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
Asda Foundation - Young Futures Fund: Healthy Teen Minds
The funding is for community groups across the UK to deliver activities for disadvantaged, vulnerable teenagers (13 years to 18 years), helping to improve mental health and wellbeing, and create positive life opportunities.
Grants of between £500 and £1,000 are available.
The fund is open on the Asda Foundation website.The deadline for applications is 20 January 2026.
Apply Asda Foundation: Young Futures Fund - Healthy Teen Minds
Another Way Women's Foundation
The Foundation supports impactful projects and services with the aim of accelerating gender equality, effecting system change and advancing women’s lives, sustainably, at both an individual and community level.
UK registered charities and other not-for-profit organisations based and working in England and Scotland can apply for either of the following grants:
- Another Way Women's Foundation grants of up to £5,000 are for any type of project, initiative, service aimed at advancing and empowering women, creating positive social change, sustainably impacting communities, or indeed anything that makes the world a brighter and better place for women and girls.
- The '£1000 for 1000 words' grants provide 'seed funding' to kick start things on a project or service aimed at advancing women's lives for the better.
The fund is open on the Another Way Women's Foundation website. The deadline for applications is 31 January 2026
Apply at Another Way Women's Foundation
Big Give - Earth Raise
Big Give’s environmental match funding campaign gives charities the chance to have donations doubled for seven days starting on World Earth Day (22 to 29 April 2026) with an initial funding pot provided by donors such as philanthropists, foundations and businesses.
In order to access the match funding, charities need to apply on the Big Give website where they can select either the 1:1 or Pledge Model of match funding.
Successful charities are awarded a sum of match funding which is ring-fenced for their organisation.
The fund is open on the Big Give website. The deadline for applications is 16 January 2026.
Apply at Big Give: Earth Raise
Future Woodlands Scotland - Urban Forestry Challenge Fund
The Urban Forestry Programme is designed to tackle the lack of trees within urban areas in Scotland. Funded projects aim to enhance biodiversity, promote education, foster community involvement, and create green jobs.
Grants available are:
- small grants of between £2,000 and £20,000
- large grants of between £20,000 and £100,000 for projects running up to three years
Projects seeking more than £20,000 are required to secure match funding.
Funding can be used for tree planting, long-term care and maintenance of woodlands, urban forestry management, and educational or engagement activities. Support is also available for project development, including consultancy, staff time and community engagement.
Applications will be prioritised from areas with the fewest trees, assessed using the Tree Equity Score.
The fund is open on the Future Woodlands Scotland website. The deadline for applications is 23 January 2026.
Apply at Futures Woodlands Trust: Urban Forestry Challenge Fund
Scottish Book Trust - Live Literature Programme
The Scottish Book Trust offers funding to schools, libraries, community groups and not-for-profit organisations based in Scotland to facilitate author visits in their local community.
The Live Literature Programme will cover the £120 of the author's fee plus all author expenses within set guidelines. Organisations must pay a set contribution of £90 plus VAT per author session.
The fund is open on the Scottish Book Trust website. The next deadline for applications is 13 February 2026.
Apply at Scottish Book Trust: Live Literature Programme
Stafford Trust
Grants to support a wide variety of charities across the UK. Typically grants of between £500 and £5,000 are awarded for projects that fall within the following areas:
- child welfare
- medical research and support
- animal welfare
- services for personnel welfare
- sea rescue
- community projects
- overseas support
- adult welfare
Funding can be used for a variety of costs, including capital projects, running costs, and salary support.
The fund is open on the Stafford Trust website. The deadline for applications to be considered at the Autumn 2026 trustee meeting is 30 June 2026.
Three Guineas Trust - Holiday Activity Schemes for Autistic Children and Young People
The programme will be for autistic-specific activity programmes that run in the school holidays in the UK, including sessions for siblings.
Not-for-profit organisations in the UK can apply for grants of up to £15,000 which are usually for part of the costs to run the activity schemes.
The 2026 round will open for expressions of interest on the Three Guineas Trust on 2 February 2026 with a deadline of 13 February 2026.
Apply at Three Guineas Trust: Holiday Activity Schemes for Autistic Children and Young People
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.