Funding to Tackle the School Run
Sustrans Scotland are inviting school travel coordinators to submit bids for soft measure projects up to £11,000 per local authority.  Applications close: 1 September 2008.  More information.

Life + Programme
The European Commission has announced a new call for proposals for projects funded by the LIFE+ programme.  There are four priority areas for funding: climate change, nature and biodiversity, health and quality of life, and natural resources and waste.  Applications close: 21 November 2008.  More information.

Voluntary Sector Development Fund
The purpose of this fund is to assist Voluntary Sector organisations in meeting the costs of developing a highly trained and qualified workforce.  Applications close: 31 October 2008.  More information.

Triodos Opportunities Fund
Social finance specialists, Triodos Bank, have announced a new venture capital fund for social enterprises.  Triodos is now seeking to invest between £200,000 and £750,000 in social enterprises with a proven business model that are looking to grow and scale up their operations.  More information

Scottish Investment Fund
The Scottish Investment Fund is a new £30 million fund that will provide a mixture of loan/repayable finance and grant funding to individual social economy organisations.  Investments will be available to mature established social economy organisations that have been trading successfully, partly through income generation for at least three years.  The fund will open for business on 1st September 2008 and applications will be accepted from that date onwards.  Social Investment Scotland is administering the fund and a website is currently being developed.

In Kind Direct
Retail giant Argos has donated 20,000 items, ranging from mp3 players to coffee tables, to In Kind Direct to be redistributed to charities and voluntary organisations.  It is free for voluntary organisations to join In Kind Direct's network.  They receive access to an online catalogue of available goods and can request items from the list, paying a handling charge, which includes delivery to their door.  Nothing obtained from In Kind Direct can be sold, raffled, bartered or traded; everything must be used by the charities either to run their operations or be given to the people they serve.

Guide to Raising Funds
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is making available free of charge for a short period of time the updated version of its popular "How to Raise Funds" guide.  The guide has been fully updated by Pam Judson and is aimed at small and medium sized organisation working in Scotland.  It explores fundraising myths and truths, what you need to have in place before you can fundraise effectively, writing effective proposals, researching funders, bringing it all together and what to do when you get the money.  Copies can be downloaded here.

The Gateway Exchange Fund
The Gateway Exchange Fund aims to support those who are seeking funding assistance to promote healing, creative self expression, transformation and renewal through innovative projects which can make a difference in areas of deprivation and need throughout Scotland.  Grant awards up to £5,000 will be available to constituted, not for profit groups.  Priority for grant awards will be given to projects which seek to involve or empower people to move on with their lives or fulfil their potential, where they would otherwise not have the opportunity.  For example, ex-offenders, people recovering from addiction or individuals with mental health problems or recovering from abuse.  In particular, creative projects involving the arts or those with therapeutic, healing and spiritual benefits will be a priority.  The fund does not receive direct applications, so please apply via the Scottish Community Foundation.

Historic Scotland

Historic Scotland has launched the annual funding application round for the voluntary sector, which will cover the three financial years beginning 2009/10.. more

Climate Challenge Fund

The Climate Challenge Fund, launched recently by the Scottish Government, will give communities the ability to implement actions to reduce their carbon emissions.  Substantial amounts of funding will be available over the next three years through individual community groups and Community Planning partners.

Tesco Charity Community Awards

Grants of up to £5,000 are available to community groups whose core work is supporting the welfare of the elderly and those with disabilities.  Applications close: 30 June 08.  More Info

Food Funding from Esmee Fairbairn

The Esmee Fairbairn Foundation has announced that it is launching a new food funding strand.  The fund will aim to promote an understanding of the role of food in enhancing quality of life.  The budget is £3million over the next three years.  More info

Forestry Challenge Funds

A couple of new Challenge Funds have recently been launched by the Forestry Commission under the Scottish Rural Development Programme.

Dare to Care

Community Service Volunteers (CSV) has a number of small grants of between £50-£250 to give to community groups, youth groups and schools that want to get involved in ''Dare to Care: Make Time to Help End Child Poverty''. Deadline: 30 June 2008. For further information contact sbromley@csv.org.uk.

Heritage Lottery Fund 

Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) are about to make changes to their grant programmes... more

Grab A Grant with CSV Action Earth 2008

CSV’s Action Earth campaign will run from 1st March to 31st July 2008. Supported by Scottish Natural Heritage and Morrisons, 2 different easy to access grants will assist groups of volunteers in carrying out 250 practical environmental projects across Scotland. Many will be volunteering for the first time. More info

Big Lottery Fund Research Programme 

This programme aims to influence policy and practice by funding voluntary and community sector organisations to produce and disseminate evidence-based knowledge. Grants of between £10,000 and £500,000 are available. More info 

Community Food and Health Scotland - Small grants scheme 

Grants of £500 to £3000 are available to organisations involved in working with or within Scotland's low-income communities to improve access to a healthy, varied and balanced diet. Applications close: 29th June 2008. More info 

Rural Development Contracts 

The Rural Development Contracts - Rural Prioritiesis now open to interested parties to submit their ideas, offering farmers, foresters, businesses & community groups a share of almost £800 million to develop rural Scotland. More info 

WREN Communities Challenge 2008 
Waste Recycling Environmental Limited ( WREN) has announced that its annual Communities Challenge Fund is now open to applications. Funding of between £75,000 and £250,000 are available for community projects. Applications close: 30th May 2008.  More info 

Scottish Government - Climate Change Challenge Fund 
The Scottish Government have formerly announced their £17 million Climate Challenge Fund. The fund is designed to give communities the opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint. More info 

Race, Religion and Refugee Integration Funding Stream

The Voluntary Action Fund (VAF) has confirmed that the new Race, Religion and Refugee Integration funding stream is now in operation.  This is a Scottish Government programme designed to improve the lives of minority ethnic and faith communities in Scotland, including refugees, asylum seekers, migrant workers and Gypsies/Travellers.  Substantial funding has been made available from 1 July 2008 to 31 March 2011 and can be for 1 or 2 years or the whole period.  The Voluntary Action Fund (VAF) will arrange the assessment process for the new fund, working with the Race, Religion & Refugee Integration Team, and will then manage the grants that are made through it.  Details of how to make an application can be found on the Voluntary Action Fund website.

Recycling Initiatives
The Scottish Government has recently announced a number of new funding initiatives under the Increase III Programme to support community recycling projects..

Life+ Programme Launch
The new Life+ Programme for Scotland was launched earlier this month with lots of potential funding support for natural heritage projects and initiatives.

Lloyds TSB Foundation - Inspiring Scotland Fund 
The Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland has launched a new initiative to support work with 14-19-year-olds who struggle to make a successful transition to adulthood. The aim of 'Inspiring Scotland' is to provide grants of up to £10 million a year to charities over a 7-10 year period. 

There is a two stage application process; organisations interested in applying should submit an outline application proposal by 28 March. Organisations with applications deemed suitable will then be invited to submit a full proposal. For further information click here

Cashback for Communities Fund 
Grants are available for projects in deprived areas to that aim to support young people who are at risk of becoming involved in drugs, alcohol or anti-social behaviour. Applications close: 25th April 2008. More info - YouthLink Scotland

B&Q 'One Planet Living' Awards 
Prizes of between £1,000 and £10,000 worth of B&Q products are available to help communities regenerate their local areas. Applications close: 28th March 2008. More info - B&Q Website

Help Yourselves Awards 
Grants of up to £1,000 are available to change the lives of children in your community. Applications close: 28th March 2008. More info - help yourselves website

Sutton Trust 
Schools, universities, community groups, charities and research bodies with new project and research ideas that provide educational opportunities for young people from non-privileged backgrounds have the opportunity to apply for funding. The Trust will fund projects in formal educational settings in any area where there is need, including rural and inner city areas. There is no deadline for applications, as the Trustees meet at regular intervals throughout the year. For more information please see the Sutton Trust website.

The Co-operative Membership Community Fund 
Across the United Kingdom, thousands of clubs, community groups and self-help organisations have benefited from The Co-operative Membership Community Fund. Your project must: benefit a local community in which at least one Co-operative Group business trades in, have a charitable purpose and be in line with the Co-op's values and principles. The scheme can provide funding of between £100 and £5,000, with most awards falling somewhere between £100 and £500. Recent awards include £1,000 for a youth theatre's lighting equipment and £500 to create a sensory garden at an after-school club. Not all Co-op stores are part of The Co-operative Group - to find out if your group is eligible to apply tel: 0800 0686 727. To download an application form, go to www.co-operative.co.uk/en/communityfund  or tel: 0845 090 1456.

Here To Help Awards 
Want £1000 to change something in your community? Created by Save the Children and British Gas, the 'here to HELP Awards' want to get young people involved in dynamic and lasting community projects. In the past, they have given away 188 awards, empowering children and young people who are excluded and isolated, as well as those living in noted areas of deprivation. A new funding round will open on 15th January 2008. If you are interested in joining their mailing list to receive further information, please e-mail helpyourselves@savethechildren.org.uk  with your contact details or visit www.helpyourselves.org.uk

£130 Million Grassroots Grants Scheme 

The Government has announced the launch of a new grant scheme to support the work of small local voluntary organisations that are working towards improving their local communities.  More info

Community Cash Awards 
The Princes Trust Scotland is launching the "Community Cash Awards" to help groups of young people set up a project to help their community. More info 

Scottish Government Funding for the Voluntary Sector
View a list of the funding available to the voluntary Sector by the Scottish Government.

HBOS Foundation Community Action programme Funding
As part of the Foundation's commitment of supporting communities where HBOS plc does business, the Community Action Programme provides local grants of up to £10,000 to support a diverse range of projects. Restrictions are in place, and you can find out more on the Foundation's website.

The Women's Fund For Scotland
The Women's Fund for Scotland is dedicated to improving the quality of life of women in Scotland. It supports their development, self-sufficiency, and economic and social equality, awarding grants to community groups and charities across the country. You may apply for either a Small Grant (up to £1,000) or Main Grant (£1,000 to £5,000) from the Women's Fund for Scotland at any time. More Info

£250,000 for Environmental Volunteers (Scotland)
The Scottish Executive has announced £250,000 worth of funding to encourage more volunteers to get involved in environmental projects.  The funding is aimed to develop wellbeing for people and achieve and goals of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy. More info

Lloyds TSB