Discover Funding Opportunities

Community Assets Knowledge Exchange grant

The Community Assets Knowledge Exchange grant provides financial support to community organisations in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. This grant program supports training and learning activities specifically related to the ownership and management of community assets including land and buildings. Organisations can apply for grants of up to £2,000 to fund training and learning needs associated with owning or wishing to own land or buildings in the Highlands and Islands. The program is administered by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and requires applicants to be constituted community organisations operating in the Highlands and Islands region. This funding opportunity supports community asset development by building the capacity and knowledge of local organisations managing community-owned assets.

Stroupster Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund

This fund supports a wide range of charitable activity and development that principally benefit the residents of the Dunnet & Canisbay Community Council area in Caithness, Scotland. The fund is provided by Schroders Greencoat, owner of Stroupster Wind Farm, with a donation of £149,500 per year (index-linked) being made to the fund for the wind farm's operational lifetime. The fund provides grants to support charitable activities focused on seven key areas: improving or giving better access to communications and transport; improving community assets and facilities; providing opportunities for young people; providing support and opportunities for older people; promoting enterprise and tourism; improving the natural environment and access to it; and improving or giving better access to culture and heritage. Approximately 20% of the fund is available for projects or services located outside the Dunnet & Canisbay area, provided there is clear and evidenced benefit to residents of that community. Grants are awarded up to £25,000 per project, with larger amounts considered on a case-by-case basis for transformational projects.

River Avich Hydro Open Grants Fund

This fund provides grants for charitable projects and activities that primarily benefit residents of Inverinan, Lochavich, Dalavich, or Kilmaha. It's part of the overall River Avich Hydro Community Benefit Fund. Started in 2021, the fund is provided by Awesome Energy Dalriada (AED), owner and operator of the River Avich Hydro-power Scheme. AED is a community benefit society set up and run by the local community to develop and operate the hydro scheme. The fund supports charitable activity that delivers on strategic themes set out in the Dalavich Improvement Group Community Action Plan, including Housing Development, Community Assets, Young People, Arts and Heritage, Transport Solutions, Environmental Projects, Economic Initiatives, and Health and Wellbeing Services. Awards can support a wide range of costs and activities, including equipment costs, staff or sessional worker costs, consultations and feasibility studies, and repair or refurbishment of community facilities. There is no fixed amount of funding available in any year; the amount available is decided in June each year by Dalavich Improvement Group and is dependent on AED's profitability and other financial commitments.

Nadara Glenkerie Wind Farm Community Fund

The Nadara Glenkerie Wind Farm Community Fund supports community projects benefiting those living within 15km of the Glenkerie Wind Farm in Scottish Borders and South Lanarkshire. The fund began in 2014 and provides an annual amount of at least £57,200 per year, rising in line with inflation, for the operating life of the wind farm which is expected to be 25 years. The overall aims are to support activity which will sustain and develop the life of the community and ensure that the area is an attractive and vibrant place to live, work and visit. Grant sizes range from small grants (£250-£2,000), medium grants (£2,001-£10,000), to large grants (over £10,001 to £15,000, with awards over £15,000 only in exceptional circumstances). Priority is given to applications from communities within 10km of the wind farm including Tweedsmuir, Broughton, Drumelzier and Coulter, though other communities within the 15km radius are eligible including Stobo, Biggar, Symington, Roberton, Lamington, Wiston and Skirling.

Minnygap Community Fund

The Minnygap Community Fund supports community projects benefitting those living within the Johnstone, Templand, and Kirkpatrick Juxta community council areas, including the villages of Johnstonebridge, Templand, and Beattock in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The fund is provided by Minnygap Energy Ltd, owner of the Minnygap Wind Farm, and the Johnstonebridge Community Centre & Development Trust (JCCDT). Since opening in 2018, the fund provides £50,000 annually, rising with inflation, for the operating life of the wind farm. The fund provides grants to support charitable activities that enhance quality of life for local residents, contribute to vibrant and sustainable communities, promote community spirit, support sustainable community assets including capital assets and community enterprises, provide safe places to live, help people into work, and improve local transport. Grant requests for equipment costs, running costs for local groups, staff or sessional worker costs, consultations, and maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities are considered. Grants are available in three tiers: small grants (£1-£600), standard grants (£601-£5,000), and large grants (£5,001-£12,000). Standard and large grants may be multi-year in nature, up to £12,000 per year over three years. A community panel of local residents makes recommendations on grant awards, meeting twice a year in January and July. The fund prioritizes applications that demonstrate match funding, use local procurement, show sustainability plans, build local capacity, and involve partnership working.

Langhope Rig Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund

The Langhope Rig Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund is provided by Greencoat UK Wind, the owners of the Langhope Rig Wind Farm located near Hawick in the Scottish Borders. An annual amount of £80,000, rising in line with inflation, is paid into the fund for the operating life of the wind farm. In 2025, the annual contribution to the fund was just over £118,000. The fund comprises two sub-funds, with Sub-fund A being a single joint fund that supports groups and organisations delivering projects and services across three community council areas. The fund provides grants to support charitable activities that encourage community activity and promote community spirit, ensure adequate access to services for all community members, improve local transport infrastructure, build the local economy, build community capacity and cohesion between groups, and develop or maintain community assets. Grant requests to support a wide range of costs and activities will be considered, including equipment costs, running costs for local groups, staff or sessional worker costs, consultations, and maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities.