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
Ayrshire360 - Summer of Sport Grant Scheme
The Summer of Sport 2026 Grant Scheme will support and enable clubs and organisations to provide opportunities for children and young people in East Ayrshire (ages 3–26) to get active, stay active, remain active and improve their lives.
Activities should be free, targeted or offered at a reduced cost to maximise engagement and address barriers to participation. Funding is for activity delivered from June 2026 to March 2027.
The following are eligible to apply:
- sports club or organisations providing sport, physical activity or outdoor adventure experiences and opportunities in East Ayrshire
- sports clubs or organisations working with children and young people in East Ayrshire (ages 3–26)
- sports clubs or organisations who are affiliated to East Ayrshire Sports Council or East Ayrshire Youth Work Network
- sports clubs or organisations who are not affiliated members can do so by emailing CommunityPathways@ayrshire360.com and you will be supported by the appropriate staff member.
Grants of up to £7500 are available.
The fund is open on the Ayrshire360 website. The first deadline for applications is 19 June 2026.
Apply at Ayrshire360: Summer of Sport Grant Scheme
Bòrd na Gàidhlig – Early Years Fund
The fund supports voluntary and third sector early years groups in Scotland delivering Gaelic sessions for children aged 0 to 3.
The grant aims to help groups provide sustained access to Gaelic early years provision, increase progression into Gaelic-medium learning at key transition stages and improve awareness among families of bilingualism and Gaelic-medium education. It also seeks to help parents access resources and opportunities to support Gaelic use with children at home and in the community.
Two levels of support are available, depending on how often sessions are delivered. Groups running one session per week can apply for up to £4,000. Groups delivering more than one session per week can apply for up to £15,000.
The fund is open on the Bòrd na Gàidhlig website. The deadline for applications is 30 June 2026.
Apply at Bord na Gaidhlig: Early Years Fund
Cellnex - Community Fund
Grants of up to £5,000 for charities, charitable incorporated organisations, and other not-for-profit organisations across the UK to deliver community projects that empower people, enhance local environments, and promote digital and technological inclusion.Applications can be submitted at any time.
The fund is open on the Cellnex website. Applications can be submitted at any time.
Apply at Cellnex: Community Fund
Henry Moore Foundation
Grants are available for not-for-profit organisations for projects and activities that promote the growth and development of sculpture across historical, modern, and contemporary registers, and research that expands the appreciation of sculpture.
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: Long-term grants of up to £20,000 for projects that require funding for more than one year, such as a permanent collection catalogue and 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. The next deadline for applications is 1 June 2026
The fund is open on the Henry Moore Foundation website. The next deadline for applications is 1 June 2026.
Apply at Henry Moore Foundation
Henry Smith Foundation - Proud Homes Fund
This fund offers long-term development grants to generalist homelessness organisations across the UK to embed safe, culturally competent and affirming practice for LGBT+ young people. In this context, generalist refers to services that are not exclusively specialist LGBT+ provision but support a broader group of young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
The Foundation anticipates awarding eight grants of £50,000 per year for four years, totalling £200,000 per organisation.Grants are restricted to improving the experiences of LGBT+ young people, while allowing organisations to strengthen the infrastructure needed to deliver sustainable work.
Eligible costs can include core running expenses such as rent, utilities and staff salaries, as well as staff wellbeing. The first year of support may also cover research and scoping activity to develop understanding of the issues LGBT+ young people face, alongside planning and set-up costs.The deadline for Expressions of Interest is 3 June 2026.
The fund is open on the Henry Smith Foundation website. The deadline for Expressions of Interest is 3 June 2026.
Material Focus - Electricals Recycling Fund
Established community sector organisations based in the UK such as registered charities and local authorities, can apply for grants of up to £100,000 for pilot projects taking place for one year.
The funding should be used for the expansion or introduction of a new project that could not have happened without the funding, rather than core operational costs.
The 2026-27 round is for the following proposed pilots:
- bring banks
- bring bank refurbishments
- community drop off points
- drop off events if part of a bigger, longer term pilot
- reuse if part of a larger recycling pilot
The fund is open on the Material Focus website. The deadline for applications is 31 May 2026.
Apply at Material Focus: Electricals Recycling Fund
Museums Galleries Scotland
The funding is intended to support and transform the way museums and galleries operate by enabling them to collaborate and test new ways of working. This investment aims to drive positive, strategic change, ensuring that museums and galleries can continue to enrich local communities.
The following programmes are now accepting applications for 2026-27:
- Innovation Fund: Grants of up to £250,000 are available to address barriers to strategic development.
- Unlocking Potential Fund: Grants of up to £100,000 are available to support museums in developing, trialling, and implementing activities that directly improve their financial position.
The fund is open on the Museums Galleries Scotland website. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until 20 January 2027 or earlier if funding is fully allocated.
Apply at Museums Galleries Scotland
NatureScot - Future Routes Fund
Funding is for projects that are run by and help young people (aged 11 to 26 years):
- connect with nature
- contribute positively to Scotland's natural environment and landscapes
- increase their knowledge and understanding of Scottish biodiversity and empower them to take positive action for nature and the climate
Two levels of funding are available:
- grants of between £500 and £2,000 are available to individuals
- grants of between £1,000 and £5,000 are available to groups
The fund is open on the NatureScot website. The deadline for applications is 19 June 2026.
Apply at NatureScot: Futures Routes Fund
Pilgrim Trust - Young Women In Mind 2026-2028
This fund supports registered charities delivering high quality services specifically designed to respond to the needs of young women (aged 14 to 25 years) experiencing mental health difficulties.
It is anticipated that the support will enable the young woman to thrive and fulfil her potential.
Funding is available to:
- scale or expand an existing, high-quality, targeted mental health service for young women and girls
- strengthen or adapt current provision to better meet young women's mental health needs
Grants of between £200,000 and £500,000, spread over a period of three years, are available.
To be eligible, applicants must be either a mental health charity or a women and girls' charity. The organisation must have been in operation for at least three years.
The fund is open on the Pilgrim Trust website. The deadline for Stage One applications is 22 June 2026.
Apply at Pilgrim Trust: Young Women In Mind 2026-2028
Radcliffe Trust
Grants for charities, not-for-profit groups, and exempt organisations across the UK to support projects in the areas of music, heritage, and crafts.
Heritage and Crafts 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.The next deadline for applications is 31 July 2026.
The fund is open on the Radcliffe Trust website. The next deadline for applications is 31 July 2026.
Apply at Radcliffe Trust
Rosa – Stand With Us Fund
The fund aims to achieve the following outcomes:
- women and girls will be supported by organisations delivering frontline services to end male violence against women and girls, ensuring women and girls can be safe, healthy and equal
- women and girls organisations will be empowered and strengthened, meaning that they will be in a stronger position to survive, thrive and grow into the future
The fund is open on the Rosa website. The deadline for applications is 22 June 2026.
Apply at Rosa: Stand With Us Fund
The National Archives – Archives Revealed Scoping Grants
Grants of up to £3,000 are available to public sector bodies, registered charities and other not-for-profit organisations in the UK to help analyse collections, supporting development of future plans for cataloguing priorities and projects.
The funding is for consultancy services, to enable the scoping of collections. The programme funds an expert report, to assess significant and unknown collections that may be of public value.
The fund is open on the The National Archives website. The deadline for applications is 18 June 2026.
Apply at The National Archives: Archives Revealed Scoping Grants
The Tree Council – Branching Out Fund
Grants of between £250 and £2,500 for schools, constituted community groups and charities, community interest companies, Tree Warden networks, and other organisations across the UK to deliver tree-planting projects during the 2026-27 Winter planting season.
The fund is open on The Tree Council website. The deadline for applications is 19 July 2026.
Apply at The Tree Council: Branching Out Fund
The Tree Council - Network Rail Community Tree Planting Fund
Grants of between £2,500 and £10,000 for local authorities, charities, community groups, educational institutions, and landowners across England, Scotland, and Wales, to deliver well-planned tree-planting projects that directly benefit people and communities.
The fund is open on The Tree Council website. The deadline for applications is 1 July 2026.
Apply at The Tree Council: Branching Out 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
CIT Funding Alert 25 May 2026 (PDF 357 KB)
CIT Funding Alert 12 May 2026 (PDF 337 KB)
CIT Funding Alert 20 April 2026 (PDF 243 KB)
CIT Funding Alert 31 March 2026 (PDF 243 KB)
CIT Funding Alert 20 March 2026 (PDF 225 KB)
CIT Funding Alert 6 March 2026 (PDF 185 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.