We created the Sustainable Communities Fund (SCF) in 2020, to support local regeneration and sustainable development.
To learn more about the SCF, read on below.
To find out whether the SCF is accepting applications and how to apply, visit the sections for each individual Grant Programme
What is it?
It's a fund supporting two grant programmes:
- Community Capacity Grants, which provide early stage financial support for community enterprise projects. This programme is open to all communities up to five miles from Scotland’s coastline or within five miles of our rural estates
- Environment Grants, which provide funding to Crown Estate Scotland tenants only, for projects which can deliver demonstrable environmental benefits within 18 months of award of funds
Up to £970,000 will be made available over three years across both programmes. More detailed information on each fund is available below.
Why is it important?
Many local communities across Scotland have ideas which if realised, could make a significant difference to their areas, helping to create great places to live, work and visit.
Without access to initial funding, it can be hard to turn great ideas into real projects - and as a result, the benefits might never materialise.
By providing funds to help get projects moving, the SCF allows Scotland's communities - and our tenants - to get their ideas 'off the ground' and start delivering economic, social or environmental benefits in their local area.
Community Capacity Grants
Open to applications (deadline 12 noon, Monday 19 September 2022)
This programme provides early stage financial support for community enterprise projects that contribute to local regeneration and sustainable development, and, ultimately, help create great places to live, work and visit.
The fund is open to all communities up to five miles from Scotland’s coastline or within five miles of our rural estates.
We are looking for local projects with demonstrable community support that will :
-
Create self-sustaining community enterprises that will promote sustainable development through the provision of local economic, social, and/or environmental benefits
-
Contribute to the regeneration of places through improvements to buildings or community spaces that will support self-sustaining community enterprises
In the first year, a total of £150,000 of funding was made available for grants of between £10,000 and £50,000; in the second year, the total rose to £250,000 of funding, made available for grants of between £20,000 and £50,000.
In this, the third year, a total of £250,000 of funding is available for grants of between £20,000 and £50,000.
Applications are managed by Foundation Scotland and further information and details of how to apply can be found here.
Queries should be sent to grants@foundationscotland.org.uk.
Environment Grants
Open to applications (deadline 12 noon, Monday 17 October 022)
This programme provides funding to Crown Estate Scotland tenants for projects which can deliver demonstrable environmental benefits within 18 months of award of funds.
In recognition of the COP26 climate change conference being held in Glasgow, we are encouraging applications that can demonstrate climate change benefits. For example, renewable energy installations, green travel initiatives, natural climate solutions e.g. native tree planting, and projects enabling a circular economy approach.
Typical projects could include:
- Initiatives to increase local biodiversity;
- Environmental education materials e.g. display boards about the local environment;
- Facilitating a change to greener ways of operating e.g. measures to support recycling or waste reduction; enabling green travel; and activities that reduce flood risk, pollution or carbon emissions
In each of the first two years £100,000 of funding was made available, with individual grants of £5,000 - £20,000.
In this, the third year a total of £100,000 is available, for grants of between £5,000 and £20,000.
The programme accepts applications from Crown Estate Scotland tenants. Applicants must have an agreement with us at the point of application and when monies are awarded.
Our application form can be found in the Downloads section. Please note that it can be signed digitally and returned, or by hand and returned as a scanned copy. For more information on how digital signing works, please see this article.
