The funding alerts below are updated regularly to let you know about important information about funding deadlines for community groups and charities, including funds relating to cost of living crisis
If your group is awarded a grant from any of the funds highlighted in these alerts please let us know by emailing ExternalFunding@east-ayrshire.gov.uk.
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Latest funding alerts
Ayrshire Rural and Islands Ambition Fund
The Ayrshire Rural and Islands Ambition (ARIA) Fund is part of the Scottish Government's Community Led Local Development (CLLD) programme. It is led by the ARIA Local Action Group (LAG), a group of representatives from the local area so its decision-making is bottom up. It is administered by South Ayrshire Council.
ARIA currently has two funding streams:
- main fund: £5k - £50k
- community asset maintenance fund: up to £9k
The fund is open for Expressions of Interest (EOI) on the South Ayrshire Council website. An EOI must be submitted prior to an application being made.
The deadline for Expressions of Interest is 30 June 2024. The deadline for applications to the Main Fund is 9 August 2024, and the deadline for applications to the Community Asset Maintenance Fund is 15 September 2024.
Apply at Ayrshire Rural and Islands Ambition Fund
BUPA Foundation - Green Community Grants
Grants of between £500 and £2,500 are available for projects delivered by 30 April 2025.
The funding is intended for schools, registered charities, not-for-profit organisations, local authorities and social housing providers for practical projects which help with both people and planet health. Priority will be given to projects that:
- improve or create new green spaces
- benefit and involve the local community
- are located in disadvantaged areas (high Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) scores for the postcode, or a school with a significant proportion of children benefitting from free school meals)
The fund is open on the BUPA Foundation website. The deadline for applications is 30 June 2024.
Apply at BUPA Foundation: Green Community Grants
Central Scotland Green Network - Growing Food Together Fund
Through the Growing Food Together Fund, a total of £100,000 is available for projects that:
- improve food growing skills, particularly in poorly ranked Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) areas
- improve access to and understanding of the benefits of growing food
- enable people from all walks of life to enjoy and learn about nutritious food
The fund will open on the Central Scotland Green Network website. The deadline for applications is 19 July 2024.
Apply at Central Scotland Green Network: Growing Food Together Fund
Co-op - Local Community Fund
The Local Community Fund supports projects in Co-op members’ communities that help to create Sustainable Future for People and the Planet (the themes for this year).
Funding is determined by Co-op community members who vote on the project they wish to support in their local community. The more Co-op members that support the project and shop at Co-op, the more money groups will receive.
Successful groups will receive a minimum of £1,000 to support their projects.
The fund is open on the Co-op website. The next deadline for applications is 7 July 2024.
Apply at Co-op Local Community Fund
Delamere Dairy Foundation
Grants of between £1,000 and £5,000 for charities and community groups.
Funding is available for the following:
- the advancement of agriculture and environmental protection
- the advancement in life of young people by developing their capabilities so that they may mature as contributory members of society
- the relief of financial hardship
- the advancement of education
- the relief of sickness
The fund is open on the Delamere Dairy Foundation website. The next deadline for applications is 31 August 2024.
Apply at Delamere Dairy Foundation
Greenspace Scotland – Parks4Life Community Fund
Grants of between £500 and £1500 are now available to constituted community and friends’ groups that are working to improve parks and greenspaces in Scotland.
Priority will be given to the following:
- projects that aim to ‘activate’ the park through events eg, a gala day or focussed park clean that will bring people to the park or greenspace
- promoting the work of the community and friends’ group and the role of the park or greenspace
- purchase of tools and materials that will help the group
- groups where their park or greenspace is in an area that scores highly on the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD), particularly those in the 20% of most deprived areas
The fund is open on the Greenspace Scotland website. Applications will close when funding is fully allocated or on 30 August 2024..
Apply at Greenspace Scotland: Parks4Life Community Fund
International Tree Foundation – UK Community Tree Planting Programme
The UK Community Tree Planting Programme will support projects that meet the following essential criteria:
- plant trees in public/publicly accessible spaces: sites that are readily accessible to the public, including schools, parks, rights of way, and sites managed by community groups
- plant indigenous tree species: this may include traditional fruit trees and ‘honorary’ natives where appropriate
- engage community members in tree planting and enjoying the benefits of woodlands
- have clear plans for maintenance and sustainability
The fund is open on the International Tree Foundation website. The deadline for applications is 13 December 2024.
Apply at International Tree Foundation: UK Community Tree Planting Programme
Islamic Relief UK
Grants of between £1,000 and £40,000 for voluntary, community, and social enterprise sector organisations across the UK to deliver projects that support marginalised and vulnerable people and their communities.
The fund is open on the Islamic Relief UK website. The deadline for applications is 8 July 2024.
Apply at Islamic Relief UK
Leeds Building Society Foundation
Grants to UK registered charities can apply for grants of between £250 and £1,000 to charities anywhere in the UK that have a turnover of less than £1 million.
The funding is to be used for projects that support those in need of a safe and secure home. Grants are only for capital expenditure (that is, to purchase items used to directly help those in need).The deadline for applications is 9 September 2024
The fund is open on the Leeds Building Society Foundation website. The deadline for applications is 9 September 2024..
Apply at Leeds Building Society Foundation
SafeDeposits Scotland - Community Fund
Grants of up to £5,000 are available to groups and organisations across Scotland to deliver a variety of projects and activities that benefit local communities.
Groups can apply for funding for projects that positively impact local communities by addressing the following priorities:
- sustainability and the environment
- employability and career skills
- social inclusion
- technology and digital inclusion
The fund is open on the SafeDeposits Scotland website. The deadline for application is 30 August 2024.
Apply at SafeDeposits Scotland: Community Fund
Skipton Building Society Charitable Foundation
The funding is intended for UK registered charities based and working in the UK whose purpose is to:
- benefit children and adults particularly those living in socially deprived areas, through education to develop core skills and support wellbeing and mental health
- benefit the wellbeing and welfare of children and adults by preventing or reducing poverty and homelessness in the community
- support the elderly and improve their wellbeing by reducing isolation, helping reduce the effects of Dementia and Alzheimer's and support later life/palliative care
Grants of up to £6,000 are available.
The fund is open on the Woodward Chartable Trust website. The deadline for applications is 31 July 2024.
Apply at Skipton Building Society Charitable Foundation
East Ayrshire Council Community Grants
To check the next deadline date for applications please contact Democratic Services at Council Headquarters on 01563 554400 for further information.
Apply for a Community Grant
Renewable Energy Funds
To check the next deadline date for applications please contact Democratic Services at Council Headquarters on 01563 554400 further information.
Apply to the Renewable Energy Fund
Tincornhill Quarry Fund – Sorn
For further information on application criteria and deadlines please email tincornhill@gmail.com.
Previous funding alerts
East Ayrshire 4 Community
You can also search for grants and check your eligibility at East Ayrshire 4 Community, which is a free service.