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.
Stay connected
Sign up to StayConnected to receive regular funding alert bulletins straight to your mailbox. It offers you a list of subjects which you can add to, or unsubscribe from, at any time.
It's a free subscription-only service and it's easy to sign up. You just need a username and email address.
Latest funding alerts
Ayrshire Rural and Islands Ambition Fund
The aim is to help rural areas thrive by supporting initiatives that strengthen local economies, enhance community life and protect the natural environment.
ARIA funding is typically used to:
- develop community facilities and services
- grow rural enterprises and create local jobs
- support tourism, heritage and cultural initiatives
- improve access to local services and opportunities
- encourage climate action, sustainability and nature recovery
- deliver skills development and community-led projects
Both the Main Fund and Community Asset Maintenance Fund are now open for Expressions of Interest. Please note that an EOI must be submitted prior to a full application.
Applicants can request £5,000 - £50,000 from the Main Fund. For the Community Asset Maintenance Fund grants of up to £9,000 are available for listed buildings, and up to £7,000 for non-listed buildings.
This includes:
- a property condition register: up to £7,000 for listed/specialist buildings or £5,000 for non-listed buildings; and
- a £2,000 sinking fund to assist with future repairs and maintenance
The fund is open on the Ayrshire Rural and Islands Ambition Fund website. The deadline for Expressions of Interest is 22 May 2026.
Apply at Ayrshire Rural Islands and Ambition Fund
ASDA Foundation - Local Community Spaces Fund
ASDA Foundation provides the Local Community Spaces Fund for:
- repair and maintenance: to ensure facilities remains safe and functional
- expansion and improvement: to enhance or adapt spaces for the benefit of local people
Applications are accepted from registered charities, Community Benefit Societies or Community Interest Companies registered with the relevant authority for over three years. Groups must have an annual income between £40,000 and £400,000.
Community spaces, youth centres and facilities that support the most vulnerable in areas of high deprivation (such as homeless shelters, food banks, dementia and elderly support, community cafes) are eligible for support.
Grants from £10,000 to £20,000 are available to wholly fund the project. Applicants can contribute up to £20,000 of their own funds to the project if preferred, but should demonstrate these funds are in place at the time of application.
The fund is open on the Asda Foundation website. The deadline for applications is 28 April 2026.
Apply at ASDA Foundation: Local Community Spaces Fund
D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust
The funding is intended for projects in the performing arts, creative health and heritage crafts that align with the Trust's objectives.
Grants typically range from £500 to £8,000. Unrestricted support is available for charities with an annual income below £250,000. Eligible applicants must be UK registered or regulated exempt charities working for the benefit of UK residents.
The fund is open on the D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust website. The deadline for applications is 8 May 2026 for large charities and 1 June 2026 for small charities.
Apply at D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust
National Archives - Community Hub Project Grants
Grants of up to £30,000 to support collaborative partnerships between GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums), Heritage, and community organisations, to deliver co-designed and community-led projects and activities that create meaningful changes and strengthen the relationship between GLAM or heritage organisations and the communities they serve.
Community Hub Project Grants will support in-depth research, skills development, and the creation of long-lasting resources that reflect diverse voices and experiences.
The fund is open on the National Archives website. The deadline for applications is 12 June 2026.
Apply at National Archives: Community Hub Project Grants
Parks4Life - Community Fund
Grants of between £500 and £1,500 are now available to constituted community and friends’ groups that are working to enhance parks and greenspaces in Scotland.
Funding can be used for a range of costs, including events, skills training for volunteers, or small planting schemes
Priority will be given to the following:
- projects that aim to ‘activate’ the park through events
- promoting the work of the community and friends’ group and the role of the park or greenspace
- purchase of tools and materials that will help the group
- groups where their park or greenspace is in an area that scores highly on the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD), particularly those in the 20% of most deprived areas
It is anticipated that projects will be delivered within six months of a grant offer being accepted.
The fund is open on the Parks4Life website hosted by Greenspace Scotland.The deadline for applications is 1 May 2026
TRACS - Traditional Arts and Culture Fund
The Traditional Arts and Culture Fund is supported by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland and delivered by TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland), the national network for traditional arts in Scotland.
TRACS works to promote, develop, and sustain traditional music, song, storytelling, dance and crafts across the country, supporting artists, communities, and organisations at all levels.
Applications to the Traditional Arts and Culture Fund are welcome from both organisations and individuals. The fund is designed to support traditional artists and organisations to create, perform, tour, and showcase work, as well as to develop professional skills and learning opportunities.
The fund offers small grants of up to £1,200 and does not support the purchase of equipment, nor can it be used to match other Creative Scotland funding.
The fund is open on the TRACS website. The deadline for applications is 11 May 2026.
Apply at TRACS: Traditional Arts and Culture Fund
Volunteering Matters - Action Earth
Grants of between £50 and £250 for volunteer groups across Scotland to respond to the ongoing nature and climate crises and support practical outdoor activities in local communities.
Groups can apply for funding to make environmental improvements to urban green spaces, such as planting projects or wildlife habitat creation.Applications will be accepted until all the funding has been awarded.
The fund is open on the Volunteering Matters website. Applications will be accepted until all the funding has been awarded.
Apply at Volunteering Matters: Action Earth
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 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)
CIT Funding Alert 20 February 2026 (PDF 215 KB)
CIT Funding Alert 6 February 2026 (PDF 201 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.