Discover Funding Opportunities

Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)

The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) provides financial support to young people aged 16 to 19 who want to continue their education. The allowance is designed to help students stay in learning by providing weekly financial assistance. Students receive £30 per week during the academic year, provided they meet their agreed attendance requirements as outlined in their learning agreement or action plan. Each academic year, students must apply to their local council or college for EMA and complete a learning agreement. Payment is conditional upon meeting the attendance requirements specified in the learning agreement.

Private Water Supply Grant

The Private Water Supply Grant provides up to £800 per property to improve private water supplies in Scotland. The grant can be used to make improvements such as installing treatment systems, replacing lead pipes, and putting in new water tanks. The program is administered by local councils on behalf of Scottish Ministers. To be eligible, the private water supply must be the main or sole source of drinking water and must need improvement to make it safe. Local councils may provide additional funding for applicants with low incomes. The grant cannot be used for ongoing maintenance costs or to connect to the mains water network.

Whiteside Hill Wind Farm Community Fund

The Whiteside Hill Wind Farm Community Fund supports community projects benefiting those living in areas covered by the community councils of Kirkconnel and Kelloholm and the Royal Burgh of Sanquhar and District. This fund is provided by Netro Energy, which manages the Whiteside Hill Wind Farm. An annual amount of at least £135,000 per year, rising in line with inflation, will be paid into the fund for the operating life of the wind farm, which is expected to be 25 years. The fund opened in 2018. The fund prioritizes projects that contribute to Upper Nithsdale Community Trust priorities, including services and projects delivering economic benefits such as events, festivals, arts, employability activities, and tourism-related projects; activities demonstrating community benefits and building community capacity such as community-managed services, civic pride and environmental projects; and services addressing the needs of disadvantaged groups through early intervention, including young people and aging population engagement. Grant requests support a wide range of costs and activities including equipment costs, running costs for local groups, staff or sessional worker costs, consultations, and maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities. Multi-year awards for a maximum of three years may be applied for. Applications are prioritized when they enhance or are additional to normal service provision, demonstrate community consultation, and show evidence of working in partnership with other organisations.

Vattenfall Clashindarroch Wind Farm Community Fund

The Vattenfall Clashindarroch Wind Farm Community Fund supports charitable projects benefiting those living in the areas served by the community councils of Huntly, Strathbogie and Tap o'Noth and the area served by Cabrach Community Association. The fund receives an annual donation of £288,000 (2025) from Vattenfall, the wind farm developer, rising in line with the Retail Price Index, for the operating lifetime of the wind farm. The overall purpose is to support positive change by investing in a wide range of community-led activities that are strategic, creative and help create lasting impact. The fund prioritizes projects that improve community services and facilities, increase participation in culture and recreation, preserve the natural environment, promote rural regeneration including sustainable transport and business development, and celebrate the area's cultural and historic heritage. Grants can support equipment, running costs, consultations, staff salaries related to project delivery, and maintenance of community facilities. In addition to the main fund, there are two thematic schemes: Volunteer Development Bursaries offering up to £500 to individuals for volunteer training and skills development, and School Transport Grants totaling £7,000 annually for swimming lessons transport costs.

The Cour Community Benefit Fund

The Cour Community Benefit Fund supports community projects benefitting those living in the three community council areas of East Kintyre, West Kintyre and Tarbert and Skipness. The fund is provided by Cour Wind Farm Ltd, the company which owns and operates the Cour wind farm on the Kintyre peninsula. An annual payment of £102,500 is available for the operational life of the wind farm which is currently expected to be up to 25 years from when it started operating in 2019. The Fund provides grants to support activities that benefit the communities of East Kintyre, West Kintyre and Tarbert and Skipness. Grants may support a wide range of costs, for example, the costs of equipment, staff or sessional workers, consultations, running costs for local groups, maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities, and so on. The Fund is devolved to three community Trusts each of which serves one of the three areas noted above. Community groups and organisations working to benefit people in the area served by each Trust are eligible to apply. They do not need to be a registered charity but the activity or project they are requesting funding for must be for community benefit. Applications from groups or organisations located outside the area of each Trust may be considered on a case-by-case basis if they demonstrate clear benefit and demand from residents within the community.

RWE Lochelbank Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund

The RWE Lochelbank Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund supports community projects benefiting those living in the Glenfarg or Earn Community Council areas in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. This Fund is provided by RWE, the owner of Lochelbank Wind Farm in Perthshire. The Fund opened in 2011, with an annual contribution of £20,000 rising with inflation, expected to be approximately £33,000 in 2026. The Fund provides grants to support charitable activities that enhance quality of life for local residents, contribute to vibrant, healthy, successful and sustainable communities, and promote community spirit and encourage community activity. Grants may support a wide range of costs including equipment, staff or sessional workers, consultations, running costs for local groups, maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities and more. Grants in excess of the maximum and multi-year requests (up to 3 years) can be considered in exceptional circumstances with strong community support and significant impact potential.

Plains Community Fund

The Plains Community Fund is a long-term funding initiative for the Plains community in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, established through the Greengairs East wind farm. The fund is expected to operate for approximately 30 years, with over £30,000 available for distribution each year. Grants of between £500 and £1,500 are available to support charitable activities that contribute to improved physical and mental health, reduced isolation or loneliness, increased access to education and employment, improvements to the local environment, or reduced food or fuel poverty. The fund supports community groups and organizations working to benefit people in Plains, with grants available for a wide range of costs including equipment, staff or sessional workers, consultations, running costs, and maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities. Decisions are made by a Community Panel of local residents twice per year.

Pinwherry and Pinmore Community Fund

The Pinwherry and Pinmore Community Fund is funded by SSE community benefit funding from the Hadyard Hill wind farm in South Ayrshire and Nadara from its Assel Valley wind farm also in South Ayrshire. The fund supports projects located within or directly benefiting the community area of Pinwherry and Pinmore. The fund supports a wide range of costs and activities including equipment costs, running costs for local groups, staff or sessional worker costs, consultations, maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities, and other community benefit projects. Funds are available on a rolling basis throughout the year, with applications accepted at any time. The usual timescale for award decisions is 6-8 weeks, though groups must apply a minimum of 4 weeks before their proposed project start date. The fund offers standard grants between £500 and £10,000, and large grants over £10,000 and up to £25,000, though grants of over £25,000 may be considered. Decisions are made by the Pinwherry and Pinmore Community Fund Advisory Panel, which comprises people who live in the area and includes members appointed by Pinwherry and Pinmore Community Council.

Patna Community Fund

The Patna Community Fund distributes funds provided by Greencoat from the South Kyle Wind Farm to support community-led charitable activities that support the regeneration and sustainability of Patna. Main grants from the fund can support projects located within or directly benefiting people in the Patna Community Council area. Groups can apply for grants of between £500 and £10,000. Awards can support a wide range of costs and activities including equipment costs, running costs for local groups, staff or sessional worker costs, consultations, maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities. The fund has no deadlines, and groups can apply at any time. Decisions are made by a community panel made up of people who live in Patna.

Nadara Westfield Wind Farm Community Fund (Kinglassie)

The Nadara Westfield Wind Farm Community Fund (Kinglassie) supports community projects benefitting those living in the Kinglassie Community Council area. The fund is provided by Westfield Wind Farm Limited (WWFL), the owner and operator of the Westfield Wind Farm in Fife. The fund opened in 2014, with an annual amount of £20,000, rising with inflation, paid into the fund each year for the operating life of the wind farm, expected to be 25 years. The fund provides grants to support charitable activities that enhance quality of life for local residents, contribute to vibrant, healthy, successful and sustainable communities, and promote community spirit and encourage community activity. Grants may support a wide range of costs, including equipment, staff or sessional workers, consultations, running costs for local groups, and maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities. Grant requests range from £500 to £4,000, though funding requests in excess of the maximum and over multiple years (up to 3) can be considered in exceptional circumstances. Applications demonstrating strong community support and significant impact potential are particularly welcomed, especially those supporting priorities in the Kinglassie Community Action Plan. Decisions are made by a Community Panel of up to nine members who live, work, or volunteer in the area.

Nadara Westfield Wind Farm Community Fund (Cardenden)

The Nadara Westfield Wind Farm Community Fund (Cardenden) supports community projects benefiting residents of the Cardenden Community Council area in Fife, Scotland. This charitable fund is provided by Westfield Wind Farm Limited (WWFL), a subsidiary of Nadara, and was opened in 2014. An annual amount of £9,375, inflation-adjusted, is paid into the fund each year for the operating life of the wind farm, which is expected to be 25 years. The fund provides grants to support charitable activities that enhance quality of life for local residents, contribute to vibrant, healthy, successful and sustainable communities, and promote community spirit and encourage community activity. 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 workers, consultations and maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities. Applications for projects that contribute to the aims of the Cardenden Community Action Plan are particularly welcome. The fund is overseen by a panel of residents and community councillors who help promote the fund locally and advise on grant awards.

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.

Middle Balbeggie Wind Farm Community Fund

The Middle Balbeggie Wind Farm Community Fund supports community projects benefitting those living in the Thornton Community Council area in Fife, Scotland. The fund began in 2017 and is provided by Middle Balbeggie Wind Limited, managed by Netro Energy on behalf of Alpha Real Capital. An annual amount of £19,200, inflation-adjusted, will be paid into the fund each year for the operating life of the wind farm, which is expected to be 25 years. The fund provides grants to support charitable activities that enhance quality of life for local residents, contribute to vibrant, healthy, successful and sustainable communities, and promote community spirit and encourage community activity. Grants may support a wide range of costs, including equipment, staff or sessional workers, consultations, running costs for local groups, maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities and more. Applications are particularly welcome from projects which align with the priorities identified in Thornton's Local Place Plan. Grants in excess of £10,000 can be considered in exceptional circumstances where applications demonstrate strong local support and significant impact potential. Multi-year funding requests for periods of up to 3 years will be considered. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

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.

Lairg Wind Farm Community Fund

This fund supports charitable activities of benefit to those living within the Lairg Community Council area. The fund is provided by Lairg Wind Farm Ltd, the operator of the three-turbine wind farm at Cnoc Na Inghinnin. Starting in August 2012, it receives at least £22,000 annually (index-linked) for the wind farm's life, expected to be 25 years. The fund provides grants to support charitable activities that enhance the quality of life for local residents, contribute to vibrant, healthy, successful, and sustainable communities, and promote community spirit and encourage community activity. Grants may be requested to support a wide range of costs and activities, such as equipment costs, running costs for local groups, staff or sessional workers costs, consultations, maintenance, or refurbishment of community facilities. Awards will be prioritised that can demonstrate significant added value through leveraging additional funding from other sources, working in partnership with other groups and organisations to scale up projects and increase opportunities, and projects that have reach beyond one particular group or demographic that have potential to benefit the whole community. Though the upper limit for awards is stated as £5,000, awards above £5,000 can be considered in exceptional circumstances. Grant applications are considered at monthly meetings of Lairg Community Council. Applications must be submitted at least two weeks in advance of a Community Council meeting to be considered at that meeting. The Community Council currently meets on the first Wednesday of each month, excluding December.