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@eastayrshireleisure.com.
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Latest funding alerts
East Ayrshire Council - Anti-Poverty and Inequalities Grant
East Ayrshire Council has created an Anti-Poverty and Inequalities Grant Programme which is targeted at providing resources for innovative projects which will help to tackle poverty.
Applications are welcome from any constituted third sector partner who would like to propose new initiatives, enhance a current initiative, or add long term sustainability to a current initiative.
Projects should be connected to one or more of the strategy’s themes of:
- household poverty
- child poverty
- health and wellbeing inequalities
- building individual and community resilience
- building organisation capacity to tackle poverty
The fund is open on the East Ayrshire Council website. There is no current deadline for applications.
Apply at Engagement East Ayrshire: Anti-Poverty and Inequalities Grant
East Ayrshire Council - Place Based Investment Programme
The Place Based Investment Programme is a five year Scottish Government Investment programme, It supports community led capital projects that are rooted in Community Action Plans, Place Plans, and other forms of community engagement and regeneration.
Grants up to £100,000 are available. A series of webinars is being held, and further details are available via the link below..
The fund is open on the East Ayrshire Council website.The deadline for applications is 24 August 2025.
Apply at Engagement East Ayrshire: Place Based Investment Programme
Arnold Clark - Cost of Living Support
Registered charities and community groups across England, Scotland and Wales can apply now for a grant to support cost of living projects.
To be eligible, they must be based/operate solely in the UK and located within 50 miles of an Arnold Clark branch. Their work must directly support those most affected by the cost-of-living crisis, such as foodbanks, accommodation, poverty relief and where people/communities in the UK are the primary and immediate focus of investment.
Grants of up to £2,500 are available.
The fund is open on the Arnold Clark website. There are no deadlines for applications.
Apply at Arnold Clark: Cost of Living Support
Asda Foundation - Foodbank Fundamentals Fund
Groups in the UK who distribute food and other essential items for disadvantaged members of the local community will have two weeks to apply for a grant of up to £750.
Applications will be considered from not-for-profit organisations who distribute food to the most disadvantaged in the community, such as food banks, community pantries, social supermarkets, soup kitchens and breakfast clubs.
The fund will be open on the Asda Foundation website from 15 July 2025. The deadline for applications is 29 July 2025.
Apply at Asda Foundation: Foodbank Fundamentals Fund
National Churches Trust - Large Grants Programme
Grants of between £10,000 and £50,000 for urgent and essential structural repair projects (costed at more than £80,000) for Christian places of worship, or the installation of kitchen and toilets (costed at more than £30,000).
Match funding of at least 50% is required.
The fund is open on the National Churches Trust website. The deadline for stage 1 applications is 4 November 2025..
Apply at National Churches Trust: Large Grants Programme
Pixel Fund
Grants of between £2,500 and £5,000 for UK-registered charities to deliver projects and activities that promote the mental health and wellbeing of children and young adults aged under 26 years old and provide a measurable difference to the group’s users.
The fund is open on the Pixel Fund website. To apply, groups must book a place at an applicant pre-meeting, which will be held regularly throughout the year.
Apply at Pixel Fund
Riverwoods - Development Grant
The Riverwoods Development Grant seeks to support local organisations in overcoming these barriers by supporting the production of River Woodland Development Plans.
These plans focus on identifying opportunities to expand river woodlands and restore riparian habitats, serving as a critical first step to enhance river health, improve habitat connectivity, and boost species and ecosystem resilience, diversity, and access to nature.
The fund is open on the Riverwoods website. The deadline for applications is 28 July 2025.
The Tree Council - SP Energy Networks Community Tree Planting Fund
Grants of between £2,500 and £10,000 are available to support well-planned, not-for-profit tree planting projects that will directly benefit people, communities and wildlife across Scotland, with a particular emphasis on the central and southern belt.
Projects need to be completed by 1 March 2026.
The fund is open on The Tree Council website. The deadline for applications is 31 July 2025.
Apply at The Tree Council: SP Energy Networks Community Tree Planting Fund
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
East Ayrshire 4 Community
You can also search for grants and check your eligibility at East Ayrshire 4 Community, which is a free service.