The funding alerts below are updated regularly to let you know of important information about funding deadlines for community groups and charities.
If your group is awarded a grant from any of the funds highlighted in these alerts, please let us know by emailing ExternalFunding@ayrshire360.com.
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Latest funding alerts
Access Foundation - Digital Divide Grants
Restricted awards to charities and not-for-profit organisations seeking to address digital exclusion.
The grant aims to mitigate the digital divide by making computing facilities, support and learning available to disadvantaged and vulnerable people. Within the UK, it also seeks to support people and communities as well as the natural environment.
Awards range from £20,000 to £50,000 for projects lasting up to one year. In exceptional cases, the Foundation may consider supporting a longer running multi-year project.
The fund is open on the Access Foundation website. There is no deadline for applications.
Apply at Access Foundation: Digital Divide Grants
Aldi - Scottish Sport Fund
This fund is open in areas across Scotland where there is currently an Aldi store.
Groups that are successfully selected by the Aldi Scottish Sport Fund judging panel will be entered into their regional prize draw (one prize draw per region) and the winners will be chosen by random draw.
There three levels of funding:
- one grant of £3,000
- two grants of £1,250
- one grant of £750
The fund is open on the Aldi website. The deadline for applications for clubs and groups based in the West of Scotland is 2 August 2026.
Apply at Aldi: Scottish Sport Fund
ALLIANCE - Gambling Harms and Mental Health Fund
The fund has three stated aims:
- raising awareness of gambling harm and the support available
- researching how specified inequalities are experienced within disadvantaged, marginalised and minoritised communities
- building capacity in community-based services to embed help relating to gambling harm, mental health and suicidality
Two grant levels are available for projects lasting up to six months. New applicants can seek up to £20,000. Returning applicants can apply for up to £30,000 where the work explicitly builds on learning from their previous Gambling Harms project.
The fund is open on the ALLIANCE website. The deadline for applications is 14 August 2026.
Apply at ALLIANCE: Gambling Harms and Mental Health Fund
Arnold Clark - Gear Up For Sport
Free training equipment to teams with up to 30 members, aged 4-15. This includes training balls, a ball bag, space markers, water bottles, mesh bibs and more depending on your type of sport.
Only one entry per club will be accepted. A full list of eligible sports is available on the Arnold Clark website.
The fund is open on the Arnold Clark website. The deadline for applications is 31 July 2026.
Apply at Arnold Clark: Gear Up For Sport
Audible
Awards of between £15,000 and £30,000 are available for small- to mid-sized registered charities delivering direct, structured, and recurring activities to between 150 and 300 underrepresented young people aged 12 to 18 outside formal school settings.
Successful applicants are expected to incorporate Audible into existing provision, creating structured moments of discovery through workshops, listening sessions, and guided activities.
Support can cover project delivery costs, with overheads permitted up to approximately 10% of the total request.
The fund is open on the Audible website. The deadline for applications is 31 July 2026.
Apply at Audible
Delamere Dairy Foundation
Grants of between £1,000 and £5,000 for charities and community groups to deliver projects in communities across England, Scotland, and Wales that align with the Foundation's objectives.
Funding is available for the:
- advancement of agriculture and environmental protection
- advancement in life of young people by developing their capabilities so that they may mature as contributory members of society
- relief of financial hardship
- advancement of education
- relief of sickness
The fund is open on the Delamere Dairy Foundation website. The next deadline for applications is 31 July 2026.
Apply at Delamere Foundation
Henry Smith Foundation - Career Ready Fund
Up to eight grants of £200,000 (£50,000 per year) over a four year period for charitable organisations working with young people with learning disabilities within the UK.
The fund supports the delivery of high quality, job coach led careers education in mainstream and SEND school settings.
The fund focuses on early, structured support that helps young people build real world experience and move towards paid employment.
Organisations need to address the key aims of the fund which are to:
- embed trained job coaches in school settings so young people receive consistent, person-centred employment support
- provide early, structured vocational profiling and careers preparation, helping young people identify strengths, interests and aspirations
- create meaningful, well-matched work experiences that give young people exposure to workplaces, rather than generic or tokenistic placements
- strengthen partnerships between schools, support networks, employers and specialist providers, ensuring support for young people through a joined-up ecosystem
- build clear pathways into supported internships, employment and paid work
The fund will open on the Henry Smith Foundation website. Expressions of interest will be accepted from 22 July until 2 September 2026.
Apply at Henry Smith Foundation: Career Ready Fund
Hinrichsen Foundation
Grants of between £500 and £3,000 are available for charities and organisations across the UK to deliver music projects that focus on the performance, commissioning, or recording of contemporary music.
Applications that take artistic risks, promote diversity, consider sustainability, or are artist-led are encouraged.The Foundation rarely supports projects where it is the sole funder.
Applicants are expected to indicate another source of income, either secured or projected.
Applications are open on the Hinrichsen Foundation website. The deadline for applications is 1 September 2026.
Apply at Hinrichsen Foundation
Radcliffe Trust
The Radcliffe Trust supports projects and activities in the areas of music, heritage, and crafts.
Heritage and Craft.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.
Applications are open on the Radcliffe Trust website The deadline for applications is 31 July 2026.
Apply at Radcliffe Trust
Schroder Charity Trust
UK registered charities based and working within the UK with an income of between £150,000 and £1 million may apply for grants of up to £5,000 to support both core costs and project (restricted) costs for up to one year.
Applications will only be considered from UK registered charities whose primary activity/activities address the Trust's current funding objectives and priority areas of interest which are:
- enabling children and young adults from disadvantaged backgrounds to thrive and achieve their potential in education and employment
- strengthening communities through services and opportunities which enhance the wellbeing and life outcomes of vulnerable and disadvantaged people
Applications will only be accepted from organisations who are bringing about measurable outcomes in their field, and also those operating in areas in the top 20% of indices of multiple deprivation (IMD) in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland..
Applications are open on the Schroder Charity Trust website. The deadline for applications is 28 August 2026.
Apply at Schroder Charity Trust
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 secretarytqf@gmail.com
Previous funding alerts
CIT Funding Alert 17 July 2026 (PDF 316 KB)
CIT Funding Alert 3 July 2026 (PDF 333 KB)
CIT Funding Alert 19 June 2026 (PDF 324 KB)
CIT Funding Alert 5 June 2026 (PDF 306 KB)
CIT Funding Alert 25 May 2026 (PDF 357 KB)
East Ayrshire 4 Community
You can also search for grants and check your eligibility at East Ayrshire 4 Community, which is a free service.