundation
Take Three - North Star Shorts
The funding is intended to support emerging Scottish-based filmmakers to create original, animation or live-action short fiction films with international appeal and inclusive representation. Six short films will be awarded funding of £25,000, plus an additional £3,000 will be available to support development.
Deadline: 17 June 2026
North Star Shorts
Art Fund - Student Opportunities
Art Fund is offering funding to help museums, galleries and visual arts organisations provide paid opportunities for full-time university students to gain meaningful, developmental work-experience that enables them to further explore their interest in the arts, and related future career options before they graduate. Grants of up to £10,000 are available.
Deadline: 26 June 2026
Art Fund
Take Three - Next Wave
Funding is available for filmmakers in Scotland to develop short live-action fiction films.
£25,000 production budgets are available to support further refinement of skills and voice, as well as the chance to make an impression on the international film festival circuit. A further £3,000 will be available to support the development stage.
Deadline: 26 June 2026 (23:59)
Take Three Next Wave
Theatres Trust Small Grants Scheme
Small grants are available for essential works to not-for-profit theatres in the UK that will enable them to be viable and thrive in the future. Grants of up to £7,500 are available.
Deadline: 26 June 2026 (midnight)
Theatres Trust Small Grants
Elephant Trust
Grants of up to £ 5,000 are available to artists, small organisations and galleries within the UK to make it possible for artists and those presenting their work to undertake and complete projects when frustrated by lack of funds.
Deadline: 28 June 2026
Elephant Trust
Business Catalyst (Small) Grants
Grants of up to £2,000 available to self-employed, sole traders or micro businesses in the jewellery, silversmithing and allied industries to help them grow.
Deadline: 05 July 2026 (17:00)
Business Catalyst Small Grants
Esmée Fairbairn Communities and Collections Fund
Grants of up to £100,000 are available to museums and galleries in the UK for strategic development of their inclusive collections work and for partnership projects that improve inclusion and equitable working with community partners. Grants of between £40,000 and £100,000 are available over a period of up to three years.
Deadline: 22 July 2026
Esmée Fairbairn Communities and Collections Fund
BFI Filmmaking Fund - Discovery Feature Funding
Funding is available to debut directors to support original live action and animation feature filmmaking in the UK. Discovery feature funding provides awards of up to £1 million for projects with debut directors and a production budget between £1 million and £3.5 million.
Deadline: 30 July 2026 (17:00)
BFI Funding
Radcliffe Trust
Funding is available for UK charities, not-for-profit organisations working in the areas of music, especially chamber music, composition and music education, or in heritage and crafts. Heritage and Crafts Grants are generally in the region of £2,500 to £7,500. Music Grants are generally in the region of £2,500 to £5,000.
Deadline: 31 July 2026
Radcliffetrust
Association of Independent Museums (AIM) –Museum Fundamentals Grant Programme
Grants of up to £20,000 are available for small-to-medium sized museums across the UK to support core museum activities such as conservation, collection care, and exhibition development. This fund aims to support museums with core activities, enabling them to care for collection’s more effectively and efficiently and to meet the standards required for Accreditation.
Deadline: 07 August 2026
Grants Museum-fundamentals
PRS Foundation - PPL Momentum Music Fund
Grants are available to support the development of talented emerging UK musicians and bands, helping them to sustain and develop their careers. Grants of between £5,000 and £15,000 are available.
Deadline: 10 August 2026
PRS foundation.com
Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust - Emerging Maker Grants
Grants are available for the training and education of UK-based early-career craftspeople who wish to develop their skills and expertise. The grant provides between £3,000 and £10,000 for essential skills training. The grant is open to all UK based makers who identify their practice within the field of craft and have a strong foundation and clear commitment to their craft. Emerging makers are defined as individuals at an early stage of their career, who have been in professional practice for four years or less. Applications will open 8 July to 12 August.
Deadline: 12 August 2026
Emerging Maker Grants
Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust - Scholarships and Apprenticeships
Scholarships and apprenticeship support is available to fund further study, training and practical experience for craftsmen and women across the UK who want to improve their craft and trade skills. Scholarships are worth between £3,000 and £18,000, depending on how much funding is required for a project.
Deadline: 12 August 2026
Scholarship Trust
Idlewild Trust
The Trust offers grants of up to £7,000 to registered charities working in the following two areas:
Arts Grants: Nurturing Early Stage Professionals – grants support training opportunities for emerging professionals, working creatively and backstage, within the performing and visual arts, post-training, and at an early stage in their career.
Conservation Grants: Objects and Works of Art – grants support the conservation of cultural heritage of recognised national and international importance in museums, libraries, galleries, historic buildings, or landscapes accessible to the public.
Deadline: 05 September 2026
Idlewild Trust
PRS Foundation - Open Fund for Music Creators
Grants of up to £5,000 are available to support the development of outstanding UK songwriters and composers of all genres and backgrounds, at different stages of their career.
Deadline: 07 September 2026 (18:00)
PRS Foundation
BFI National Lottery Creative Challenge Fund
The funding (£ 150,000) is intended to support UK-based organisations in designing and delivering creative project development programmes in feature film and narrative immersive media. These programmes should benefit participants and their projects by supporting writers, directors, producers and immersive artists.
Deadline: 09 September 2026
BFI Funding
Theatre Improvement Scheme
Grants of up to £20,000 are available for not-for-profit theatres in the UK for capital improvement projects that will improve environmental sustainability.
Deadline: 11 September 2026 (12 noon)
Theatres Trust
Scops Arts Trust
A limited number of grants are available to charities across the UK for new high quality projects that provide opportunities for people from all backgrounds to access, enjoy and participate in the arts.
Deadline: 15 September 2026
Scops Arts Trust
Fidelio Trust
Grant funding of up to £5,000 to help individuals (over 21 years) and groups of exceptional ability in the UK that would not otherwise be able to carry out an artistic project or activity without financial support.
Deadline: 25 September 2026 (noon)
Fidelio Trust
Youth Music - NextGen Fund
Grants of up to £3,000 are available to young creatives in the UK to help them take a step forward to participating in and changing the music industries. The funding is intended help early-stage musicians and wider music adjacent creatives to invest in their own projects and make their ideas happen. The fund is especially aimed at those whose lack of finance holds them back from pursuing their goals.
Deadline: 25 September 2026
Youth Music
Michael Tippett Musical Foundation
Grants are available to support projects and activities that support young musicians and composers, new music, and music education initiatives. Grants of between £500 and £3,000 are available. The average grant is around £2,000. This fund aims to support group music-making, especially those that involve young people in the process of composing and developing new ideas.
Deadline: 30 September 2026 (midnight)
Tippett Foundation
Oppenheim-John Downes Memorial Trust
Small grants are available to British artists, designers, writers and performers over the age of 30 who are experiencing financial difficulties in the pursuit of their careers. Awards typically range from £250 to £1,000.
Deadline: 02 October 2026
Oppenheim Downes Trust
Heritage Crafts Association - Endangered Crafts Fund
Grants are available for craft practitioners, community groups and voluntary organisations across the United Kingdom to deliver projects that protect endangered crafts and provide opportunities for makers and trainees to develop their skills. Grants of up to £2,500 are available.
Deadline: 16 October 2026
Heritage Crafts
The Charlotte Aitkens Trust
Grants of up to £2,500 are available for charitable organisations within the UK who promote the creative arts for the public benefit, especially literature, whether fiction, non-fiction drama or poetry. The Trust will only accept applications from organisations whose core purpose is in the support of literature and literacy.
Deadline: 31 October 2026
Charlotte Aitken Trust
Association of Independent Museums (AIM) Training Grants
Grants are available to support member museums across the UK in developing the skills and expertise of their workforce (paid or voluntary). Grants of £350 are available.
Deadline: 14 December 2026
Aim-museums
Turtleton Charitable Trust
Grants are available to registered charities in Scotland for charitable projects in the fields of heritage, the arts and education. Grants are usually for between £5,000 and £25,000, although larger grants or multi-year commitments may be awarded at the discretion of the Trustees in limited circumstances. The Turtleton Charitable Trust was established in 2007 and is administered by Turcan Connell.
Deadline: 31 December 2026
Turcan Connell Charitable Trust
Museums Galleries Scotland - Museum Futures: Innovation Fund
Grants are available to museums in Scotland to improve their financial sustainability. Grants of between £20,000 and £250,000 are available. Projects can last up to three years and must begin with six months of the award date.
Deadline: 20 January 2027 (17:00)
Museums Galleries Scotland
Museums Galleries Scotland - Museum Futures: Unlocking Potential Fund
Grants are available to museums in Scotland to address barriers to strategic development. Grants of between £10,000 and £100,000 are available.
Deadline: 20 January 2027 (17:00)
Museums Galleries Scotland
Association for Industrial Archaeology - Restoration Grants
Funding is available for the restoration of historically, technically, architecturally, and/or archaeologically important industrial buildings, structures, machinery, vehicles and vessels within the UK. Two funding streams are available: Major projects - up to £30,000. Grants must form a significant portion of the total project costs (normally, at least 20% of the total project costs).
Small projects - up to £10,000 for projects with total costs of no more than £12,500.
Deadline: 31 March 2027
Industrial-archaeology Restoration-grants
BFI National Lottery Audience Projects Fund
Funding to is available to support various audience related activities in the UK, including film festivals, distribution releases, multiplatform distribution proposals, touring film programmes, large scale and ambitious film programmes. Grants of between £20,000 and £200,000 are available, with an upper limit of £500,000 for projects of exceptional scale and ambition.
Deadline: Ongoing
BFI Get Funding
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - Arts-based Learning Fund
The funding of up to £ 300,000 is intended to create a more equitable school system where high-quality arts-based learning is a core part of all children’s education. Applications will be accepted from:
Arts and cultural organisations working in partnership with formal education settings (including state-funded primary and secondary schools, SEND specialist schools, Further Education colleges, alternative provision settings such as Pupil Referral Units, and some types of state-funded Early Years settings).
Organisations that are developing established programmes of work and/or testing new approaches.
Deadline: Ongoing
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - Arts-based Learning Fund website
Creative Scotland – Open Fund for Individuals
Supports a wide range of activity initiated by artists, writers, producers and other creative practitioners in Scotland. The fund is intended to support periods of research, development and/or delivery of creative activity, such as specific projects and productions for up to 24 months. It can support an individual’s time where thisis related to specific creative outcomes. Grants are available for amounts between £500 and £50,000.
Deadline: Ongoing
Creative Scotland –Open Fund for Individuals website
National Lottery Open Fund for Organisations
This fund aims to support organisations who seek funding to undertake creative activity such as a specific project or production, a programme of creative work, or a period of research and development. This includes funding for:
a specific one-off project or production or a period of creative research and development or a longer term programme of work.
It can also support organisations to undertake business and organisational development that will:
enhance their business sustainability through the development of new or more diverse income streams, or consider broader organisational development costs.
Eligible organisations can apply for funding between £1k and £100k for projects or programmes lasting up to 18 months.
Deadline: Ongoing
National Lottery Open Fund for Organisations website
Awards for Young Musicians
Grants of £100 to £2,000 are available for the UK's most talented young instrumentalists in any genre, aged five to 17 years of age who, because of financial need, may be prevented from fulfilling their creative potential.
Deadline: Ongoing
Awards for Young Musicians website
Creative Scotland – National Lottery Open Fund for Organisations
Grants of between £1,000 and £100,000 are for constituted artistic, creative, or cultural organisations across Scotland to deliver a variety of creative projects and activities and enable business changes or development projects that make the organisation more financially sustainable. The fund is open all year round.
Deadline: Ongoing
Creative Scotland –National Lottery Open Fund for Organisations website
3 | BUSINESS & ENTERPRISE
Depot Charging Scheme
Grants of up to £1,000,000 for UK-registered fleet operators in the public, private and non-profit sectors to support the installation of chargepoints for battery-electric vans, HGVs and coaches.
Deadline: 30 June 2026
Depot Charging Scheme
Business Catalyst (Small) Grants
Grants of up to £2,000 available to self-employed, sole traders or micro businesses in the jewellery, silversmithing and allied industries to help them grow.
Deadline: 05 July 2026 (17:00)
Business Catalyst Small Grants
All About Business Entrepreneurs Fund
A UK-based initiative providing funding and mentoring for entrepreneurs aged 18 to 26 who have an early-stage business trading for less than three years with at least one paying customer, to support growth and scaling activities.
Deadline: 07 July 2026
Reed Entrepreneurs
Shackleton Foundation Grant
Seed funding grants of up to £15,000 and support are available to inspirational leaders and early stage social enterprises in the UK to establish their own non-profit ventures with the potential to provide solutions to intractable social problems faced by disadvantaged and socially marginalised young people. Projects must solely benefit children and young people (aged from 0-25 years) based in the UK.
Deadline: 03 August 2026
Shackleton Foundation
SWEF Business Grants
Grants are available for young entrepreneurs across the UK, aged between 18 and 30, to start or grow a new business.
The following levels of funding are available:
• Start-up grants of up to £500 for pre-revenue businesses or businesses turning over less than £500 per month. • Business grants of up to £2,000 for businesses turning over more than £500 per month that have been trading for less than two years.
Deadline: Ongoing
SWEF Business Grants for 18 - 30 Year Olds
MMC Venture Capital
Equity investments available to early-stage UK SMEs that demonstrate high growth potential. Although MMC Ventures can provide investments to companies in any sector, they tend to focus support on the following: Business software & Digital Media
Financial services
E-commerce
Business services
Deadline: Ongoing
MMC Venture Capital website
Pentech Ventures
Pentech invests in teams who believe they can build a category leading software company. Areas of interest include: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning; Big Data; Infrastructure such as Blockchain; and verticals that are enabled via the efficient use of AI and new infrastructure approaches, such as FinServ, Health, and Enterprise Transformation. Initial investment is likely to be £500,000 to £2 million, with up to £10 million invested over the lifetime of the investment.
Deadline: Ongoing
Pentech Ventures website
Access to Work
Financial assistance is available to help organisations in Great Britain with any extra employment costs that result from employing a person with a disability. Access to Work provides grants to employers towards extra employment costs which result from an employee having a disability. The programme aims to provide practical advice and support to disabled people and their employers, in order to overcome work related obstacles which result from disability.
Deadline: Ongoing
Access to Work website
Kaleidoscope Investments (Ki)
Kaleidoscope is aimed at giving financial backing to help disabled entrepreneurs in the UK start their own business. The fund will assist in the development of the businesses it invests in and ensure they make a worthwhile return for investors.
Deadline: Ongoing (link may be slow to load)
Kaleidoscope Investments website
Foundation Scotland - Social Investment Fund
Grant and loan investments are available to social enterprises, community organisations and charities across Scotland to benefit local communities. Objectives supported: Prevent and/or relieve poverty, Advance community development, Advance education and urban and rural regeneration.
Deadline: Ongoing (link may be slow to load)
Foundation Scotland - Social Investment Fund website
Growth Impact Fund
Funding is available to early stage growing social enterprises and charitable organisations in the UK to address the structural barriers that diverse organisations face.
Deadline: Ongoing
Growth Impact Fund website
Redundancy Payments - Financial Assistance
Assistance to help employers in the UK with severe cash flow problems to make necessary redundancy payments.
Deadline: Ongoing
Redundancy Payments - Financial Assistance website
LaunchMe
LaunchMe is an accelerator programme for ambitious, social enterprise start-ups in Scotland. It aims to develop a pool of strong, capable and ambitious social enterprises that can go on to secure investment, so they can achieve social impact at scale.
Deadline: Ongoing
LaunchMe website
The Prospectory - Idea Fund
The funding is intended to enable people to test out an innovative technical solution that can deliver a social or environmental benefit. The fund offers grants ranging from £250 to £3,000.
Deadline: Ongoing
The Prospectory - Idea Fund website
4 | CHILDREN & FAMILIES
Toy Trust
Grants of up to £5,000 are available for registered charities undertaking projects to support disadvantaged and disabled children who are under 13 years of age within the UK and abroad. Funding is available to help disadvantaged children aged below 13 years and their families to:
Alleviate suffering.
Support children through awful experiences.
Encourage achievement through adversity.
Purchase vital equipment. Provide care.
Bolster existing initiatives.
Initiate brand new projects.
Satisfy basic needs.
Projects should:
Show real benefit for relieving hardship and suffering to beneficiaries. Run for a minimum of one full year.
Deadline: 15 June 2026
Toy Trust
Adamson Trust
Grants for voluntary and community organisations and charities to help with the cost of holidays or respite breaks for disabled children (aged 3 to 17 years) with physical, mental, or emotional impairments. Funding is at the discretion of the Trust.
Deadline: 30 June 2026
Adamson Trust
Henry Smith Foundation –Early Years Parenting Fund
Grants are available for charitable organisations based and working within the UK to improve outcomes for children aged newborn to five through effective, culturally grounded parenting support. Grants are £56,250 per year for four years (£225,000 total). In addition, grant recipients will receive support and relationship-building beyond just funding. This fund opens for applications on 3 June 2026 (9am).
Deadline: 01 July 2026 (17:00)
Henry Smith Foundation
Armed Forces Families Fund: Early Years Programme 2026-27
Grants are available for projects lasting up to two years which help enhance early childhood education and childcare settings of young children (birth to 5 years) from Armed Forces families. Grants of £5,000 to £80,000 are available for a standalone project being delivered over a period of up to two years.
Deadline:15 July 2025 (noon)
Covenant Fund
BFBS Big Salute
A small number of grants are available once a year for registered charities supporting members of the armed forces community, including regulars, reservists, veterans, and their families. Grants of up to £10,000 are available. Projects should not begin before January 2027.
Deadline: 31 July 2025
Big-salute
Trefoil – Grants
Grants are available for registered charities and other not-for-profit organisations to deliver projects and activities that support children with additional needs across Scotland. Funding is awarded at the discretion of the Trefoil.
Preference will be given to:
Projects promoting education, health, and social welfare.
Team building activities.
Recreation with an education element.
Therapeutic activities that are not core funded by the statutory authorities. New development and start-up project costs.
Deadline: 07 August 2026
Trefoil Grants
Trefoil Personal Development Grants
Trefoil offers Personal Development Grants to young people in Scotland under twenty-five years old with special needs, whether mental, social, or physical, that affect their development.
Deadline: 07 August 2026
Trefoil Personal Development Grants
Trefoil Holiday Grants
Trefoil offers holiday grants to individuals, families or small groups. Applicants for holiday grants should be under 18 years of age and residing in Scotland. Trefoil funds holidays in the UK only and overseas trips are not supported.
Deadline: Ongoing
Trefoil Holiday Grants
Warburtons Families Matter Community Grants Programme
Small grants of up to £400 are available for local projects, activities and organisations that have charitable aims and that will be of real direct benefit to families in England, Scotland and Wales.
Deadline: 17 August 2026
Warburtons
Kelly Family Charitable Trust
Grants of up to £5,000 are available for UK registered charities, working locally or regionally in the United Kingdom, whose activities nurture and support family life.
Deadline: 01 September 2026
Kelly Family Trust
Children’s Alliance
Grants are available for not-for-profit organisations across the UK to give children and young people a better start in life through projects involving the medium of water. The Children’s Alliance is a charity and outreach initiative of Water Babies (the largest baby swim school In the UK). Grants of up to £15,000 are available, though the majority of grants awarded are under £10,000.
Deadline: 30 September 2026
Childrens Alliance
True Colours Trust - UK Small Grants
Small grants are available to UK registered charities and community interest companies that are working to make a difference to the lives of disabled children (up to 25 yo) and their families in the UK. Grants of up to £10,000 are available.
Deadline: Ongoing (link may be slow to load)
True Colours Trust - UK Small Grants website
Family Fund Trust
Grants are available to help families, or groups applying on their behalf, in the UK who are raising a disabled or seriously ill child or young person up to the age of 18 years. The Trust believes services to families with severely disabled children are most effective when they can be adapted to families' individual needs and personal ways of coping. The Trust, therefore, encourages families to demonstrate the kind of support that would best meet their needs in easing the stress of caring for severely disabled children.
Deadline: Ongoing
Family Fund Trust website
Family Recovery Initiative Fund
The Family Recovery Initiative Fund (FRIF) offers one-off grants of up to £5000 to groups that support families affected by alcohol and drugs in Scotland.
Deadline: Ongoing
Family Recovery Initiative Fund
Buttle UK - Chances for Children
Grants of up to £2,400 are available for children and young people who have experienced a crisis that has recently had a significant and enduring impact on their wellbeing and educational engagement.
Deadline: Ongoing
Buttle UK - Chances for Children
Variety Club - Equipment Grants
Grants are available for specialist equipment for the direct use of children up to the age of 18 years who are sick, disabled or disadvantaged and are resident in the UK.
Deadline: Ongoing
Variety Club - Equipment Grants
Percy Bilton Charity - Grants for Organisations
Grants up to £5,000 are available to UK registered charities with primary objectives to assist one or more of the following groups: disadvantaged/underprivileged young people (under 25 years old); people with disabilities (physical or learning disabilities or mental health problems); older people (aged over 60).
Deadline: Ongoing
Percy Bilton Charity - Grants for Organisations website
Tesco Stronger Starts Grants
Grants up to £1,500 are available to all schools, registered charities and not-for-profit organisations, with priority given to projects that provide food and support to young people.
Deadline: Ongoing
Tesco Stronger Starts Grants
Happy Days Children's Charity
Funding for families with children aged 3-17 who are disabled, have a special needs or have been abused. The aim is to help as many people as possible by funding trips, experiences, respite breaks and group activity holidays for those who need them most. Details of the different types of trips that we offer can be found on the website.
Deadline: Ongoing
Happy Days Children's Charity
5 | COMMUNITY FUNDING
Chrysalis Trust
A small number of grants are available for UK registered charities with projects that are less popular and harder to fund that focus on the trust’s priorities of relieving poverty and disability and providing access to shelter, education, healthcare and water.
Deadline: 15 June 2026
Chrysalis Trust
VALOUR Recognised Centres Development Fund
Grants of up to £1,000,000 are available to better support veterans across the UK through the provision of placebased Valour Recognised Centres which will provide a welcoming physical space to all veterans and have the ability to identify and address their needs as presented.
Deadline: 15 June 2026
Covenant Fund
Veterans' Foundation - Salary Grants
Grants are available for charities and not-for-profit organisations that provide support to those in need among serving Armed Forces personnel, veterans, operationally qualified seafarers and their immediate families across the UK. Grants of up to £25,000 per year for up to three years are available.
Deadline: 30 June 2026
Veterans Foundation
Veterans' Foundation - Standard Grants
The Veterans' Foundation provides grants to support charities and organisations delivering services to serving armed forces personnel, veterans, operationally qualified seafarers, and their immediate families who are in need. Beneficiaries are individuals who are experiencing challenges such as unemployment, homelessness, mental or physical ill-health, disability, financial hardship, family bereavement, or other welfare issues. Grants of between £5,001 and £30,000 are available. This can be for one year or a multi-year grant for up to three years (eg £10,000 per year, over three years).
Deadline: 30 June 2026
Veterans Foundation
Stafford Trust
Grants of up to £ 5,000 are available to support registered charities in the UK, with a preference towards charitable organisations operating in Scotland. Funding is available for project costs, including capital, running costs and salaries.
Grants have previously been made for projects in the following areas:
Child welfare.
Medical research & support.
Animal welfare.
Services personnel welfare.
Sea rescue.
Community projects.
Overseas support.
Adult welfare.
Deadline: 30 June 2026
Stafford Trust
People's Postcode Trust - Scotland
The funding is intended to support organisations whose core purpose and everyday work align closely with one of the Trust's current themes:
Enabling participation in the arts.
Preventing or reducing the impact of poverty.
Supporting marginalised groups and/or tackling inequality.
Improving mental health with a focus on organisations that are actively supporting specific mental health issues, rather than general mental wellbeing activities.
Grants of up to £50,000 in total over a three-year period are available, depending on the organisation's income.
Deadline: 01 July 2026
Postcode Trust
Money Saving Expert (MSE) Charity
A limited number of grants are available to small to medium-sized UK not-for-profit organisations for projects which are focused on delivering activities which make a lasting impact on how people think, behave and manage their money. Grants of between £2,000 and £10,000 are available.
Deadline: 13 July 2026
MSE Charity
National Lottery Community Fund - Supporting Change: Carers (Scotland)
Grants are available to voluntary and community and public sector organisations in Scotland for projects that will reduce health inequalities for unpaid carers through systems change. Grants of between £500,000 to £2 million are available over 5 to 10 years. Organisations can also apply for up to £50,000 in development funding. Projects must:
Support carers during changes in their role.
Make it easier to identify and support carers.
Improve support for carers who face extra barriers.
Change how care is understood and valued.
Unpaid carers are defined as 'Adults or children who look after a relative, friend or neighbour. They might look after someone due to a disability, illness, mental health condition, addiction or old age'.
The following costs are eligible for funding:
Organisational running costs.
Equipment.
One-off events.
Staff costs.
Training costs.
Transport.
Utilities.
Volunteer expenses.
Part of the organisation’s overheads.
Some capital costs.
Deadline: 15 July 2026
Supporting Change Carers
Scottish Hydro Electric Community Trust
Grants are available to support charities and community projects with the cost of electricity supply connections.
Deadline: 17 September 2026
SHECT
Aviva Foundation - Financial Futures Fund
Grants are available for not-for-profit organisations in the UK that are delivering bold, long-term solutions to help people build financial resilience. The funding is for programmes and projects that:
Build financial confidence and capability – helping people manage their money and plan ahead.
Improve access to fair, affordable, and inclusive financial services – such as savings, protection, and pensions. Support people through financial shocks and hardship – including access to essentials and opportunities to build savings.
Address systemic issues – such as debt, housing insecurity, and digital exclusion, which can undermine financial resilience.
The average grant awarded is typically between £250,000 and £300,000, spread over three years.
Deadline: 07 October 2026
Aviva Foundation
Thomas Wall Trust - Grants for Individuals
The individual grants programme aims to support motivated adults living in the UK to undertake education and training that will increase their chances of employment.
Grants of up to £1,500 are available to undertake accredited vocational training up to level 3 (Qualification levels explained) and towards other costs associated with studying.
Deadline: Ongoing
Thomas Wall Trust Website
Anton Jurgens Charitable Trust
Grants are available to UK based charities for projects that support people of all ages who are socially disadvantaged and/or have disabilities.
Deadline: Ongoing
Anton Jurgens Charitable Trust website
Pub is the Hub
Pub is the Hub encourages rural pub owners, licensees, and their local communities to work together to support, retain and locate local services, where possible, within the pub, whilst often improving the viability of the business itself. The provider may be able to assist some projects through its own Community Services Fund, which aims to support projects as a fund of last resort, where no local funding for services currently exists. A grant of up to £3,000 may be provided. Pub is The Hub does not always have funds to be a direct provider of grants or loans for individual diversification projects. It does, however, provide advice help and support at no cost to licensees and seek to work with the local authorities to find the potential funding sources.
Deadline: Ongoing
Pub is the Hub website
Robertson Trust's Community Spaces Fund
Funding is intended to support the running costs of local community centres, hubs or anchor organisations that are delivering and/or hosting a range of services and activities in places with high levels of deprivation. Examples of eligible work include: The running costs of an accessible community hub based in a town with high levels of deprivation. The hub hosts and delivers services for local people, including community meals, family activities, a youth group and drop-in sessions with partner organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau and local employability service. The running costs of a village hall in a rural community where there are no other community facilities. The hall hosts a range of groups and services, such as a parent and toddler group, a food pantry, and warm space, and provides access to IT facilities. Grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 per year for up to three years are available to registered charities working in Scotland. Organisations should demonstrate the various services they deliver and/or host related to preventing or reducing poverty and trauma for local people.
Deadline: Ongoing
Robertson Trust's Community Spaces Fund website
Royal Countryside Fund – Supporting Rural Communities
The UK-wide Supporting Rural Communities grant programme launched on Friday 10th January 2025.
This new differentiated funding will support transformative, community-led initiatives across the UK, unlocking the huge potential for positive change in rural communities. The aim is to support innovative solutions that will “power up, not prop up” communities, inspiring change and encouraging economic vibrancy. Organisations can apply for grants of up to £25,000 over a period of 24 months to deliver activities along the themes of:
Keeping young people in the countryside
Powering up rural communities
Increasing environmental sustainability
Building emergency resilience in rural areas.
Support will be focused on isolated rural areas where the activity is required due to a lack of alternative services. Projects must be community led and show that they actively listen to, understand and respond to the needs of their local community. The fund is also looking for community organisations that demonstrate one or more of the following characteristics:
Working towards a long-term vision • Facilitating collaboration/connectedness
Demonstrating innovation.
Deadline: Ongoing
Royal Countryside Fund –Supporting Rural Communities website
National Lottery Awards for All - Scotland
The National Lottery Awards for All programme is a partnership between The National Lottery Community Fund
Scotland, Sportscotland and Creative Scotland. For arts and sports projects, applications can be made for up to £10,000 supporting projects for up to 12 months. For community-led projects (that are not primarily arts or sport focused), applications can be made for up to £20,000 per year supporting projects for up to two years. Groups can only hold one National Lottery Awards for All grant at a time
Deadline: Ongoing
National Lottery Awards for All - Scotland website
Cruden Foundation
This fund aims to support charitable projects and activities in Scotland for the benefit of people living there. Funding is intended to support projects with a strong focus on community welfare, medical support and research, the arts, education, and conservation. Most grants are in the £2,500 to £5,000 range, although both smaller and larger grants can also be requested.
Deadline: Ongoing
Cruden Foundation website
UK Community Foundations
Grants for projects in all sectors of the local community. Each foundation has its own character appropriate to the location and grants may be made to a wide range of activities including :health; children and young people; arts and culture; the environment; services. Community foundations can meet all areas of community need, including but not limited to:
Arts and culture.
Education.
Environment.
Health.
Community development.
Children and young people.
Older people.
Employment and training.
Deadline: Ongoing
UK Community Foundations website
Robertson Trust – Wee Grants
Grants of up to £5,000 are available. Revenue and capital funding for constituted community groups and small charities who support people who are experiencing (or are at high risk of experiencing) poverty and trauma, with an annual income of under £30,000.
Deadline: Ongoing
Robertson Trust –Wee Grants website
National Lottery Community Fund - The UK Fund
Grants of £500,000 to £5 million are available to not-for-profit groups for projects which forge connections between communities to create a better-connected society across the UK.
Deadline: Ongoing
National Lottery Community Fund - The UK Fund website
6 | ENVIRONMENT & CONSERVATION
Building Resilience Programme
Grants of up to £ 70,000 and tailored support are available for UK social purpose organisations whose main purpose is to preserve and protect the UK's freshwater ecosystems.
Deadline:15 June 2026
Building Resilience Fund
ServiceNow Community Improvement Fund UK
A small number of grants are available for schools and not-for-profit groups in the UK to support community-led projects that address climate challenges within the UK. Grants of up to £25,000 per project are available. The ServiceNow Community Fund is provided by ChangeX, a registered charity, in collaboration with ServiceNow,
Deadline: 19 June 2026
Changex
Scottish Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS)
A scheme to promote land management practices which protect and enhance Scotland's natural heritage, improve water quality, manage flood risk and mitigate and adapt to climate change. It will also help to improve public access and preserve historic sites. The scheme is open to farmers, groups of farmers and other land managers with land in Scotland and who are registered with the provider and have a Business Reference Number. Applications must be submitted by the deadlines of:
22 June 2026 for Agri-environment applications.
22 June 2026 for Stand-alone Water-use Efficiency Irrigation Lagoon applications.
31 July 2026 for Stand-alone Organic Conversion and Maintenance applications.
Guidance notes and the online application portal can be accessed from the Rural Payments and Services website.
Deadline: 22 June 2026
Rural Payments
Bupa Foundation Green Community Grants
Grants are available for schools, registered charities and not-for-profit organisations across the UK and Republic of Ireland for projects that make a positive difference to the health of local communities. Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to:
Improving a local community garden for community use and recreational activities.
Volunteer-led tree or flower planting to improve air quality and biodiversity.
Creating an outdoor classroom, natural playground or ‘forest school’.
Creating a community food growing space.
Creating or adapting a green space to make it more accessible. Creating a ‘pocket park’ to bring more greenery into a city.
Deadline: 30 June 2026
Bupa Foundation Green Grants
Care Collective Fund
A global grant fund of £ 8,642 supporting grassroots, research, and social impact initiatives that protect oceans, reduce plastic pollution, and strengthen climate resilience. The Care Collective Fund aims to support practical, onthe-ground action to address climate and ocean challenges by funding projects that align with three key strategic pillars:
The plastic life cycle eg plastic pollution prevention, river and coastal interception, community waste management, advocacy and policy work.
Maritime and ocean ecosystems eg blue carbon and marine habitat restoration, marine wildlife protection and rescue.
Community care and climate resilience eg empowering coastal communities and youth, grassroots climate/ocean justice.
It is designed to enable short-term, measurable initiatives that deliver clear environmental and social outcomes, while prioritising locally led, impact-driven projects, particularly in vulnerable coastal communities around the world.
Deadline: 05 July 2026 (23:59)
Care Collective Fund
Green Community Grants Programme
Grants of up to £25,000 are available to registered charities and not-for-profit groups across Great Britain for projects that improve nature for local communities. The funding is for organisations whose main aims and objectives fit with one of the following Fund's themes:
Contributing to nature recovery and responding to the climate emergency.
Improving nature-rich spaces and access to them.
The grants can be used for a wider range of sustainable activities, including recycling, litter picking, beach cleans or sustainable transport.
Deadline: 15 July 2026
Wildlife Trusts
Network Rail Community Tree Planting Fund
Grants are available for community groups, charities, community interest companies, schools, and other organisations to support tree-planting projects across England, Scotland, and Wales. Grants of between £2,500 and £10,000 are available. The following can apply:
Local authorities.
Charities & other NGOs.
Community groups.
Education institutions.
Individual landowners.
Deadline: 19 July 2026
Treecouncil Grants
Scottish Power Energy Networks Community Tree Planting Fund
Grants of up to £ 10,000 are available for community groups, charities, non-governmental organisations, schools, local authorities and individual landowners to plant trees across central and southern Scotland with a focus on areas such as parks, schools, and community spaces.
Deadline: 19 July 2026
Community-tree-planting-fund
Tree Council - Branching Out Fund
Grants of up to £2,500 are available to assist schools and community groups in undertaking tree planting projects across the UK. The funding is for tree and hedge planting projects taking place during the 2026/27 winter planting season.
Deadline: 19 July 2026 (midnight)
Grants-for-trees
Jean Sainsbury Animal Welfare Trust
Grants are available to animal welfare charities for projects or activities in the UK that benefit and protect animals, relieve the suffering of animals, address the conservation of wildlife or encourage a greater understanding of animals. Grants range from £1,000 to a normal maximum of £10,000. Applications for these grants are considered three times a year by a panel of the trustees.
Deadline: 01 August 2026
Jean Sainsbury Animal Welfare
Stanley Smith (UK) Horticultural Trust The objectives of the Trust are:
To promote horticulture.
To promote the conservation of the physical and natural environment by promoting biological diversity.
To promote the creation, development, preservation and maintenance of gardens accessible to the public. The advancement of horticultural education.
Grants of up to £5,000 are available. Typical grants are usually in the range of £3,500 to £5,000. Applicants are welcome to apply for grants of less than £500.
Deadline: 15 August 2026
Stanley Smith UK
Future Woodlands Scotland - Research and Innovation Grants
Grants are available to organisations in Scotland undertaking new ideas to enhance and develop native woodland, and research the contribution of such woodland to biodiversity and carbon. Grants up to £10,000 are available. The whole project can be of any size and there is no defined maximum project cost.
Deadline: 23 August 2026
Future Woodlands
Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust - Sustainable Future Programme
Grants are available for imaginative and inclusive approaches to tackling the climate crisis and building a just and equitable economy in order to protect the planet for future generations.
Deadline: 02 September 2026 (10am)
JRCT
British Ecological Society - Outreach and Engagement Grants
The funding is for BES members to deliver independent outreach, public engagement and science communication activities that engage public audiences with the excitement, importance and relevance of ecological science or enhance the experience and skills of others to communicate ecology with public audiences.
The grant will support diverse formats that reach and engage public audiences in innovative, creative and impactful ways, whether through in-person events, digital formats, or physical resources. Grants of up to £2,000 are available.
Deadline: 08 September 2026
British Ecological Society
NatureScot - Peatland ACTION Fund
Peatland ACTION supports the restoration of degraded peatlands across Scotland, offering funding for land managers. Generally, projects should be greater than 10 hectares, with a cost over £10,000.
Deadline: 30 September 2026
Nature Scot
Sea-Changers Grant Programme
One-off grants are available to UK-based marine conservation charities and not-for-profit organisations for projects that address specific marine conservation areas. Sea-Changers is the UK charity dedicated to raising money for UK-based marine conservation. Its vision is to create a world where the seas and shores are clean and healthy and marine species are protected. Two levels of funding are available:
Small Grants programme - up to £500.
Main Grants programme - between £500 and £2,500.
Deadline: 30 September 2026
Sea-changers
Scottish Government - Upland Sheep Support Scheme
A scheme providing additional support, on top of the Basic Payment Scheme, to sheep producers who farm in Scotland's rough grazing areas. The funding is intended to help maintain sheep flocks in farm businesses reliant on poorer quality rough grazing found in Scotland's Basic Payment Region three. Payments will be made to help farmers maintain the social and environmental benefits that sheep flocks bring to those areas. The payment rate for eligible animals is not fixed. The rate will vary each year depending on the total number of eligible animals claimed in the calendar year.
Deadline: 30 November 2026
Rural Payments
Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme (SSBSS)
Financial support is available to help producers maintain beef suckler herds at levels that sustain Scotland's commercial beef industry while delivering associated environmental and social benefits. The payment rate for eligible animals is not fixed. The rate will vary each year depending on the total number of eligible animals claimed in the calendar year.
Deadline: 14 January 2027
Rural Payments
The Mushroom Trust
Grants are available for organisations in Scotland to support the creation, maintenance and improvement of urban green spaces. This fund aims to support the creation, enhancement, and upkeep of green spaces throughout Scotland. This includes both the creation of urban spaces, such as public parks, community gardens and allotments, as well as other environmental and conservation projects, such as ancient woodland restoration projects. Grants of between £500 and £10,000 are available.
The average grant amount is £5,000.
Deadline: 31 March 2027
Mushroom Trust
Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund (SMEEF)
Funding is available to enable investment in tangible, effective marine and coastal restoration projects in Scotland, undertaken by organisations across all sectors. The main aim of the Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund (SMEEF) is to support practical improvements to Scottish marine and coastal ecosystems. Although it is anticipated that most applications for enhancement projects will initially focus on salt marsh, seagrass, sand dunes, native oysters, marine birds and cetaceans; the funder is keen to receive proposals for research to inform a broader range of potential marine and coastal enhancement opportunities across all relevant species and habitats.
Deadline: Ongoing
SMEEF website
Pets Foundation - Preventing Pet Relinquishment Grants
Grants are available for projects which aim to keep pets with their owners and out of rescue, including projects providing emergency pet fostering for people facing crisis, subsidised veterinary care, neutering schemes and pet food banks. Grants of up to £80,000 per year are available. Multi-year funding applications, up to a three-year period, will be considered.
Deadline: Ongoing
Pets Foundation website
Scottish Forestry Community Fund
Grants are available to voluntary and community organisations, development trusts, social enterprises, charities and local authorities for projects and activities that encourage people to use woods more. The funding aims to encourage and support greater use of woods by people to improve their health, wellbeing and life chances.
Applicants will need to provide match funding for projects above £1,000.
Deadline: Ongoing
Scottish Forestry Community Fund website
Pets Foundation - Rescue Centre Grants
Grants are available for charities and non-profit organisations in the UK whose main objective is the rescue and rehoming of domestic pets in the UK.
The Pets Foundation provides three grant programmes:
Rescue Centres – to support organisations whose main activities are the rescue and rehoming of UK pets.
Pets Assisting People – to support organisations whose main activities are one or more of the following: The provision of temporary or ongoing assistance to ensure pets can remain with their owners, where rehoming takes place only when it is not possible to reunite the pet with their owner.
Changing the lives of adults and children through the provision of animal-based activities or practical assistance.
Preventing Pet Relinquishment – to support projects that aim to keep pets with their owners and out of rescue.
Deadline: Ongoing
Pets Foundation - Rescue Centre Grants website
Plug-in Vehicle Grant (PIVG) Scheme
As announced by the Chancellor at the Autumn Budget, £120 million will be provided in 2025-26 to support the purchase of new electric vans via the Plug-in Vehicle Grant and to support the manufacture of wheelchair accessible EVs. The amount of the grant depends on which category the vehicle is in.
Deadline: Ongoing
Plug-in Vehicle Grant (PIVG) Scheme website
Exchange Market
A pilot funding scheme rewarding arable farmers in the UK for reducing emissions within their supply chains through tailored, verified plans. Farmers can join Exchange Market by having a completed Exchange baseline and a recent Farm Carbon Toolkit assessment. The Soil Association Exchange will then work with applicants to create a verified emissions reduction plan. With annual payments based on verified results, the programme ensures transparency and accountability at every step. Farmers in the scheme can earn up to £60 per tonne of carbon reduced annually, with 50% of payments provided upfront to support their transition.
Deadline: Ongoing (website may be slow to load)
Exchange Market website
Esmee Fairbairn Foundation - Grants
The minimum grant size is £30,000 and available to organisations doing legally charitable work in the UK that focuses on the Foundation's funding priorities of improving the natural world, securing a fairer future, and strengthening the bonds in communities in the UK.
Deadline: Ongoing
Esmee Fairbairn Foundation - Grants website
Swire Charitable Trust
Grants are available for UK registered charities working to deliver positive and lasting change to UK society under three programme areas: opportunity, environment and heritage.
Deadline: Ongoing
Swire Charitable Trust website
Electric Vehicle Chargepoint and Infrastructure Grant for Landlords
Funding to install electric vehicle chargepoints as a landlord, social housing provider or property factor.
Deadline: Ongoing
Electric Vehicle Chargepoint and Infrastructure Grant website
7 | GENERAL FUNDING
Britford Bridge Trust
Grants are available to UK registered charities involved in the prevention or relief of poverty; the advancement of education; the advancement of health or the saving of lives; and the advancement of the arts, culture, heritage or science.
Deadline: 30 June 2026
Britford Bridge Trust
People's Postcode Trust - Scotland
The funding is intended to support organisations whose core purpose and everyday work align closely with one of the Trust's current themes:
Enabling participation in the arts.
Preventing or reducing the impact of poverty.
Supporting marginalised groups and/or tackling inequality.
Improving mental health with a focus on organisations that are actively supporting specific mental health issues, rather than general mental wellbeing activities.
Grants of up to £50,000 in total over a three-year period are available, depending on the organisation's income.
Deadline: 01 July 2026
Postcode Trust
The Fore
Unrestricted grants are available to enable small charities in the UK to grow, strengthen or become more efficient or resilient. There is a particular interest in supporting grassroots organisations working with underserved communities. The Fore views its grants as investments in the organisations it supports, rather than funding specific projects only.
Deadline: 15 July 2026
The Fore Trust
Weir Charitable Trust
Grants are available to small charities or community groups in Scotland for work addressing sport, health, culture, animal welfare, or recreational facilities. The Trust will consider applications for grants of up to £25,000. There is no minimum grant size. The average award granted is £3,500. Grants are available to support services/projects in the following categories:
Sport - Projects to encourage and increase public participation in sport (eligible activities should involve physical skill and exertion).
Recreational facilities - Providing or organising recreational facilities (buildings, pitches or similar) with the aim of improving the conditions of life for the people for whom the facilities are primarily intended. This is only in relation to facilities which are primarily intended for people who need them due to age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage.
Animal welfare - The advancement of animal welfare.
Health - The advancement of health, including prevention or relief of sickness, disease or human suffering.
Culture - Supporting the heritage - tangible or otherwise - of Scotland, through projects that encourage participation in and preservation of Scotland's distinctive culture.
Deadline: 31 July 2026
Weir Charitable Trust
Emerton-Christie Charity
A very small number of one-off grants of up to £3,000 are available for registered charities in the UK undertaking projects in the areas of health, supporting those who are disadvantaged, or the arts.
Deadline: 31 August 2026
Emerton Christie
Woodroffe Benton Foundation - Small Grants Programme
The Foundation aims to support charitable projects in the UK that provide care for the sick and elderly, conserve and improve the environment, promote education, and help those in need as a result of disaster or as a consequence of social and economic circumstances. One-off grants of between £500 and £2,500 are available.
Deadline: 31 August 2026
Woodroffe Benton
Grocers' Charity Grant
One-off grants of up to £5,000 are available to small UK registered charities for work in the specific areas of: relief of hardship; children and young people; disability and inclusion; the elderly; health; military; environment and conservation; the arts; and heritage.
Deadline: 01 September 2026
Grocers Charity
Green Hall Foundation
Grants of up to £10,000 for UK registered charities to fund special projects or the purchase of equipment that will benefit their charitable purposes.
Deadline: 02 September 2026
Green Hall Foundation
CPF Trust
Grants for UK-based charities addressing health and social issues, the arts, education and animal welfare. Oneyear grants are made at the discretion of the trustees, but are usually between £1,000 and £3,000.
Deadline: 30 September 2026
CPF Trust
RS MacDonald Charitable Trust
Funding is available for registered charities in Scotland in the following areas: tackling child abuse and neglect; visual impairment; neurological conditions; medical research; and animal welfare. The Trust's principal areas of interest are:
Tackling child abuse and neglect.
Visual impairment.
Neurological conditions.
Medical research.
Animal welfare.
Small grant applications are accepted any time.
Deadline: Ongoing
RS MacDonald Charitable Trust website
De Brye Charitable Trust
Grants are available for charitable organisations that provide care and housing for the aged, orphans and neglected children or aid physically disabled children and the blind. The majority of grants are between £500 and £5,000. The Trust does not have a website or an email address.
Deadline: Ongoing
Enquiries: 01727 869141
Rhododendron Trust
Grants are available to UK registered charities who are working for the welfare of the disadvantaged in the UK and overseas as well as some cultural and wildlife projects.
Deadline: Ongoing
Rhododendron Trust website
Mickel Fund
Grants of up to £10,000 are available. Funding is available for projects in Scotland that address one or more of the following categories: The advancement of education.
The prevention or relief of poverty.
The advancement of health and saving of lives.
The advancement of the arts, heritage, culture and science.
The advancement of public participation in sports.
Deadline: Ongoing
Mickel Fund website
Gordon Fraser Charitable Trust
The Gordon Fraser Charitable Trust offers grants to registered charities active in Great Britain.
The funding is intended to support projects relating to young people, people with disabilities, the environment and the arts. Grants usually range from £500 to £2,500.
Deadline: Ongoing
Gordon Fraser Charitable Trust website
MacRobert Trust
Grants are available for UK registered charities with a preference for organisations based in Scotland which have projects that address the themes set out by The MacRobert Trust.
Theme 1: Armed Forces & Good Citizenship
Theme 2: Education & Professional Excellence
Theme 3: Local Community & Other MacRobert Interests
Deadline: Various
MacRobert Trust website
Matthew Good Foundation - Grants for Good Fund
A small number of grants are available for local community groups, charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises in the UK for projects that have a positive impact on communities, people, or the environment.
Deadline: Ongoing
Matthew Good Foundation - Grants for Good Fund
The Rozelle Trust
The Trust will generally support smaller charities, especially those working at grass roots and local community level where the funds will be able to make a significant difference. Awards will be made to support a wide range of charitable activities to benefit young people and children, those experiencing poverty, and the disabled.
Deadline: Ongoing
The Rozelle Trust website
Foundation Scotland
Some of the funds are available on a Scotland-wide basis, and others are aimed at specific geographical areas or themes. You’ll find grant size and criteria information on each fund’s page, together with any unique criteria. Also, every fund lists a deadline for applications, and there may be more than one round of funding each year. When searching, be sure to note all the key dates in the fund listing.
Deadline: Various
Foundation Scotland website
Robertson Trust – Transport Grants
The new-look Transport Grants offer increased funding of between £5K-20K per year for 1-3 years. For registered charities working in Scotland. Currently only accepting applications for Transport Grants for work which addresses our themes of Financial Security, Education Pathways or Work Pathways, or which are focused on removing transport barriers for people and places with higher rates or risks of experiencing poverty and trauma, to ensure they can participate in and connect with their communities. This is in recognition that a lack of access to affordable, reliable transport can impact the ability to participate in society and thrive.
Deadline: Ongoing
Robertson Trust –Transport Grants website
Bus Operator Accessible Information Regulations Support Grant
Small operators of local bus services in Great Britain can apply for grant funding to increase the provision of onboard audible and visible information, in order to comply with the requirements of the Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023.
Deadline: Ongoing
Bus OperatorAccessible Information Regulations Support Grant website
Paths for All – Ian Findlay Path Fund
Grants are available for charities, community groups, other third-sector organisations and National Park Authorities for projects that improve path networks and promote walking, wheeling, and cycling across Scotland. Funding of between £10,000 - £100,000 is available, with 30% match funding required. If you are at an early stage of your project, the funder can offer up to 100% of design costs.
Deadline: Ongoing
Paths for All –Ian Findlay Path Fund website
Energy Saving Trust – Plugged in Communities Grant Fund
Grants are available for community transport organisations across Scotland to cover the costs of purchasing or leasing a zero-emission vehicle.
Deadline: Ongoing
Energy Saving Trust –Plugged in Communities Grant Fund website
WCIT Charity
Grants are available for not-for-profit organisations across the UK to deliver IT projects and activities that support the themes of education, inclusion, IT for charities, and understanding of IT. Grants of up to £15,000 are available.
Deadline: 14 August 2026
WCIT Charity
Fat Beehive Foundation
Grants of up to £2,500 are available to small UK registered charities to help them improve their digital presence.
Deadline: 30 September 2026
Fat Beehive Foundation
The DPO Centre –Charity and Community Fund
Grants are available for not-for-profit organisations across the UK to support a range of data protection advice and consultancy services. A total of £100,000 is available across two application periods throughout the year. Grants of up to £10,000 are available to put towards any of the consultancy services the DPO Centre provides.
Deadline: 01 March 2027
DPO Centre Fund
Clothworkers' Foundation
The Foundation aims to use its funding to improve the quality of life for people and communities that face disadvantage and marginalisation. Funding is available for capital costs, including: digital/audio visual equipment.
Deadline: Ongoing
Clothworkers' Foundation website
8 | HEALTH
Ulverscroft Foundation
The Foundation provides funding for projects in the UK that benefit visually impaired people. Grants range from around £100 to £500,000.
Deadline: 15 June 2026
Ulverscroft Foundation
Baily Thomas Charitable Fund
Grants are available to voluntary organisations, charities and schools in the UK to assist with the care and relief of children, young people and adults with learning disabilities in the UK. The Charity operates the following grant schemes:
Small Grants: from £250 up to £5,000.
General Grants: over £5,000.
Deadline: 31 August 2026
Baily Thomas
James Tudor Foundation - Mental Health Grant
Grants of up to £25,000 are available to UK registered charities addressing mental health issues affecting children and young people, and adults.
Deadline: 31 August 2026
James Tudor Foundation
The Primary Club
Grants are available to support sport and recreation for blind and visually impaired people throughout the UK.
Recent examples of funded projects include:
Creating children’s tactile audiobooks about three sports stars.
Supporting children’s residential outdoor activity breaks in specialised centres.
Developing a multi-sensory woodland environment in Cornwall, building on a major investment by RNIB.
Supporting several tandem cycling clubs to supply, maintain and store their equipment.
Supporting numerous clubs which offer regular training sessions and competitive matches in cricket, goalball, Showdown, baseball, golf, bowls and other sports.
Deadline: 30 November 2026
Primary Club
Blue Light Wellbeing Fund
The funding is intended to support the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of the entire Blue Light
Community - across health, emergency, social care, and armed forces - recognising their vital role in society.
There is particular interest in applications for projects that support individuals across multiple Blue Light services, fostering collaboration and shared learning. Priority will be given to initiatives that include clear, well-developed plans for continuing the work beyond the life of the grant. Grants of up to a maximum of £25,000 are available.
Deadline: Ongoing
Blue Light Wellbeing Fund website
Gardening With Disabilities Trust
Small grants are available to groups and individuals in the UK who suffer all kinds of chronic disabilities - mental and physical - to help them get gardening again.
Deadline: Ongoing
Gardening With Disabilities Trust website
Parkinson’s UK Physical Activity Grants Programme
Grants are available for activity providers, communities, networks and organisations across the UK to develop new opportunities for people with Parkinson’s to become and stay active or help increase their levels of physical activity. Grants of between £500 and £3,000 are available. Applications will be accepted from activity providers, national governing bodies, Parkinson’s groups and branches, and sports and healthcare professionals.
Deadline: Ongoing
Parkinson’s UK Physical Activity Grants Programme website
RNIB Technology Grants
The funding is intended for UK residents who are registered blind or partially sighted people and who have been refused funding from their local authority for the items they need. The grant will support the cost of any item that is on the RNIB list of approved equipment.
Deadline: Ongoing
RNIB Technology Grants website
Vegetarian for Life Grants
Funding is available for charities and charitable organisations supporting older vegetarians and vegans.
Deadline: Ongoing
Vegetarian for Life Grants website
Hargreaves Foundation
Grants are available for charities and educational institutions that support those under the age of 18 years, and living with a mental health condition / disability / poverty through the mediums of sport and education.
Deadline: Ongoing
Hargreaves Foundation website
The Family Recovery Initiative Fund (FRIF)
One-off grants of up to £5,000 are available to organisations and groups working to support families affected by alcohol and drugs in Scotland.
Deadline: Ongoing
The Family Recovery Initiative Fund (FRIF) website
Barchester Healthcare Foundation
Grants are available for small local groups and small local charities to improve the quality of life and combat loneliness in older people as well as adults with a physical or mental disability. Grants for individuals and groups available.
Deadline: Ongoing
Barchester Healthcare Foundation website
Fletchers Foundation
Grants are available to charities and organisations in the UK working to support individuals or families who have suffered life changing circumstances as a result of illness (born with or acquired), severe personal injury, accident or medical negligence.
Deadline: Ongoing
Fletchers Foundation website
9 | LAND & PROPERTY
Help the Homeless Grant Scheme
Grants for capital projects are available to small and medium-sized charities registered in the UK working to assist homeless people to rebuild their lives and return to the community. Grants of up to £5,000 are available.
Deadline: 20 June 2026
Help the Homeless
Screwfix Foundation
Grants of up to £5,000 are available to UK registered charities and not-for-profit organisations for projects that improve, fix, and repair buildings, homes and facilities specifically used by people in need across the UK.
Deadline:10 August 2026
Screwfix Foundation
B&Q Foundation - Home Improvement Grants
The funding is intended for UK charities working to improve the lives of people in need by supporting projects that make homes safe, welcoming, and comfortable. Grants are for essential home improvements and home starter kits—helping individuals and families facing homelessness, domestic abuse, disabilities, illness, or financial hardship to feel more settled and supported in their living spaces. Grants of up to £10,000 are available for home improvement projects that will be completed in the next 12 months.
Deadline:14 August 2026
B&Q Foundation
B&Q Foundation - Home Starter Kit Grants
One-off grants of up to £10,000 are available for UK registered charities who are providing home-starter packs for people in need to move into their home. The funding is intended for UK charities working to improve the lives of people in need by supporting projects that make homes safe, welcoming, and comfortable.
Grants support home starter kits to help individuals and families facing homelessness, domestic abuse, disabilities, illness, or financial hardship to feel more settled and supported in their living spaces.
Deadline: 14 August 2026
BQ Home Starter Kits
National Heritage Memorial Fund
Funding for charities, not-for-profit organisations and public bodies to help with the cost of acquiring historic land, buildings, works of fine and decorative art and other objects of interest which are important to national heritage.
Deadline: Ongoing
National HeritageMemorial Fund website
Scottish Land Fund
Grants between £5,000 and £1,000,000 are available to organisations in both urban and rural Scotland which are community-led, community-controlled and defined by a geographic area that can demonstrate significant positive impact for the community as a whole. Applicants will have the opportunity to test out and develop their ideas with support from a Scottish Land Fund Adviser.
Deadline: Ongoing (link may be slow to load)
Scottish Land Fund website
10 | POVERTY & COST OF LIVING CRISIS
Trefoil – Lilias Finlay Holiday Fund
Trefoil offers holiday grants to children and families who meet our development needs criteria.
Applicants for holiday grants should be under eighteen years old and living in Scotland. Trefoil only funds holidays in the UK and does not support overseas trips. Applications for holiday grants are open and considered all year.
Please apply at least 12 weeks before your holiday. Your applications should be supported by two references.
Holiday grants are open and considered all year.
Deadline: personal development - Friday 7 August 2026
Deadline: organisational grants - Friday 7 August 2026
Deadline: holiday grants - ongoing
Visit the Fund Website
Holiday Fund More Information
Aviva Foundation - Financial Futures Fund
The Aviva Foundation offers two distinct funding routes:
The Financial Futures Fund, is for organisations delivering bold, long-term solutions to help people build financial resilience. Open to larger charities with an income of £1 million or more.
The Communities Fund, supports projects and organisations that help people to take control of their financial wellbeing or protect the places they love in a changing climate. Open to small, local organisations with an annual income of up to £1 million.
Deadline: 07 October 2026
Visit the Fund Website
Grocers' Charity Grant
One-off grants are available to small UK registered charities for work in the specific areas of: relief of poverty, disability and inclusion, the elderly, health, military, environment and conservation, and the arts and heritage.
The application link will open on 30th March 2026.
Deadline: 1 September 2026
Visit the Fund Website
National Lottery Community Fund - Fairer Life Chances (Scotland)
Grants are available to voluntary and community and public sector organisations in Scotland for projects that support children, young people and families, or help people to be healthier and have better access to support, with a focus on those experiencing poverty, discrimination and disadvantage. Grants of between £20,001 and £500,000 are available. However, it is expected that most grants will be for £250,000 or less.
Deadline: Ongoing
Visit the Fund Website
BBC Children in Need Emergency Essentials Programme
Funding for the purchase of essential items to meet the most basic needs of children and young people in the UK who are facing exceptionally difficult circumstances. Where possible, items will be provided directly rather than awarding a cash grant.
Deadline: Ongoing
Visit the Fund Website
British Gas Energy Trust
Grants are available to individuals and families across Great Britain to be used to help write off their energy debts. , regardless of energy provider.
The Trust offers two funds:
Individuals and Families Fund - Open to Credit and Pre-Payment Meter customers
British Gas Energy Support Fund – now closed
Both are intended to tackle fuel poverty by clearing the energy debts of struggling households and respond to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. You do not need to be a British Gas customer to apply for this fund - you can be a British Gas Customer, or a customer from another supplier with arrears of up to £1,700.
Deadline: Ongoing
Visit the Fund Website
COSARAF – Hardship Grants
Grants of up to £2,000 but only in exceptional circumstances will individuals receive a grant of more than £500 these are available for third party social organisations to support individuals and families across the UK who are in financial need and have exhausted all other sources of funding.
Deadline: Ongoing
Visit the Fund Website
Faith in Community Scotland - Greener Spaces, Fairer Places
Grants of up to £500 are available to local faith groups and other related organisations for projects that address poverty and climate change in communities across Scotland.
Deadline: Ongoing
Visit the Fund Website
Family Fund Trust
Grants up to £300 are available to support families and individuals for essential personal and household needs to assist families and individuals with low incomes, particularly those living on benefits.
Deadline: Ongoing
Visit the Fund Website
Happy Days Children's Charity
Funding for families with children aged 3-17 who are disabled, have a special need or have been abused.
Deadline Ongoing
Visit the Fund Website
Cavell
Cavell helps registered nurses, midwives, nursing associates and maternity support workers, both working and retired, when they’re going through tough times. This is often due to illness, disability, older age, domestic abuse and the impact of the rise in living costs.
Deadline: Ongoing
Visit the Fund Website
Victim Support Scotland – Emergency Assistance Fund
Grants are available to support people affected by crime across Scotland and provide a wide range of goods and services to people who would typically lack access to financial help.
Deadline: Ongoing
Visit the Fund Website
Robertson Trust - Nurturing Relationships
Grants are available to registered charities working to support nurturing relationships within families and communities, to help break the cycle between persistent poverty and intergenerational trauma, and to support recovery.
Small Grants - £30,000 to £200,000.
Large Grants - £200,000 to £2 million.
Deadline: Ongoing
Visit the Fund Website
Family Action - Welfare Grants Programme
The Welfare Grants Programme is aimed at people who already receive means-tested benefits but still need a little helping hand to afford basics or replace essentials like a broken washing machine. Together with emotional support this can help individuals and families avoid a bigger crisis and get back on track. The fund is open for applications for people over the age of 60 who live anywhere in the UK including Greater London. Applications can only be made by a suitable referring organisation such as a statutory agency or charity that provides health or social care, housing associations, probation services and GP’s. Members of the public cannot apply themselves directly.
Deadline: Ongoing
Visit the Fund Website
11 | SPORT FUNDING
Dan Maskell Tennis Trust
Grants of up to £1,600 are available to support people with all disabilities ( physical impairment, deaf, learning disability, visually impaired etc) to play tennis through the purchase of wheelchairs, tennis equipment and grants for coaching. Grants of up to £1,600 for a group, club or project are available. Up to £600 is available for individuals.
Deadline: 03 August 2026
Dan Maskell Tennis Trust
Sports Facilities Fund
Grants are available for the provision or upgrading of sports facilities in local communities throughout Scotland. Grants of to 50% of eligible project costs up to a maximum of £200,000 may be awarded. Applications will be considered from any non-profit distributing, constituted organisations whose membership is open to all sections of society.
Deadline: 01 September 2026 (17:00)
Sport Scotland Funding
Scottish Mountaineering Trust
Grants are available for organisations and individuals to promote public recreation, knowledge and safe enjoyment of the mountains of Scotland.
Deadline: 21 September 2026
The SMT
Children’s Alliance
Grants are available for not-for-profit organisations across the UK to give children and young people a better start in life through projects involving the medium of water. The Children’s Alliance is a charity and outreach initiative of Water Babies (the largest baby swim school In the UK). Grants of up to £15,000 are available, though the majority of grants awarded are under £10,000.
Deadline: 30 September 2026
Childrens Alliance
Rowing Foundation
Grants are available for equipment that will support the participation of young people and disabled people in rowing in the UK. There are two funding streams:
Equipment grants of up to £4,000 in any five-year period; this can be comprised of a single grant or smaller grants aggregated over the period. Grants are for up to 50% of the overall project costs.
Boat refurbishment grants of up to £4,000 for up to 50% of the costs of refurbishments of boats used by juniors.
Deadline: 05 October 2026 (noon)
Rowing Foundation
Barclays Community Sport Fund 2025 to 2027
Grants are available for not-for-profit organisations operating in an area of high deprivation in the UK to make football, cricket, or tennis more accessible to women and girls. The funding is unrestricted and can be used for anything that will support delivery of football, cricket, or tennis activities for women and girls.
Deadline: 04 November 2026
Barclays-community-sport-fund
British Dodgeball Coach Training Fund
Part-funding is available to organisations for dodgeball coaching courses and accreditation throughout 2026.
Grants of up to a maximum of £315 are available per organisation.
Deadline: 21 December 2026
Dodgeball Training Fund
Sports Charity Scotland
Grants are available to charitable organisations in Scotland who operate within sectors representing children, young people and sport. The funding is intended to provide support which can make a significant difference to the delivery of existing activities that will benefit children and young people, the disabled and disadvantaged in Scotland. Most awards made are between £500 and £5,000.
Deadline: Ongoing (link may be slow to load)
Sports Charity Scotland website
Sports Scotland - Transforming Scottish Indoor Tennis Fund
The aim of the fund is to support the creation of indoor tennis facilities in area of high demand across Scotland, as well as to provide investment in pre-existing facilities. This is part of a wider strategy to create a national community tennis network and generate working partnerships across local communities while increasing participation in tennis clubs across Scotland.
Deadline: Ongoing
Transforming Scottish Indoor Tennis Fund website
RYA Foundation
Grants are available for sailing clubs in the UK to promote participation in boating by those who are disadvantaged by reason of youth, age, infirmity or disability, financial hardship or social circumstances.
Deadline: Ongoing
RYA Foundation website
Boost Charitable Trust
Small grants are available to charities and not-for-profit organisations with a focus on helping disabled and disadvantaged individuals in the UK to participate in sport. Boost has awarded grants across five areas of disadvantage: Social exclusion, Financial hardship, Physical and learning disabilities, Mental health, Medical research and relief.
Deadline: Ongoing
Boost Charitable Trust website
SportsAid Award
Assistance for unfunded talented young sportsmen and women (12-18 years old or up to 35 for disability sports) who participate in specific sports and are preparing to compete in major international competition.
Deadline: Ongoing
SportsAid Award website
12 | YOUNG PEOPLE
Future Routes Fund
Grants are available for projects which help young people to connect with nature and make a positive impact on the natural environment in Scotland. Individual applicants can apply for £500 to £2,000. Groups (with two or more members) can apply for £1,000 to £5,000.
This fund aims to encourage young people to:
Engage with nature.
Contribute positively to Scotland's natural environment and landscapes.
Increase their knowledge and understanding of Scottish biodiversity and empower them to take positive action for nature and the climate.
Grants are available for groups and individuals aged 11 to 26 for projects that help to meet this goal.
Deadline: 19 June 2026
Nature Scot
Hostelling Scotland –Happy Hosteller Funded Breaks Programme
Grants are available for schools, early years centres, youth groups, and registered charities across Scotland to enable disadvantaged children and young people and their families to access residential trips at Hosteller Scotland youth hostels. Funded breaks can include activities that fall within two of the following themes:
Nature and the Environment – Exploring Scotland's natural landscapes, wildlife, and ecosystems.
Culture and Historic Heritage – Discovering the Scottish stories and cultural gems.
Wellness and Play – Engaging in physical fun activities that promote health and self-discovery.
Breaks can take place between September 2026 and June 2027.
Deadline: 26 June 2026
Hostelling Scotland
Magdalen Hospital Trust
One-off grants are available for small UK registered charities working with vulnerable children and young people especially those at risk of sexual and other forms of exploitation within the UK. The funding is intended to promote the welfare of young people under the age of 25 years, who suffer from various effects of social deprivation, abuse, mental and physical disabilities, inadequate housing, lack of education or training, and the problems derived from unemployment and broken families. Grants tend to range from £500 to £2,000.
Deadline: 30 June 2026
Magdalen Trust
Weaver's Company Benevolent Fund
Grants are available for UK registered charities and charitable incorporated organisations that can demonstrate impact with ex-offenders, young offenders or young people at risk of offending, either within a local area or nationally. Small grants of up to £5,000. Main Grants have no maximum amount.
Deadline: 02 July 2026
Weavers Charity
7stars Foundation
Grants are available to support young people (18 years and under) challenged by abuse and addiction, those who are young carers, and those who are homeless or without a safe place to call home. The following funding streams are available:
Project Grants: One-off grants of up to £5,000.
Shine Bright Long Term Grants: Two-year grants of up to £30,000 per year.
Child Poverty Grants: Two-year grants of up to £30,000 per year.
Social Impact Grants: Two-year grants of £5,000 per year.
Individual Grants: One-off grants of up to £500.
Applications will be considered from organisations working with young people that require funding in the areas of:
Abuse
Addiction
Child carers
Homelessness
This fund will reopen for applications on 1 June 2026.
Deadline: 13 July 2026
7 Stars Foundation
LandAid - Young Futures Fund
Grants are available to not-for-profit organisations supporting young people aged 16-25 who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. One-year grants of between £5,000 and £40,000 are available. The Young Futures Fund provides grant funding to organisations supporting young people who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness. The fund focuses on projects that increase access to safe, secure, and affordable housing, alongside the support needed to sustain tenancies and progress towards independent living.
Deadline: 22 May 2026
Landaid Grants
Peter Sell Award
Grants of up to £5,000 for Scout or Guide groups in the UK to encourage new members and to ensure long term benefits from the award.
Deadline: 14 September 2026
Peter Sell
Sasha Foundation
Grants are available for charitable organisations across the UK working to support young people suffering from mental health and drug abuse issues. Typically, grants will be up to £10,000 and at most will be for up to 50% of the total cost of the proposed project.
Deadline: 10 October 2026
Sasha Foundation
Triangle Trust 1949 Fund
Grants are available for charities, not-for-profit social enterprises and community interest companies in the UK that are working to support young people with criminal convictions or young people at high risk of offending for the first time. For the 2026 funding rounds, the focus is specifically on young women and girls who have been in the criminal justice system or who are at a high risk of being drawn into it. Grants of between £50,000 and £100,000 for a duration of 18 months to three years.
Deadline: 15 October 2026
Triangle Trust
Scottish Gambling Education Hub – Gambling Education Youth Fund
Grants of up to £500 are available for groups of young people across Scotland to deliver gambling education and prevention projects and activities. The Scottish Gambling Education Hub is a Fast Forward Programme, in partnership with GambleAware, that supports young people’s health and well-being by promoting gambling education and prevention across Scotland. This fund aims to enable youth workers and young people to transform their ideas into action and create their own local gambling education and prevention project.
Deadline: Ongoing
Gambling Education Fund - Scottish Gambling Education Hub
Sofronie Foundation
Grants are available for charities and not-for-profit organisations across the UK to deliver educational or vocational projects to improve the lives of disadvantaged young people. Funding is for interventions that:
Increase access to higher education – Educational programmes for young people that raise aspirations, build confidence, and develop skills in preparation for university.
Increase access to vocational training – Initiatives that provide young people with practical skills or offer opportunities of work experience in preparation for future employment.
Deadline: Ongoing
Sofronie Foundation website
Wooden Spoon Charity
Grants are available for not-for-profit organisations that are working in the UK to support the lives of children and young people with a cognitive age under 25 years who are disadvantaged physically, mentally, or socially.
Deadline: Ongoing
Wooden Spoon Charity website
Cash For Kids - Holiday Hunger Grants
Grants are available to charities, voluntary and community groups to provide food and activities for disadvantaged children and young people during the school holidays. No minimum or maximum values are stated, but awards are usually between £1,000 and £3,000.
Deadline: Ongoing
Cash For Kids - Holiday Hunger Grants website
Ernest Cook Trust - Outdoor Essentials Grant
Grants are available to UK state funded primary and secondary schools to enable them to get their pupils learning outdoors. The current round of funding offers grants for the following options:
Nature and Nurture – school grounds improvements.
Transport and Travel – transport costs to outdoor learning venues. Wellies and Waterproofs – outdoor clothing.
Deadline: Ongoing
Ernest Cook Trust - Outdoor Essentials Grant website
Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park – Engagement Travel Grants
Grants of up to £250 are available for schools and groups working with disadvantaged people across Scotland to cover transport costs for educational trips to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. There is no deadline and applications can be made at any time. Guidance notes and an application form are available from the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park website.
Deadline: Ongoing
Engagement Travel Grants website
National Lottery Community Fund - Fairer Life Chances (Scotland)
Grants are available to voluntary and community and public sector organisations in Scotland for projects that support children, young people and families, or help people to be healthier and have better access to support, with a focus on those experiencing poverty, discrimination and disadvantage. The Fund is intended for projects working to achieve the following objectives:
Children, young people and families thrive.
People have better relationships, connections, and physical or mental health.
Deadline: Ongoing
Fairer Life Chances (Scotland) website
Leslie Sell Charitable Trust
Grants for trips or projects associated with the Scouts or Guides movement within the UK. Please note the Trustees are unable to consider applications for trips or events submitted within four months of your proposed departure or event date due to processing times.
Deadline: Ongoing
Leslie Sell Charitable Trust website
National Lottery Community Fund - Young Start Fund
Grants of between £20,001 and £100,000 for up to three years are available to voluntary and community organisations in Scotland for work that helps young people (aged 8 to 24) to become more confident and play an active part in realising their potential.
Deadline: Ongoing
Young Start Fund website
Foux Foundation
Grants are available for registered charities across the United Kingdom and Ireland (and worldwide) to deliver a variety of projects and activities that address health, education, youth opportunity, and the relief of poverty.
Deadline: Ongoing
Foux Foundation website

