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
Arnold Clark - Community Support Fund
UK registered charities and community groups who provide services that are widely accessible to their local community and are located within a 50-mile radius of an Arnold Clark branch can apply now for a Community Support grant of up to £1,000.
The August 2026 round is focused on two specific areas:
- Arts and culture - music, books, art and theatre groups looking for money for transport, resources, venue hire, and special licences.
- Animal welfare - pet welfare. This could be, for example, helping covering costs for pet bills, animal shelters, and therapy animals (case by case).
Groups are encouraged to apply as early as they can as applications could be paused due to high demand.
The fund is open on the Arnold Clark website. Applications are open during the month of August.
Apply at Arnold Clark: Community Support Fund
Barclays - Community Sport Fund
This fund is available to all clubs and groups that run football, cricket or tennis activities for women and/or girls who wish to get more female coaches qualified.
Applications will be accepted from not-for-profit organisations, including community groups, youth groups, and traditional sports clubs, who are submitting on behalf of the individuals who want to undertake their coaching qualifications. Groups who have already received a grant from the Barclays Community Sport Fund can also apply.
The fund provides grants of £200 to cover the cost of a Level 1 or equivalent introductory qualification and any additional safeguarding and first aid requirements for their chosen sport.
To be eligible for funding, the female coaches must be:
- aged 16 plus (or 18 plus depending on specific course eligibility)
- already coaching girls or would like to start
- part of a club or group with women and/or girls' provision where they would like to begin or continue coaching (such as current player, parent of a player, volunteer)
- ready to undertake their coaching qualification within 12 months (subject to course availability)
The fund is open on the Barclays website. The deadline for applications is 4 November 2026.
Apply at Barclays: Community Sport Fund
Creative Scotland - Youth Music Initiative Funding
Creative Scotland has opened applications for 2026/27 support through its Youth Music Initiative (YMI), a national programme intended to widen access to high-quality music-making for young people aged 0-25.
YMI is structured across three strands. School Based Music Making is a managed allocation for Scotland's 32 local authorities, distributed using a Scottish Government formula, with supported activity commencing at the beginning of the academic year.
Meanwhile, two open strands are inviting applications from organisations, including sole traders, based in Scotland or delivering activity within Scotland:
- Access to Music Making, through which applicants can seek between £1,000 and £40,000 to deliver up to 12 months of music-making opportunities outside school time.
- Strengthening Youth Music, through which individuals, organisations and networks can apply for between £1,000 and £20,000 for up to 12 months to undertake strategic action or training intended to strengthen Scotland's youth music sector.
Funded activity for both open strands can begin from 1 February 2027.
The fund is open on the Creative Scotland website. The deadline for applications is 9 September 2026.
Apply at Creative Scotland: Youth Music Initiative Funding
Finnis Scott Foundation
Applications are being accepted for grants supporting work linked to horticulture and plant sciences, as well as fine art and art history.
The funding is for UK charities registered with the Charity Commission, including charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs) and parent teacher associations (PTAs) of special schools.
Grants of up to £10,000 are generally considered, although due to high demand, most awards are currently £5,000 or less.The next deadline for applications is 11 September 2026.
The fund is open on the Finnis Scott Foundation website. The next deadline for applications is 11 September 2026.
Apply at Finnis Scott Foundation
Gardens Trust - Community Grants
Grants of up to £10,000 are available for volunteer groups across the UK to help seed-fund projects that will improve, enhance, and support historic designed landscapes
The fund will support both capital and revenue costs related to historic designed landscape projects. Priority will be given to:
- seed-funding or pump-priming for a sustainable activity, such as a restoration plan, Friends Group set-up costs, research project, or volunteer training schemes
- applications that reflect the Trust priorities around conservation, knowledge sharing, and encouraging participation and enjoyment of historic landscapes
The fund is open on the Gardens Trust website. The deadline for applications is 16 October 2026.
Apply at Gardens Trust: Community Grants
Henry Moore Foundation
The Henry Moore Foundation offers funding in the following categories:
- New projects and commissions: Grants of up to £20,000 to encourage new thinking about sculpture or sculpture history or contribute to public awareness and appreciation of sculpture.
- Acquisitions and collections: Grants of up to £20,000 for museums and galleries to acquire or conserve sculpture for their collections, cataloguing, and display costs.
- Research and development:o Long-term grants of up to £20,000 for projects that require funding for more than one year, such as a permanent collection catalogue.
- Small research grants of up to £2,500 for academics, curators, and independent scholars for research costs on the history and interpretation of sculpture.
- Conferences, lectures, and publications: Grants of up to £5000 to publish a new book or journal, or to stage a conference or other event related to sculpture.
This funding round is for projects starting or opening to the public, no sooner than 1 January 2027.
The fund is open on the Henry Moore Foundation website. The next application deadline is 1 September 2026.
Apply at Henry Moore Foundation
Inspiring Scotland - Neighbourhood Ecosystem Fund
Not-for-profit, community-led organisations based in a specific place in Scotland with an income of less than £200,000 per year and their own bank account can apply now for grants of up £13,500.
The funding is for projects that help communities to start and lead ecosystem restoration at a local level, engaging and involving local people, and building the support and skills for the long term.
Projects must focus on one or more of the following priorities for ecosystem restoration:
- connecting nature corridors
- habitat and species restoration
- freshwater and wetland restoration
- coastal and marine initiatives
- control of invasive non-native species (INNS)
- urban nature
Grant recipients will also receive up to £1,500 in professional fundraising support.
There is a two-stage application process
The fund will open on the Inspiring Scotland website. Expressions of interest are accepted on a rolling basis.
Apply at Inspiring Scotland: Neighbourhood Ecosystem Fund
International Tree Foundation - UK Community Tree Planting Programme
Grants are available for community-based organisations across the UK to deliver tree-planting projects that protect and restore indigenous trees and woodlands, support community engagement in tree planting, and increase awareness of the importance of trees and forests to environmental and human well-being.
The programme will support projects that meet the following essential criteria:
- plant trees in public/publicly accessible spaces
- plant indigenous tree species
- engage community members in tree planting and enjoying the benefits of woodlands
- have clear plans for maintenance and sustainability
In addition, for this funding round, proposed projects must meet one or more of the following criteria:
Engage children and young adults in tree planting and learning about trees:
- engage vulnerable groups and groups with low access to woodlands
- create biodiversity in habitats
- conserve soil and water
- demonstrate new approaches, such as agroforestry
- support rewilding and natural regeneration
- support work or research on tree pest and disease resistance and climate change adaptation
- support urban tree planting
Grants are available for community woodland/hedging projects that range from 100 to 10,000 trees planted per year, with a maximum price equivalent to £2.15 per tree. In addition, these projects also receive two maintenance grants equivalent to £0.10 per tree, disbursed in the first and second summers after planting.
Applications are open on the International Tree Foundation website. The deadline for applications is 11 December 2026.
Apply at International Tree Foundation: UK Community Tree Planting Programme
Leche Trust - Heritage Conservation Grants
UK registered charities or public authorities can apply now for grants of up to £5,000 for the conservation of historically, artistically and culturally significant buildings and objects dating from before 1837 that are in urgent need of remedial treatment.Items must be in public or charitable ownership and accessible to the public.
These might include individual paintings, sculpture and monuments, wall paintings and non-structural architectural fittings such as decorative plaster work and panelling.
They will also consider applications relating to archaeological finds, items within archives and libraries and other decorative art objects.
Applications are open on the Leche Trust website The deadline for applications is 31 August 2026.
Apply at Leche Trust: Heritage Conservation Grants
Leche Trust - Performing Arts Grants
UK registered charities or local authority-run venues, with a turnover of less than £1.5 million per annum, may apply now for grants of around £4,000 for projects that fit either of the following priorities:
- New Works in Performing Arts: the commissioning, development, production and/or performance of new works in music, theatre, dance and performance across all genres.
- Artists' Professional Development: to support artists' professional development through programmes that address a clear need or gap in development.
These programmes can be aimed at early or mid-career artists, but they need to reflect current context and practices.The deadline for applications is 31 August 2026.
Applications are open on the Leche Trust website. The deadline for applications is 31 August 2026.
Apply at Leche Trust: Performing Arts Grants
Museums Galleries Scotland – Repair and Adaptation Fund
Organisations based in Scotland that run an accredited museum can apply now for grants of between £5,000 and £100,000 to undertake capital projects that help build long-term resilience and increase accessibility.
Museums Galleries Scotland is providing the grants to support capital projects that are not possible within the limitations of a museum's core maintenance projects.
Accredited museums can use the grants to tackle urgent repair needs that:
- negatively impact the safety and security of, or access to, collections
- negatively impact visitor experience
- limit the ability of staff and volunteers to carry out work
- create health hazards
Applications are open on the Museums Galleries Scotland website. The deadline to submit an Expression of Interest is 26 August 2026.
Apply at Museums Galleries Scotland: Repair and Adaptation Fund
National Lottery Community Fund – Small Eco Awards
Grants to support grassroots environmental action and community-led projects designed to deliver local environmental and social outcomes.
The awards are intended for projects that meet at least one of the scheme priorities:
- helping people connect with and care for nature in their area
- making a positive difference to the environment
- helping people tackle pollution in their communities
Grants of between £300 and £20,000 are available
Applications are open on the National Lottery Community Fund website. Applications can be made at any time.
Apply at National Lottery Community Fund: Small Eco Awards
NFU Mutual Charitable Trust
Grants for organisations working in agriculture, rural development, and insurance across the UK to deliver projects and activities across one or more of the Trust's main objectives:
- advance the education of the public using research and the dissemination of information concerning agriculture
- advance the education of young people within rural areas
- relieve poverty within rural areas
- promote the benefit and social welfare of inhabitants of rural communities by associating with the inhabitants and local authorities, voluntary and other organisations, to advance education and leisure
- promote research into agricultural-associated activities
- advance the education of the public using research and the dissemination of information concerning insurance
Funding is at the discretion of the Trust. However, most grants fall within the range of £1,000 to £75,000.
Applications are open on the NFU Mutual website. The next deadline for applications is 9 October 2026.
Apply at NFU Mutual Charitable Trust
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 funding is for registered UK registered charities with an annual turnover of between £25,000 and £500,000 that are working to develop communication skills for people, of working age, usually 18+, from disadvantaged groups who want to improve their employment prospects.
Beneficiaries must gain at least one officially recognised and regulated, accredited vocational qualification during or within two months of project completion.
Applications are open on the Thomas Wall Trust website. The deadline for first stage applications is 11 September 2026.
Apply at Thomas Wall Trust
VisitScotland – National Events Programme
VisitScotland is inviting applications for Round 57 of the National Events Programme, offering financial support to cultural and sporting events taking place outside of Glasgow and Edinburgh.
The programme aims to assist events that align with the national events strategy, Scotland the Perfect Stage, and that support domestic tourism within Scotland.Funding awards of between £5,000 and £25,000 are available.
Events must have a delivery budget exceeding £20,000 and attract more than 1,000 in-person attendees.
Eligible activities include innovation to grow the event, marketing and PR, hired equipment to enhance the visitor experience, and initiatives focused on accessibility, inclusion and environmental sustainability.
Round 57 covers events taking place between 1 June 2027 and 30 September 2027.
Applications are now open on the VisitScotland website. The deadline for applications is 5 October 2026.
Apply at VisitScotland: National Events Programme
Woodroffe Benton Foundation – Small Grants Programme
UK registered charities with an annual income of less than £750,000, who have been operating for at least two years, can apply for a one-off grant of between £500 and £2,500 for projects that improve the quality of life and social engagement for people with severe physical and/or learning disabilities within the UK.
This round is focused on projects that support people, particularly those with physical or learning disabilities, to access the natural world and spend time outdoors.
Applications are now open on the Woodroffe Benton Foundation website. The deadline for applications is 31 August 2026.
Apply at Woodroffe Benton Foundation: Small Grants Programme
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 10 August 2026 (PDF 355 KB)
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)
East Ayrshire 4 Community
You can also search for grants and check your eligibility at East Ayrshire 4 Community, which is a free service.