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
Ayrshire Rural and Islands Ambition Fund
Expressions of Interest are now open for the Main Fund and Community Asset Maintenance (CAM) Fund.
This year the Main Fund is exclusively capital funding, and can’t support staffing costs or any revenue expenditure, but can support capital projects with up to 90% grants, from £5000–£50,000. This fund is open to third sector organisations, community groups, farms and businesses, with fewer than fifty members of staff, who are within the eligibility area.
The CAM Fund is available to support community/third sector organisations who own or lease buildings, to undertake a professional survey which will result in a repair register for the building. Successful applicants will also receive £2000 as a sinking fund towards the repairs highlighted within the report.
The fund is open on for Expressions on Interest the South Ayrshire Council website. The deadline for Expressions of Interests is 11 June 2025.
Apply at South Ayrshire Council: Ayrshire Rural & Islands Ambition Fund
Energy Savings Trust – Energy Redress Scheme Just Transition Fund
The scheme aims to build the capacity of the community energy sector and deliver impactful renewable energy projects. It seeks to demonstrate how a just transition to net zero can benefit everyone. Grants of between £20,000 and £250,000 are available for individual projects.
Applications are accepted from registered charities, Community Interest Companies (CICs), Community Benefit Societies and Cooperative Societies that are registered with the Energy Redress Scheme and have passed the due diligence process
.Organisations that have not yet registered with the scheme must do so 10 working days before the relevant fund closes to allow time for eligibility checks to take place.
The fund is open on the Energy Savings Trust website.The deadline for applications is 11 June 2025.
Apply at Energy Savings Trust: Energy Redress Scheme Just Transition Fund
Foundation Scotland - Essentia Foundation Mid-Sized Grants
The fund is looking for projects that:
- support the participation in mainstream society for individuals with learning disabilities or long-term life limiting health conditions
- support young people who face long-term challenges living in poverty and inequality
- support those who have been excluded from school to access or return to education or training opportunities
- provide skills and training to those who are furthest from the labour market
- aim to improve the health and welfare of children and young people (being those under 25)
Please note the above are all in relation to supporting young people up to the age of 25 only
This fund is only open to organisations with an annual income of between £250,000 and £2million
Grants are for a fixed sum of £50,000 only.
The fund is open on the Foundation Scotland website. The deadline for applications is 6 June 2025.
Apply at Foundation Scotland: Essentia Foundation Mid-Sized Grants
Music for All - Power of Music Fund
Grants of up to £2,000 to local organisations that use music making to support people living with dementia and their carers. This is only open to applicants working with underrepresented communities, including those from racially minoritised communities throughout the UK.
The grants should be put towards the purchase of instruments, equipment, specialised support/teaching/coaching/leading specifically designed to support the establishment and/or continuation of music groups for these groups.
The fund is open on the Music for All website. The deadline for applications is 16 June 2025.
Apply at Music for All: Power of Music Fund
Naturesave Trust
Charities, social enterprises, community groups, voluntary organisations, small grassroots groups and businesses who are working to connect their communities to nature can apply now for a grant of up to £5,000. The deadline for applications is 15 July 2025.
The fund is open on the Naturesave Trust website. The next deadline for applications is 15 July 2025.
Apply at Naturesave Trust
Scottish Government - Climate Engagement Fund
Grants of between £25,000 and £80,000 for charities, community groups, community planning partnerships, and other ‘trusted messenger’ organisations, to deliver projects and activities that help to build an understanding of the climate emergency across communities in Scotland, in line with the strategic objectives of the Scottish Government’s Net Zero Nation: Public Engagement Strategy for Climate Change (PES).
The Fund will support both local and national climate change engagement projects, as well as provide support for both new and continuing activities.
The fund is open on the Scottish Government website. The deadline for applications is 8 June 2025.
Apply at Scottish Government: Climate Engagement Fund
Thomas Wall Trust
Grants of up to £5,000 are available for UK registered charities for specific projects that improve communication skills for disadvantaged adults and supports NEET people into employment.
The fund is open on the Thomas Wall Trust website. The deadline for stage one applications is 22 September 2025.
Wellbeing of Women - Women's Health Community Fund
Grants of up to £5,000 to small, grassroots organisations and community groups to deliver health information and support to women, girls and people from underrepresented groups in the UK.
The funding is for projects that address the following key points:
- Improving information, education or support for menstrual health, menopause and/or related gynaecological conditions, for example PCOS, endometriosis, adenomyosis, fibroids, PMDD.
- Supporting people and groups that are often excluded in mainstream healthcare, including those from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds, LGBTQ+ communities, people living with disabilities, those experiencing homelessness, addiction, or living in areas of economic deprivation.
The fund is open on the Wellbeing of Women website. The deadline for applications is15 June 2025
Apply at Wellbeing of Women: Women's Health Community 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.