Discover Funding Opportunities

Veterans' Foundation Major Grants Programme 2025

The Veterans' Foundation has established a Major Grants programme to support charities and eligible organisations that provide support to those in need among serving armed forces personnel, veterans, operationally qualified seafarers and their immediate families. The grants are designed to enable major change or progress in the organisation, with priority given to charities and organisations directly involved in provision of support to those in need. Major Grants range between £100,000 and £200,000 and can be for one year or a multi-year grant for up to three years. The programme prioritises applications that deliver meaningful impact and outcomes for the Armed Forces Community in need across areas including health and wellbeing, mental health support, unemployment and education support, homelessness and housing assistance, and tackling disadvantage and other aspects of service life. Successful organisations must demonstrate proven track records and that funding will deliver clear beneficial impact, such as expanding services, increasing regional footprint, or growing the number of beneficiaries served.

Recovery Seed Fund

The Scottish Recovery Consortium (SRC) Recovery Seed Fund aims to support new and unconstituted Lived Experience recovery groups and organisations with an initial award of up to £5,000 to support start-up and running costs. The fund is designed to develop and support substance and/or behaviour Lived Experience recovery organisations to trial, grow and develop their ideas, services or products and build organisational capacity. Additional support will also be provided to help these groups and organisations become sustainable, skilled and independent. This is a fantastic opportunity for those wanting to take their group to the next level so they can continue supporting recovery in their community. Applicants must be substance and/or behaviour Lived Experience Recovery Organisations or voluntary groups (LERO) that have autonomy or independence, are led by understanding, knowledgeable staff or volunteers, with people of lived experience of recovery running the group. The organisation or group must be less than 12 months old or unconstituted if active for longer, have an income of less than £30,000 per year, and deliver activities in Scotland.

The Gateway Exchange Fund

This fund was created to continue the work of the original Gateway Exchange - a centre in Edinburgh which in the 1980s offered help and support to those returning to the community from prisons and mental health institutions or recovering from drug addiction. The emphasis was on recognising that each individual has potential. This was encouraged particularly through use of the arts and creative self-expression, also through building a strong and connected sense of community. The Gateway Exchange Fund seeks applications which are in line with this spirit of creating innovative solutions to situations which challenge the individual's sense of worth and identity. This fund will support activity across Scotland that empowers people to move on with their lives and fulfil their potential, where they would otherwise not have the opportunity. Priority will be given to projects which help prisoners or ex-prisoners, projects which help those in recovery from drug addiction, and projects supporting women and men recovering from sexual abuse. The Fund usually makes around 2-4 grant awards per year.