Funding and Training Focus - 09 July

Summer’s here – and so is your latest funding fix

Renfrewshire’s in full summer swing - school holidays, community barbecues, and the occasional debate over whether 17 degrees counts as a heatwave. While things might be a bit quieter programme-wise, now’s the perfect time to think ahead and get some plans in place.
This week’s funding highlights are all about creating welcoming, sustainable spaces and supporting our young folk to thrive. Whether you're looking to make your theatre greener, carry out essential repairs to a place of worship, or provide direct support for vulnerable young people, there’s something worth a look.

So pop the kettle on (or grab an ice lolly, depending on the weather), have a scroll, and see what might give your work an extra boost.

As always, if anything catches your eye and you’d like to chat it through, I’m just an email away: mwollberg@engagerenfrewshire.com


Funding

• Arts and Music
• Community Projects
• Environment and Climate Change
• Families and Children 
• The Fore Autumn 2025 Funding Round
• Housing and Homelessness
• Miscellaneous
• Music and Heritage
• Young People

Events/Training

• Apt Renfrewshire Training Opportunities
• Tobacco and Cannabis Training

Art & Music

Grants of up to £1,000 Available for Performing Arts Projects that Boost Audience Engagement
Grants of up to £1,000 are currently available for projects that support Refugees and Asylum Seekers. To be eligible, a project must focus exclusively on refugees and/or asylum seekers as its beneficiaries, without extending services to other groups. Funding is available for revenue costs (e.g. materials, activities) directly linked to the project. Salaries are not funded unless the staff member is employed explicitly for the project in question. The funding is being made available through the Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust's "Refugees and Asylum Seekers" grant. Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities or exempt organisations with a minimum operating income and expenditure of £100,000 per annum. The Trust does not fund other types of non-profit organisations, social enterprises, or community foundations. The closing date for applications is 31 July 2025. Find out more


Grants to Promote Contemporary & Experimental Music
Grants ranging from £500 to £3,000 are available to charities, not-for-profit organisations, and individuals across the UK for projects that focus on the performance, commissioning, or recording of contemporary and experimental music. Provided by the Hinrichsen Foundation, this funding supports initiatives that enhance the understanding and appreciation of contemporary music. Projects that take artistic risks, promote diversity, prioritise sustainability, or are led by composers or artists are especially encouraged. The Foundation also welcomes work that involves collaboration across artforms and disciplines. Applications that include a degree of matched funding are likely to be viewed more favourably. The deadline for applications is 5pm on 05 September 2025. Find out more

 

Capital Grants for Theatre Improvements
Theatre Operators can apply for grants of up to £20,000 to reduce their theatres' environmental impact. The Theatre Improvement Scheme can support various projects that consider how theatre buildings or equipment can reduce their environmental impact. This might range from building management systems to more efficient water heaters, or a green roof to new windows. The funding is being made available through the Theatres Trust in partnership with the Wolfson Foundation and the closing date for applications is 12 noon on 05 September 2025. Find out more

Community Projects

£400,000 Foodbank Fund to Support Disadvantaged Communities
In response to the cost-of-living crisis, the Asda Foundation has launched the Foodbank Fundamentals Fund, allocating a total of £400,000 in funding to support not-for-profit organisations that provide food and essential supplies to the UK’s most disadvantaged communities. Open to groups with an annual income under £250,000—such as food banks, community pantries, social supermarkets, soup kitchens, and breakfast clubs—the fund offers £750 grants to help sustain and enhance these services. Funding can be used for food (including baby items), basic hygiene products, white goods, storage, fittings, and fuel for deliveries to isolated individuals. Applications will be open from the 15 to 29 July 2025, but may close early if demand is high. Find out more
 

Funding to Improve Homes & Community Spaces
Grants of up to £10,000 are available to UK registered charities for projects that improve homes and community spaces for those most in need, such as those experiencing homelessness, financial hardship, poor health, disability, or other disadvantage or distress. The funding is made available by the B&Q Foundation to decorate, renovate, or create indoor and outdoor spaces where people can feel at home and have a sense of belonging. Projects could include creating community gardens, redecorating properties, upgrading key fixtures and fittings, and creating new buildings or rooms. The deadline for applications is 9.30 am on 01 August 2025. Find out more

Environmental

The Nature Restoration Fund is open for Expressions of Interest. 
The Scottish Government has invested over £65 million in projects across Scotland through its groundbreaking Nature Restoration Fund. 
Established in 2021, it has funded hundreds of projects helping Scotland's species, woodlands, rivers and seas back on the road to recovery.
This year's Programme for Government has committed to extend the Nature Restoration Fund in 2026-7 to enable funding for multi-year projects. The extension will help ensure the priorities set out in the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy are met.
The Fund has two streams, Helping Nature, for grants of £25,000 to £250,000 and Transforming Nature for grants of £250,000 upwards, including development projects. Find out more about what we fund on our How to Apply page.


Grants for Sustainable Climate Change Projects
To address climate change and its effects, organisations, individuals and charities across the UK can apply for grants to support projects that develop and promote sustainable, low-carbon alternatives to mainstream economic models. The funding, made available through the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust’s Sustainable Futures programme, will support campaigns, initiatives, and projects that promote alternatives to consumerism and amplify the voices of young activists and marginalised groups on issues of economic and environmental justice. Grants are available for projects that address the current unsustainable economic system, excessive consumerism, and giving marginalised groups and young activists a voice. Previous grants awarded have ranged from a few hundred pounds to grants in excess of £100,000. Registration must be completed by the 18 August 2025, and applications submitted by 12pm on 01 September 2025. Find out more

Holiday Grants for Disadvantaged and Disabled Children
Grants ranging from £500 to £2,750 are available for schools, youth groups, non-profit organisations, and charities to support recreational trips or holidays within the UK for groups of disadvantaged or disabled children 13 years old or younger. Applications from the 20% most deprived areas in the UK will be given priority. The grants can cover up to two-thirds of the total cost of a holiday or trip, lasting from one to seven days. The Henry Smith Charity is offering the funding, and applications must be submitted at least six weeks before the scheduled trip or holiday. Applications for trips between 01 May and 31 August 2025 can be made until 21 July 2025. Find out more

The Fore Autumn 2025 Funding Round

The Fore is running its Autumn 2025 Funding Round. We are offering unrestricted grants of up to £45,000 to help small charities and social enterprises develop, grow or become more sustainable. 
 
Successful applicants will receive: 

• A grant of up to £45,000 of unrestricted funding over 1 to 3 years. 
  We have increased our maximum grant size from 30k to 45k to reflect the rising cost of living and the changing funding landscape. Find our full explanation here. 
• Access to free, highly skilled support provided by experienced professionals. 
• Access to our programme of skills training workshops, covering areas such as fundraising, communications, finance, strategy and more. 
• A fully funded place on an impact measurement course. 
• Access to peer networking opportunities. 

 
Who is eligible to apply? 
 
All UK registered charities, CIOs, CICs limited by guarantee and charitable CBSs with an annual income of under £500,000 are welcome to apply. Please also take our eligibility quiz here. 
 
Our grants are intended to create a step change for your organisation. What do you need to get to the next stage of your development? Our grant might help your organisation to grow, increase your staff capacity, become more sustainable or make your systems more efficient – we don’t mind, we just want you to be able to be better at what you do.  
 
How to apply: 

1. You will need to register your interest in applying. Registration will be open for one week from 12pm on 22 July, to 12pm on 29 July. During this time, please register your interest on our Apply for Funding webpage (this will take 2 to 3 minutes). 
2. On 30 July, all registered applicants will receive confirmation of whether they have been allocated a place on the funding round along with details of how to apply. If there are more applicants registered than places available, places will be allocated at random. 
3. Once you have received confirmation of your place on the funding round, write your application before the deadline of 5pm, Monday 08 September. 

Please come along to our online Q&A session on Tuesday, 22 July, 3pm to 4pm to hear more from The Fore team about our processes and pose your own questions before you register to apply. You can sign up here. If you can’t make it on the day, please register if you would like to receive the recording after the event. 

If you have any questions, we are happy to help – Please email us at info@thefore.org 

Miscellaneous

Grants of up to £500 for Outdoor Activity Projects
Grants of up to £500 are available for individuals, community groups, schools, and other not-for-profit organisations to encourage people across the UK to get involved with outdoor activities and experiences. The funding is provided by the Alpkit Foundation, which aims to break down barriers to outdoor participation by supporting projects that promote diversity and inclusion in the outdoors, as well as participation, education, conservation and protection of the natural environment, and health and wellbeing. The grants aim to provide some level of support rather than fully funding projects. Applications can be submitted at any time and are reviewed every two months. There is no limit to how many times an applicant may apply, but applications should be submitted at least three months before the project start date. Find out more


Grants Available for Disabled Individuals and Groups to Play Tennis
Disabled individuals as well as disability groups, tennis clubs, schools, and associations across the UK that work with disabled people can apply for grants from the Dan Maskell Tennis Trust to support participation in tennis. Individuals may receive up to £600, while groups, clubs, or projects can obtain up to £1,600. The grants can be used for coaching with LTA-licensed coaches, court hire, tennis wheelchairs, and equipment like rackets. Applicants seeking sports wheelchairs may need to provide a personal contribution. The Trust holds four funding meetings annually; the next application deadline is the 20 July 2025. Find out more


Grants of up to £25,000 Available to Prevent People Entering the Criminal Justice System
UK registered charities working in the areas of Social and Criminal Justice can apply for grants of up to £25,000 to prevent people entering the criminal justice system and to support those already in it to rebuild their lives. The funding is being made available through the Charles Hayward Foundation’s Main Grants Programme. The Foundation will fund early intervention programmes for young children and their families, tailored preventative work with young people at risk, holistic support services that reduce re-offending and aid resettlement, and schemes offering viable alternatives to custody. Additionally, the Foundation looks to alleviate the consequences of domestic abuse. Charities with an annual income of between £350,000 and £4 million are eligible to apply. The next application deadline is 19 September 2025. Find out more

 

Grants for Urgent Structural Repairs to Churches
Listed and unlisted Christian places of worship needing major, urgent structural repairs can apply for grants of up to £50,000. The funding, made available through the National Churches Trust’s Large Grants Programme, will cover up to 50% of larger, more complex projects costing over £80,000, incl. VAT.  Funding is also available for projects costing more than £30,000, incl. VAT that improve facilities such as kitchens and accessible toilets, etc to enable increased community use. Priority will be given to architecturally and historically significant buildings. There is a two-stage application process. The deadline for stage one applications is midnight on 04 November 2025.   Applicants will be informed of the stage 2 deadline if they are successful at stage 1. find out more

Young People

Stepping in; for young people that need a step up
Sofronie Foundation was established January 2007 with the aim of making a difference to young people’s lives and has historically funded projects all over the world. In recent times, the Foundation has centred more focus on tackling disadvantage and improving social mobility closer to home and funds educational initiatives and aspirational programmes in France, the Netherlands and the UK.
Sofronie's main goal is to help young people by offering them the opportunities with which they can improve their employment chances – benefitting both their own lives and the lives of their future families. By addressing the issues that hold young people back from accessing opportunities, Sofronie Foundation hopes to provide a stepping-stone to future employment and life success. Find out more.


UK Under 26 Fund
The Trustees of The Steel Charitable Trust are investing in children and young people through this fund. Charities from all corners of the United Kingdom. This fund aims to improve outcomes for children and young people in different parts of the UK (regardless of their nationality, culture or ethnic origin) who are wholly or mainly under 26 years of age. The overarching focus is on creating educational and/or access opportunities for young people in circumstances, groups or locations that face economic challenges or social marginalisation that may lead to significant disadvantages in later life.
All sorts of work could be funded through this programme, as long as the beneficiaries are in the UK and are wholly, or mainly, under the age of 26.
Find out more.

 

Funding to Encourage Young People to Study Science Subjects
In response to the much publicised skills gap in the British engineering industry, the Ironmongers’ Foundation wishes to support initiatives that encourage talented young people under the age of 25 to study science subjects at school and go on to pursue STEM-related further education or vocational training. The funding is available to registered or exempt charities within the UK , with a preference for urban areas outside London and particularly areas in the north and midlands with a manufacturing presence. Grants are made to registered or exempt charities only. Applications will not be accepted from schools. The Foundation prefers to support smaller projects where it is the sole funder or its contribution makes a real difference. Most grants are below £10,000. The Foundation Committee meets three times per year in January, May and September. The deadlines for receipt of applications are 1 December, 1 April and 1 August respectively. Find out more
 

Funding to Improve the Lives of Vulnerable Young People
Grants of up to £2,400 are available to support the needs of vulnerable children and young people who have experienced a recent crisis or change in life that has had a significant impact on their wellbeing and their education. The funding is being made available through Buttle UK's Chances for Children Grants to provide a flexible range of support, such as items and activities to support learning and development (laptops, books, wi-fi, educational toys, tuition, etc); clothing and school uniforms; social, sporting and leisure activities; and items for children/young people’s bedrooms. Applications will only be accepted from frontline professionals working for a registered charity, housing association or public sector organisation including schools and colleges. Applications can be made at any time. Find out more

 

Grants to Promote Mental Health & Wellbeing for Young People
Registered charities focused on mental health-related matters can apply for funding to support the mental health and well-being of children and young adults in the UK. The funding is made available by the Pixel Fund, which awards grants of between £2,500 and £5,000 for specific projects that will provide a measurable difference to children and young adults under 26 years old. Potential applicants must attend a Pixel Fund Q&A Drop-in Meeting to apply. This will enable potential applicants to access the application process. There are no application deadlines. Find out more

Training

Tues 15 July  Men and Mental Health 
This session explains the facts about men’s mental health and resources and tips for looking after your mental health. Why do we need to talk about mental health? Mental health and stigma.
Signs and signals to be more aware of poor mental health. This session takes place at 10.00-12.30.

Wed 16 July Mental Health and Wellbeing 
This course aims to provide managers with the skills to support and manage positive mental health in the workplace. We will look at the definitions of mental health, common conditions and factors impacting on mental health. As well as practical strategies, reasonable adjustments and how to have supportive conversations. This takes place at 10.00-12.30.

Thurs 24 July Introduction to Suicide Prevention
This course aims to provide learners with a brief introduction to suicide prevention. It is not designed for crisis support. The course explores the latest statistics in relation to suicide in Scotland and the stigma that exists around this topic. This takes place at 10.00-12.30.

Tues 29 July NeurodiversityWorks! Bitesize Training 
This session will increase your understanding of the diverse capabilities and skill-sets neurodivergent people can bring to the workforce. Build your knowledge of inclusive ways of working and the simple adjustments you can make. Build confidence in recruiting, managing and retaining neurodivergent staff. This session will take place at 10.30-13.00.
 
Apt Renfrewshire Training - SUSE - Scottish Union of Supported Employment

Tobacco & Cannabis Training
The next session of our LANDED Tobacco and Cannabis Training will take place on Thursday 21 August, 10am-4pm at the Glynhill Hotel, 169 Paisley Road, Renfrew.
 
Cannabis is the most widely used drug in the world. The course aims to provide practitioners working with young people a deeper understanding of cannabis, giving you and your staff team the knowledge, tools and confidence to open up a conversation around cannabis use with your service users. LANDED is a young persons' charity based in Scotland. One of their services is to provide staff training opportunities to build the knowledge, understanding and confidence of staff members who work directly with young people.

If you are interested in attending the above session please email HealthImprovement.Renfrewshire@ggc.scot.nhs.uk with your Name, Job Title, Organisation and contact details.