Community funding alerts

30 March 2026

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

National Lottery Community Fund - Award for All: All In

All In is the national call to action for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, which invites communities to celebrate the Games in their own altogether brilliant way.

This summer organisations delivering Glasgow 2026-inspired activities can apply for up to £10,000 of National Lottery funding for projects lasting up to 12 months that will:

increase access and remove barriers so more people can take part in arts or sports activities• bring people together and strengthen connections within and across communities
support health and wellbeing through physical activity and shared community experiences• celebrate cultural diversity and international connections
create a lasting legacy that communities can enjoy beyond the Games

Interested organisations can call 0300 123 7110 or email advicescotland@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk to discuss their projects before applying.

Barclays - Community Sport Fund

The Access Grant is available to support the delivery of football, tennis or cricket activities for women and girls.

Not-for-profit organisations, including charities, community groups, youth groups and traditional sports clubs can apply for funding but only one grant can be awarded to each organisation

Groups must:

deliver football, cricket or tennis activities for women and girls (or can apply for funding to start activities)
operate in an area of high deprivation

Additionally, applications can be considered for projects engaging women and girls with disabilities or facing challenges of rural isolation that are not in deprived areas.

Grants of £1,000 are available.

The fund is open on the Barclays website. The deadline for applications is 27 May 2026.

Apply at Barclays: Community Sport Fund

Caremark - Community Care Programme

The funding aims to improve quality of life and strengthen local communities through practical, locally led activity.

Grants of £3,000 are available for projects that deliver tangible benefits. Supported activities include the purchase of equipment for inclusive sports or activity groups, improvements to village halls or community centres and supplies for community gardens or green spaces.

Funding may also be used for equipment for food banks, community larders or support services, as well as enhancements to spaces used by charities or community groups. In addition, projects can include new equipment for pre-schools or playgrounds.

The fund is open on the Caremark website. The deadline for applications is 31 May 2026.

Apply at Caremark: Community Care Fund

CEMVO Scotland - Ethnic Minority Development Fund

Grants of between £500 and £15,000 to ethnic minority-led (at least 60% representation of people from an ethnic minority background on their board, management team and in decision-making roles) third sector organisations in Scotland with an annual income of £100,000 or less to support projects that promote the well-being of ethnic minority communities.

Support is available for projects and activities across Scotland that achieve at least one of the following priorities:

bring ethnic minority people together and build strong relationships across communities
help more ethnic minority people to be the best they can be by supporting them as soon as possible
improve places and spaces that matter to ethnic minority communities

The fund is open on the CEMVO Scotland website. The deadline for applications is 26 May 2026.

Apply at CEMVO Scotland: Ethnic Minority Development Fund

Goldsmiths' Foundation - Open Grants Programme

The Goldsmiths’ Foundation focusses on advancing creative, technical, and vocational skills, education and training in the craft and trade of goldsmithing, silversmithing and jewellery – as well as in the wider creative industries.This round is focused on organisations working primarily in craft.

It aims to:

strengthen technical and vocational skills infrastructure in underserved craft communities
champion the contribution that skilled makers, designers and craftspeople make to more just and equitable communities
grow the systems and networks that allow craft and vocational practice to thrive equitably

Grants of between £30,000 and £50,000 are available.

The fund is open on the Goldsmiths' Foundation website.The deadline for applications is 11 May 2026.

Apply at Goldsmiths' Foundation: Open Grants Programme

Help the Homeless

Help the Homeless is a small grant-making organisation with limited funding available to charities across the UK. It supports people experiencing homelessness in reintegrating into the community and rebuilding their lives.

Applicant organisations must be registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator. Small and medium-sized registered charities with an annual turnover below £500,000 and who are working wholly or mostly with homeless people may apply for funding.

Grants up to £5,000 are available to support capital projects, such as refurbishment costs and furniture.

The fund is open on the Help the Homeless website. The next deadline for applications is 20 June 2026.

Apply at Help the Homeless

Local Energy Scotland - CARES Community Buildings Fund

Grants of up to £80,000 are available to community groups, registered charities, and other not-for-profit organisations across Scotland to support the installation of low-carbon and renewable energy measures in community buildings and to help support decarbonisation.

The fund is open on the Local Energy Scotland website. The fund will close to applications at the end of October 2026 or when funding is fully allocated, whichever is sooner.

Apply at Local Energy Scotland: CARES Community Buildings Fund

Local Energy Scotland - Community Energy Generation Growth Fund

Grants are available to established and incorporated community groups such as development trusts and community energy and climate action groups to set up renewable energy generation projects, such as:

installing wind turbines and solar panels
developing other types of renewable energy generation, such as hydro, to meet local needs

The funding available is mostly capital. A limited amount of funding is also available for feasibility studies and option appraisals.

The following levels of funding are available:

feasibility Stage: grants of up to £20,000
development Stage: grants of up to £200,000
construction stage: grants of up to 80% of construction costs up to a maximum of £150,000. Organisations can also apply for loans for up to five years. Applications are now being accepted

The fund is open on the Local Energy Scotland website. Applications are now being accepted.

Apply at Local Energy Scotland: Community Energy Generation Growth Fund

RS MacDonald Trust

The following funding streams are available:

small grants: up to £20,000 (but no more than £10,000 per year)
main grants: over £20,000 awarded twice a year. For the current round, three-year grants up to £55,000 are available (up to £18,250 per year)

The following themes are funded:

tackling child abuse and neglect
visual impairment
neurological conditions
animal welfare
medical research

The fund is open on the RS MacDonald Trust website. Small grant applications are accepted any time. The deadline for Main Grant applications is 2 September 2026.

Apply at RS MacDonald Trust

Youth Scotland - Safe Spaces Youth Work Fund

Grants of up to £2,000 are available to youth groups working in Scotland.

Eligible groups must be:

members of Youth Scotland
working with young people between five and 25 years of age
working with young people at risk and/or who have been affected by Adverse Childhood Experiences
willing to participate in the relevant training or evidence that they have received training from another provider

The following costs are eligible for funding: