Discover Funding Opportunities

East Lothian Educational Trust

The East Lothian Educational Trust provides grants to individuals, groups and clubs for studies or projects of an educational nature. Grants are available to individuals who are residents of the old county of East Lothian for school trips, studies, courses or projects of an educational nature, including scholarships abroad and educational travel. Awards may be subject to means testing and will be the lower of the cost of the trip/course or £1,000. Local organisations can also apply for funding for projects addressing education, sports and the arts primarily to benefit those in financial hardship or other disadvantage, with grants typically ranging from £500 to £2,000.

New Park Educational Trust Grants

The New Park Educational Trust operates by giving grants to organisations and, less frequently, to individuals for the advancement of education for the public benefit. The Trustees support charities working to help the education and development of young people, other organisations which carry out similar functions, and individuals who need assistance with courses. Grants have tended to be for equipment and project costs or for bursaries, with priority given to North East Fife and surrounding areas, though projects throughout Scotland have been supported. Salary costs have rarely been met to date, but could be met in the future for appropriate projects. Applications are reviewed quarterly at meetings held in February, May, August and November.

Whiteside Hill Education and Training Fund

This fund provides bursaries to residents of the Kirkconnel & Kelloholm and Royal Burgh of Sanquhar and District Community Council areas to help them access training and education opportunities that better equip them with the range of skills needed to enter or retain employment. The fund is provided by Whiteside Hill Wind Farm Community Fund. The Whiteside Hill Education & Training Fund is designed to improve the opportunities and livelihoods of people living in Kirkconnel & Kelloholm and Sanquhar & District. Courses leading to formal or recognised qualifications are favoured, though other courses will be considered where applicants can demonstrate how the skills and knowledge gained will realistically support them in securing or retaining work. Awards can cover course fees, study aids and equipment, technical equipment, travel and subsistence costs, accommodation costs, childcare costs, and certain driving lessons. The maximum award for first time applicants is up to £1,500, second time applicants up to £1,000, and further applications up to £500 per year. Courses supported can be on a full-time or part-time basis and may include apprenticeships, SVQs, NCs, HNCs, HNDs, undergraduate degrees, postgraduate qualifications (excluding PhDs), short vocational courses and other courses that meet the fund purpose.

Tannach and District Wind Farm Education & Training Fund

This fund provides bursaries to residents of the Tannach and District Community Councils area in Caithness to help them access training and education opportunities that better equip them with the range of skills needed to enter or retain employment in key sectors of the local economy. The fund is provided from the Tannach and District Wind Farm Trust and aims to improve opportunities and livelihoods of people living in Tannach and District. Awards are made to those seeking to undertake training or education in key sectors including Health and Social Care, Teaching and Education, Food and Drink, Tourism and Customer Services, Culture and Heritage, Communications and IT, Renewables and Energy, STEM, Construction and Trades, and Sea-based industries. Courses leading to formal or recognised qualifications will be favoured, however other courses will also be considered where the applicant can demonstrate how the skills and knowledge gained will realistically support them in securing or retaining work. The fund covers various types of courses including Apprenticeships, SVQs, NCs, HNCs, HNDs, undergraduate degrees, post-graduate qualifications (though not PhDs), and short vocational courses on a full time or part time basis.

Stroupster Wind Farm Education and Training Fund (Dunnet & Canisbay)

This fund provides bursaries to residents of the Dunnet & Canisbay Community Council area of Caithness to help them access training and education opportunities that better equip them with the range of skills needed to enter or retain employment in key sectors of the local economy. The fund is provided from Stroupster Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund and aims to improve opportunities and livelihoods of people living in Dunnet & Canisbay. Awards are made to those seeking to undertake training or education in key sectors including Health and Social Care, Teaching and Education, Food and Drink, Tourism and Customer Services, Culture, Heritage and the Natural Environment, Communications and Information Technology, Renewables, Energy and Climate Change, Engineering, Science, Maths and Technology, Construction and the Trades, and Sea based industries. Courses leading to formal or recognised qualifications are favoured, however other courses will also be considered where the applicant can demonstrate how the skills and knowledge gained will realistically support them in securing or retaining work. Supported courses can include apprenticeships, SVQs, NCs, HNCs, HNDs, undergraduate degrees, post-graduate qualifications (though not PhDs), short vocational courses, and other courses that meet the fund purpose.

RWE Bad á Cheò Wind Farm Education & Training Fund

This fund provides bursaries to residents of the following Community Council areas in Caithness; Watten, Halkirk District, and Lybster, Latheron and Clyth. It helps them access training and education opportunities that better equip them with the range of skills needed to enter or retain employment in key sectors of the local economy. The purpose of the fund is to improve opportunities and livelihoods of people living in these areas. Awards are made to those seeking to undertake training or education in key sectors relevant to the area, including Health and Social Care, Teaching and Education, Food and Drink, Tourism and Customer Services, Culture, Heritage and the Natural Environment, Communications and Information Technology, Renewables, Energy and Climate Change, Engineering, Science, Maths and Technology, Construction and the Trades, and Sea based industries. Courses leading to formal or recognised qualifications will be favoured, however other courses will also be considered where the applicant can demonstrate how the skills and knowledge gained will realistically support them in securing or retaining work. Courses supported can be on a full time or part time basis and may include apprenticeships, Modern Apprenticeships, Foundation Apprenticeships, SVQs, NCs, HNCs, HNDs, undergraduate degrees, post-graduate qualifications (though not PhDs), short vocational courses, and other courses that meet the Fund purpose. Awards are made for costs that are directly related to attending your course or apprenticeship, including course fees, study aids and equipment, tools for trade, travel and subsistence costs, accommodation costs, childcare costs, and driving lessons.

River Avich Hydro Education & Training Fund

This fund provides bursaries for individuals living in Inverinan, Lochavich, Dalavich, or Kilmaha seeking to improve their employability prospects or develop a new career. Awards can support participation in a range of courses, from short non-certificated courses to post-graduate degrees. Started in 2021, the fund is being 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. Bursaries are available for individuals seeking to improve their employability prospects or develop a new career. The fund aims to support local residents in gaining the skills and confidence required to enter or retain employment in sectors including management of natural resources, STEMD, construction, tourism, hospitality, food and drink, rural development, health and social care, education, creative industries, and other sectors generating benefits for the local community. Bursaries can support a wide range of courses, full or part-time, including driving lessons/tests, Modern Apprenticeships, Foundation Apprenticeships, NC, HNC, HND, undergraduate degrees, postgraduate qualifications (but not PhDs), and short vocational courses. Bursaries can cover travel, subsistence, childcare, driving lessons and tests, study aids, technical aids/equipment, course fees not already being paid for from elsewhere, and accommodation costs.

Patna Education & Training Fund

The Patna Education & Training Fund provides grants of up to £1,500 to help local people aged 16 or over to take up and progress through education and training courses, to increase their skills and enable access to a wider range of further training or employment opportunities. It helps people overcome financial barriers that might otherwise prevent them from starting, completing, or participating fully in courses. The fund is made available by the owners of the South Kyle Wind Farm to improve opportunities and livelihoods for people living in Patna. Participation in a wide range of courses can be funded (full or part-time), including Modern Apprenticeships, Foundation Apprenticeships, NC, HNC, HND, undergraduate degrees, postgraduate qualifications (though not PhDs), and short vocational courses. Funding can be used to cover course fees where these cannot be met from other sources and support costs such as study aids, equipment and accommodation. The fund can also support travel, subsistence or childcare to enable attendance. Awards can support costs that are directly related to attending your course or apprenticeship, including course fees, study aids and equipment (e.g., laptops, software, and stationery), technical aids/equipment (e.g., specialist clothing relating to the course, tools, and other specialist equipment) capped at £700, and travel and subsistence costs at a flat rate of £15 per day.

Old Luce Education and Training Fund

This fund provides bursaries to residents of the Old Luce Community Council area to help them access training and education opportunities that better equip them with the range of skills needed to enter or retain employment. The purpose is to improve the opportunities and livelihoods of people living in Old Luce. Priority is given to courses leading to formal or recognised qualifications, though other courses will be considered where applicants can demonstrate how the skills and knowledge gained will realistically support securing or retaining employment. Participation in a wide range of courses can be funded including Modern Apprenticeships, HGV Licence Training, Foundation Apprenticeships, HNC, HND, undergraduate degrees and post-graduate qualifications (though not PhDs). Awards can cover course fees, study aids and equipment, technical aids, travel costs, accommodation costs, and driving lessons with practical and theory tests.

Nadara Westfield Wind Farm Community Fund (Kinglassie) Education & Training Fund

The Nadara Westfield Wind Farm Community Fund (Kinglassie) Education & Training Fund supports residents of any age living in the Kinglassie Community Council area to take up vocational training and educational courses. The fund is provided by Westfield Wind Farm Limited (WWFL) the owner and operator of the Westfield Wind Farm in Fife. The fund provides grants to help local people take up vocational education and training courses to increase their skills and enable access to a wider range of employment opportunities. In recognition of the financial and practical challenges that can make it more difficult for people in Kinglassie to take up courses, funding can be used to cover part or all of a course fee, travel costs, essential equipment such as books or IT equipment, childcare and subsistence. The Kinglassie Education & Training Fund began as a one-year pilot in 2023, and will now run continuously with up to £10,000 available each year to support local people aged 16 and over take up education and training opportunities. The annual amount available will be reviewed periodically but could continue for the wind farm's operating lifetime, which is expected to be until 2039.

Nadara Gordonstown Wind Farm Education & Training Fund (Auchterless, Inverkeithny & Fisherford)

This fund provides educational and training bursaries for individuals living in the Auchterless, Inverkeithny & Fisherford Community Council areas seeking to improve their employability prospects or develop a new career. Awards can support participation in a range of courses, from short courses to postgraduate degrees. The fund aims to support residents in gaining the skills and confidence they need to improve their employability prospects or develop a new career, and is not limited to education or training in support of any specific industry or economic sector. Awards can support participation in a wide range of courses, either vocational or professional, and full-time or part-time. Applications to support courses leading to formal qualifications will be favoured over informal courses. Examples of formal qualifications include SVQs, NCs, HNCs, HNDs, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. The chosen course may be provided anywhere in the UK. Driving lessons may also be supported. The fund is part of the Gordonstown Wind Farm Community Fund, provided by Nadara, the owner of Gordonstown Hill Wind Farm in Aberdeenshire. Multi-year grants can be awarded to support, for example, HNDs or degree courses.

Middle Balbeggie Wind Farm Education & Training Fund

The Middle Balbeggie Wind Farm Education & Training Fund (MBET Fund) supports residents living in the Thornton Community Council area in Fife who have started or wish to engage in study or training. The fund began in 2017, and is provided by Middle Balbeggie Wind Limited, managed by Netro Energy on behalf of Alpha Real Capital. The fund provides grants to help local people aged 16 or over to take up and progress through education and training courses (including apprenticeships), to increase their skills and enable access to a wider range of further training or employment opportunities. It helps people to overcome financial barriers which might otherwise prevent them from starting, completing or participating fully in courses. Funding can be used to cover part or all of course fees, travel costs, essential equipment such as books or IT equipment, childcare and subsistence. The fund has been operating for the wind farm's lifetime, which is expected to be 25 years, and has awarded over £40,000 in 2023 alone.

Langhope Rig Wind Farm Education & Training Fund (Sub Fund A)

This Fund provides bursaries to residents of Ettrick & Yarrow, Lilliesleaf, Ashkirk & Midlem and Upper Teviotdale & Borthwick Water Community Council areas to help them access training and education opportunities that better equip them with the range of skills needed to enter or retain employment. The purpose of the fund is to improve the opportunities and livelihoods of people living in these Scottish Borders communities. Courses leading to formal or recognised qualifications are favored, including apprenticeships, Modern Apprenticeships, Foundation Apprenticeships, SVQs, NCs, HNCs, HNDs, short vocational courses, and many other courses. Awards can cover costs directly related to attending courses or apprenticeships, including course fees, study aids and equipment, technical aids/equipment, travel and subsistence costs, accommodation costs, childcare costs, and driving lessons and tests. The fund is provided from Langhope Rig Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund and operates on a rolling basis.

Kirkcowan Education & Training Fund

Kirkcowan Community Development Trust offers Education and Training Grants to residents of the Kirkcowan Community Council Area in Dumfries and Galloway. The fund provides grants up to £2,000 per individual to support educational opportunities including university/college courses and short accredited training courses. The Trust is committed to encouraging and supporting people who wish to study at university/college or to undertake short courses which can provide them with new skills and increased job prospects. By investing in educational opportunities, the Trust seeks to support the community of Kirkcowan to develop new skills and to seek new opportunities. Awards can support various costs directly related to attending courses or apprenticeships, including course fees, study aids and equipment, travel and subsistence costs, accommodation costs, and childcare costs. The fund also offers specific Driving Test Grants recognizing that the ability to drive is a significant factor in reaching employment, education and training opportunities in this rural community. The scheme is open to permanent residents aged 16 and over within the Kirkcowan Community Council Area.