Funding & Training Focus - 05 March

Funding

• Children and Young People and Families
• Communities
• Housing
• Local Partnership Funding
• Miscellaneous
• Schools/Education
• Sports
• Veterans

Events/Training

• Families Outside Training for Professionals on the Impact of Imprisonment to Families
• Greater Renfrewshire & Inverclyde: Intergenerational Training for Trainers and Practitioners

Children, Young People and Families

Family Fund
Grants are now available for families living in Scotland. Whether you need a kitchen appliance like a fridge, cooker or washing machine; clothing and bedding; sensory or play equipment; technology for your child, or a much-needed family break, we are here to help.
You can apply for a grant if:

• you’re the main carer for a disabled or seriously ill child, aged 17 or younger
• you have lived in the UK for the past six months
• the child you’re applying for is not in the care of the local authority or in foster care
• you are living on a low income or receiving benefits
• your child needs high levels of support in at least three areas of our eligibility criteria

It is important to check your eligibility before you submit an application. Find out more
 

Kellogg’s Breakfast Club Grants Programme re-opens for Applications
The Kellogg’s Breakfast Club Grants Programme has reopened for applications.   The programme offers grants of up to £1,000 to primary and secondary schools in the UK to set up Breakfast clubs for those children in most need.   To qualify for the programme the breakfast club must be based in a school in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland and priority will be given to schools that have 35% and above of children eligible for pupil premium funding and / or eligible for free school meals or that are based in an area which is classified as falling in the 10% of most deprived areas according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation. Only one grant per school in each academic year will be available. Find out more


Funding to Support Disabled & Disadvantaged Children
Grants of up to £5,000 are available to registered charities to fund equipment and services to support disabled and disadvantaged children under 13 across the UK. The Toy Trust fund helps disadvantaged children and their families to alleviate suffering; support children through awful experiences; encourage achievement through adversity; purchase vital equipment; provide care; bolster existing initiatives; initiate brand new projects; and satisfy basic needs. Groups that have carried out some form of effective fundraising by themselves are particularly encouraged to apply. The next deadline to apply is mid-June 2025 for the July meeting of Trustees. Find out more


Asda Foundation Launches Young Futures Fund
The Asda Foundation has announced that its Young Futures Fund has opened for applications. A total of £500,000 is available to support the mental health and wellbeing of young people aged 13 to 21 and create positive life opportunities across the UK. Community groups, Parent Teachers Associations and charities who are looking to deliver activities for teenagers and young people can apply for grants ranging from £500 to £1,000 to provide services supporting, educating, and empowering young people; facilitate peer connections; offer rehabilitation, recovery, and shelter services; and promote physical health and wellbeing. Examples include safe spaces for youth gatherings and educational workshops on critical issues like knife crime. The closing date for applications is 12 noon on 13 March 2025, or earlier if the total budget is allocated. Find out more


Funding to Tackle Hunger Amongst Young People
Schools and other not-for-profit organisations can apply for grants of up to £1,500 for projects and activities that help children across the UK have a stronger start in life. Priority is given to initiatives that provide food and support to young people. These grants assist schools and organisations in offering nutritious food, healthy activities that promote physical and mental wellbeing—such as breakfast clubs or snacks—and equipment for healthy pursuits. Every three months, three local good causes or projects are selected for the blue token customer vote in Tesco stores throughout the UK, with grants awarded based on the number of votes each project receives. The funding is being made available through the Tesco Stronger Starts Programme,  which is managed by Groundwork across the UK and is working with greenspace scotland to support applicants in Scotland. Applications can be made at any time. Find out more


Small Grants for Summer Playschemes
Grants of between £500 and £1,000 are available to registered charities across the UK to fund summer playschemes for disadvantage children between the ages of 5-16 years. Charities with an annual income of less than £100,000 can apply for funding to run playschemes for a minimum of two weeks or ten days during the summer holidays. Priority will be given to small, local schemes involving a large number of children especially those with disabilities or from disadvantaged backgrounds. If the applicant is not a registered charity, then a registered charity may apply on the scheme’s behalf. The funding is being made available through the Woodward Charitable Trust’s Summer Playscheme. The closing date for applications is 4pm on 04 April 2025. A total of 33 grants for summer play schemes were approved in 2024. Find out more
 

Communities

Funding for Community Health & Wellbeing Projects
Funding is available for grassroots, neighbourhood-based community projects that build happy, strong, resilient communities across the UK. Small, not-for-profit organisations can apply for funding to set up new groups and activities that improve mental health and wellbeing, inclusion, and learning and skills development in local communities. To succeed, applicants must indicate how the activity/group can become self-sustainable or attract funding from other sources for the longer term. The funding is made available through Laughology’s Happiness Fund, which will make one award of £5,000 twice a year, allowing up to two different projects per year to be supported. The next closing date for applications is 28 March 2025. Find out more
 

Grants for Community Recycling, Biodiversity & Public Amenity Projects
Not-for-profit organisations such as registered charities, community councils, community groups and local authorities can apply for grants of between £2,000 and £40,000 to fund community recycling and biodiversity projects and improvements to public amenities, parks and historic buildings. The funding can be used to cover the costs of contractors, materials, capital items, and small equipment items. Most projects must be within 10 miles of an eligible licensed landfill site or transfer station to be eligible. The funding is being made available through the FCC Scottish Action Fund, which closes to applications at 5pm on 14 May 2025. Find out more

Grants to Provide Solutions for People in Housing Need
The Lintel Trust, Scotland's Housing Charity, is offering small grants to support community projects addressing housing needs. Grants of £500 or £1,000 are available for initiatives that help people in social housing, focusing on projects that reduce social isolation, promote digital participation, enable older people to live independently, support individuals with disabilities, and assist those transitioning from homelessness to stable housing. Eligible organisations must have a direct connection to housing associations, housing cooperatives, or local authority social housing providers. The next application deadline is 30 April 2025, and interested organisations should visit the Lintel Trust website for more information and application guidelines. Find out more

Local Partnership Funding

The fund launched for applications on Monday 10 February and will be open until midnight on Thursday 13 March, with decisions due to be made by the Local Partnerships in April/May.

Local groups can apply for funding through the Renfrewshire Council website. Apply for funding from our Local Partnerships - Renfrewshire Website
 
There are some important changes to this year’s application process including refreshed priorities for each Local Partnership and updated guidance.

Miscellaneous

Funding for Charities Supporting Vulnerable People
Funding is available for registered charities working with the most vulnerable people. One-off grants of up to £5,000, or grants of up to £3,000 a year for 3 years are available both in the UK and internationally to support organisations that promote access to justice (particularly for people trying to get support to meet their basic personal needs), equality of opportunity, or a sustainable environment. The funding, which is made available through the Matrix Causes Fund, can be used for core activities that support vulnerable persons such as prisoners, asylum seekers, people with mental health difficulties, people (particularly children) with disabilities, or women in refuges. Applications from organisations not registered as a charity but established for charitable purposes may also be considered. The next deadline for applications is 31 March 2025. Find out more
 

Unrestricted Grants of up to £1,000 Available to Charities
Grants between £500 and £1,000 are available to support the work of charitable organisations in Scotland. The Paristamen Charity offers unrestricted grants through its Responsive Grant Programme to small and medium-sized charities with annual incomes between £25,000 and £500,000. These grants are intended to impact the organisation's overall operations positively. Applications from UK-wide and overseas charities will also be considered if they have a significant presence in Scotland. Churches and other faith-based organisations are welcome to apply. Trustees meetings are typically held three times a year towards the end of June, October, and February, with decisions generally confirmed by 21st of the following month (July, November, or March). The next closing date for applications is 01 June 2025. Find out more
 

Funding to Support Marine Conservation Groups with Knowledge-Sharing & Skills Development
Applications are now open for the Sea-Changers Scottish Learning Fund, which supports early-stage and small community-based groups in Scotland engaged in marine conservation. The fund aims to help these groups learn, share knowledge, network, and develop skills with other groups. Grants of up to £750 are available to cover costs such as travel, accommodation, subsistence, seminar fees, and online learning or sharing activities. Applications are welcome from a variety of organisations, including charities, community groups, and other not-for-profit organisations. Projects must involve at least two groups: a provider and one or more beneficiaries. The funding is provided by the William Grant Foundation, with a total of £11,000 available. Applications can be made at any time. Find out more
 

Funding Available to Support Vulnerable Energy Consumers
Charities and community energy groups across England, Scotland, and Wales can now apply for a share of £40 million in grants to support vulnerable households facing cold homes and high energy bills. The funding also targets projects promoting a just transition to net zero and mitigating the climate impacts of energy consumption. This initiative is part of the Ofgem Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme and the funds are sourced from voluntary payments by companies that may have breached Ofgem's regulations. Applications are open until 5 pm on 20 March 2025. Organisations not yet registered must do so at least 10 working days before the deadline to allow for eligibility checks. Find out more
 

Grants to Install Water Drinking Fountains
Grants of up to £2,500 are available for not-for-profit organisations to purchase and install public water drinking fountains in coastal areas. The funding is being made available through the Sea-Changers Coastal Fountain Fund 2025 and aims to reduce the impact of single-use plastic water bottles on coastal habitats by providing accessible water refill stations in busy or environmentally important locations. Now in its fifth year, the fund has already supported 40 fountains across the UK. Sea-Changers particularly encourages applications from Wales, Scotland, East Anglia, and the Northeast and Northwest of England. The deadline for applications is 25 April 2025. Find out more

Schools/Education

Grants Available to Support Science Projects for Students with Special Educational Needs
UK primary and secondary school teachers can apply for grants of up to £3,000 to support STEM projects for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The funding, which is being made available through the Royal Society’s Partnership Grants Scheme, can be used to purchase equipment for science, mathematics, engineering, or computing (STEM) projects. To qualify for funding, projects need to work in partnership with a practising scientist/engineer currently working in a STEM-related profession, such as a researcher or analyst. The Partnership Grants scheme is an annual funding round. There is a two-stage application process. The Partnership Grants scheme is an annual funding round. The Partnership Grants scheme is an annual funding round. The process opens in February each year, with three possible submission deadlines throughout the year. The next and final application deadline this year is 30 April 2025. Find out more


Funding to Support Education in Disadvantaged Areas
Grants are available to support schools and registered charities that wish to undertake educational projects with children and young people under the age of 25 in marginalised communities within the UK and internationally. The British & Foreign Schools Society normally makes grants totalling about £900,000 in any one year. For UK projects, the focus is on improving the educational outcomes and life chances of care experienced young people. For international projects, the focus is on improving the quality, sustainability, and access to education for young people in marginalised and deprived communities. Grants for UK projects range between £30,000 and £60,000, and for international projects up to £60,000. There is a two-stage application process. Stage 1 applications can be submitted at any time. Applications shortlisted at this stage will be invited to submit a Stage 2 proposal. Find out more


Funding to Support International Study and Work Placements
The UK government's Turing Scheme is accepting applications for the 2025 to 2026 academic year, offering funding to support international study and work placements. Eligible institutions—including schools, further education (FE), and higher education (HE) providers—can apply for grants to enhance students' skills and global experience. Funding caps are set at £50,000 for schools and £205,000 for FE providers, with consortium applications eligible for larger amounts. The scheme prioritises projects promoting social mobility and opportunities for disadvantaged students. Applications must be submitted by 4pm on the 14 March 2025 via the official Turing Scheme portal. Find out more


Grants of up to £150,000 Available to Enhance the Educational Experience of Children of Armed Service Families
UK schools and local authorities can now apply for grants up to £150,000 to address the educational challenges faced by Armed Forces service children aged 4-18. The grants which are being made available through the Armed Forces Covenant Fund’s Service Pupil Support Programme addresses challenges such as academic gaps, special educational needs, mobility, deployment, separation, and low numbers of service pupils. Applications are encouraged from clusters of schools to maximise impact. The application deadline is midday on the 30 April 2025, with decisions by the end of June 2025. 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

Peter Harrison Foundation Opportunities Through Sport Grant Scheme 
Charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) throughout the United Kingdom can apply for grants of up to £50,000 to the Peter Harrison Foundation Active Lives grant scheme. The grant scheme aims to provide opportunities for sport and physical activity at a grassroots level that enable physically, mentally, socially or economically disadvantaged people to develop personal and life skills to fulfil their potential. The grants can be used for various purposes, such as funding new sports programmes, improving existing sports facilities, or providing training and support for sports coaches. Priority will be given to organisations with an annual turnover of up to £500,000. The Foundation will close to applications until further notice from 02 April 2025. Find out more

Grants of up to £300,000 Available to Help Reduce Veterans Homelessness
Registered charities experienced in veteran housing, registered social housing providers, and local authorities can apply for up to £300,000 to enhance the capacity of supported housing services to meet the diverse needs of vulnerable veterans. The funding is being is being made available through the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Programme, which is funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust on behalf of the Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA). Collaboration with other organisations is encouraged to deliver comprehensive assistance. Projects can run for up to nine months, with an additional Enhanced Award of up to £200,000 available for addressing significant unmet needs. Applications must be submitted by 12 noon on 31 March 2025. Find out more

Training

Understanding the issues for families affected by imprisonment
Wednesday 12 March, 9:30am – 12:30pm
https://buytickets.at/familiesoutside/1536929
 
Supporting children and young people who have a family member in prison
Wednesday 19 March, 9:30am – 12:30pm
https://buytickets.at/familiesoutside/1536934
 
Prison and prison visiting
Wednesday 26 March, 9:30am – 12:30pm
https://buytickets.at/familiesoutside/1536986

Intergenerational Training for Trainers and Practitioners

Tuesday 10 June 2025, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Station 7, 7 Quarry St, Johnstone PA5 8DY

On completion participants will be able to:

• Describe what intergenerational practice is and how it can be defined.
• Explain how planned intergenerational work can be relevant to meeting policy aims in different areas of social policy, community development and work with children, families and older people.
• Explain the relationship between intergenerational practice activities, policy and outcomes.
• Bringing Groups Together

On completion participants will be able to:

• Give examples of how to bring generations together to effectively meet challenges and overcome barriers.
• Describe the importance of bringing different generations together during a staged process.
• Demonstrate how to address ageism and stereotyping through a range of activities.
• Describe and demonstrate how intergenerational activities and projects can be accessible and inclusive.

Book your place here