Discover Funding Opportunities

Heritage & Place Programme

The Heritage & Place Programme (H&PP) is an area-based funding programme that aims to contribute to the development of vibrant and sustainable places in Scotland, through community-led regeneration of the historic environment. It supports the development and delivery of heritage focused schemes within conservation areas, or alternatively distinctive heritage areas with local authority recognition. The programme consists of a two-stage application process with an initial Historic Environment Scotland (HES) match funded Development Phase followed by a Delivery Phase. The Development Phase supports costs of appointing staff and consultants to carry out development activities including undertaking local skills and materials audits, community engagement activities, and historic asset condition surveys. The Delivery Phase supports a range of projects and activities including repair and resilience capital projects involving the reuse of historic environment assets, traditional skills training and materials activities targeting local needs, community heritage activities, and a management and maintenance strategy to help build capacity within communities to value and look after the historic environment for the longer term. Successful Heritage & Place schemes are based upon the formation of Area Partnerships of local, regional, and national interests with a shared vision for the place, and community participation is integral to the design and delivery of the scheme.

CARES Community Solar Fund

The Scottish Government's Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) is supporting community and faith organisations to install solar PV and battery storage in their buildings. This is a short-term pilot, funded by the Scottish Government and Great British Energy, with funds needing to be spent and claimed by 31 March 2026. Demand is expected to be high for this funding, with many communities already in a position to mobilise projects very quickly. Funding will be allocated on a first come first served basis. The fund provides up to 80% of eligible costs with a maximum grant amount of £80,000 to help decarbonise existing self-managed community buildings. Eligible community buildings include village halls, community centres, community hubs, sports facilities, and faith buildings. To be able to install within the pilot timescale, easier installation projects will be more suited to this funding, particularly those under 50kW of solar PV, on easily accessible roofs, and not in conservation areas or curtilage of listed buildings.

Dingwall Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme

This grant program supports the regeneration of the Dingwall conservation area through the restoration of historic properties along the High Street. The scheme provides funding for eligible works on both shopfronts and building restoration to preserve and enhance the historic character of the area. Properties must be located within the designated CARS boundary and contribute to the historic character of the conservation area. Only external and some structural works qualify for grant assistance under this program.