Funding & Training Focus - 21 January

A full funding round-up to start the year strong

As the year gets properly underway, this week’s funding round-up brings a wide and varied mix of opportunities for the sector. Whether you’re supporting people through difficult times, building skills and confidence, improving access to green spaces, or developing creative and cultural work, there’s plenty here to explore.
 
And a quick reminder that the Renfrewshire Funding Fayre takes place on 28 January at Beechwood Community Centre in Paisley. If you have not already, please do sign up for the event.
 
Take a bit of time to have a look through the opportunities below and see what might be of interest to you and your group. And as always, if you’d like to talk through any of the funding, sense-check an idea, or get support with an application, I’m very happy to help: mwollberg@engagerenfreshire.com
 

Funding

• Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund - additional single-year funding available
• Art and Culture
• Children and Families
• Communities
• Employment
• Environment, Nature and Climate Change
• Food Education 
• Health
• Miscellaneous
• Vulnerable People
• Young People

Events/Training

• Digital Workshops January & February 
• Free training from Planning Aid Scotland
• Care experience and support at school 
• Scottish Community Mediation Centre Training

For Renfrewshire this means an additional £50,000 is available for single-year applications only. 
 
Some considerations for those applying:

• Not open to any groups who have already had positive notification of funding (multi-year or single-year for 2026/2027)
• Open to unconstituted groups, maximum request amount - £2,000
• Maximum request amount for constituted groups -  £7,000
• Applications must meet the aims and objectives set in the single year guidance on our website
• This is non-recurring funding offered from Scottish Government and we do not expect to receive additional funding of this kind in 2027, please consider this when making your application

Important Dates:

• Deadline for applications: 5pm Wednesday 11 February please send all forms to info@engagerenfrewshire.com 
• Funds to be accepted by successful groups: no later than 31 March 2026
• All activity/projects to be completed by: February 2027.

 
Please see the website for guidance and application form: https://engagerenfrewshire.org/engage-support/community-mental-health-wellbeing-fund.html
 

Grants to Safeguard Endangered UK Crafts Now Open for Applications
Individual craft practitioners and organisations promoting crafts can now apply for grants of up to £2,500 to support traditional craft skills at risk of disappearing. The funding can be used for activities such as training, purchasing tools or materials, developing specialist equipment, or promoting endangered crafts, provided projects demonstrate clear public benefit. This initiative is part of a wider effort to protect practices listed on the Red List of Endangered Crafts and is made possible through the Endangered Crafts Fund, run by Heritage Crafts with support from the Radcliffe Trust, the Pilgrim Trust, and the Dulverton Trust. The deadline to apply is 5pm on 8 May 2026. Find out more

Apply for Live Literature part-funded sessions
Live Literature brings reading and writing to the heart of communities by funding author events for organisations across Scotland
Applications are now open for Live Literature events taking place before 31 March 2027. To make sure you can apply when suits you best, there will be a series of deadlines throughout the year up until our final deadline of 20 November 2026. Alongside financial support, the team at Scottish Book Trust can be on hand with help and advice for planning and promoting your session. Find out more

 

Funding for Research into Early Childhood Education and Care
The Froebel Trust has launched a new call for proposals for its Research Grants programme. Offering grants of up to £50,000, the programme supports high quality research by individual researchers and partnerships which advance knowledge and understanding of Froebelian philosophy, principles and approaches in early childhood education and care. Funded projects should have a positive impact on children, their families and early years professionals, helping to inform both practice and policy in early years settings. The current theme for applications is "relationships matter," but applicants should demonstrate a broader understanding of Froebelian principles. Applications are particularly welcome for projects supporting disadvantaged children, families or settings, or promoting inclusion. The closing date for applications is 4pm on the 22 May 2026. Find out more

Funding to Support Children & Adults Impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences
Grants of up to £25,000 are available to UK-registered charities that support children and young people recovering from Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and parents affected by ACEs, mental illness, or addiction. The James Tudor Foundation’s Mental Health Grants Programme funds evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches that help children and young people overcome trauma, and support parents in addressing their own mental health issues to help break the cycle of trauma across generations. This could include therapies for children and young people who have experienced sexual abuse or domestic violence, specialist support for bereaved children and young people, whole-family therapies, and support for parents or caregivers to help break intergenerational cycles of abuse. The deadline for expressions of interest is 06 February 2026. Find out more

Scotmid’s Community Grant Scheme
Small grants of up to £500 are available to assist and support community projects and initiatives throughout Scotland. Funding is available for a wide range of projects benefiting local communities but must be focused on the areas of children; education; community groups; active lifestyles; environment; the elderly; homelessness; fairtrade; arts & culture; and charity. To be eligible for funding, applicants must be a group or individual acting for the wider benefit of the local Community; and live within the geographic boundaries of one of Scotmid Regional Committees. Schools are also eligible to apply for activities not part of their statutory responsibilities. This could for example include funding for a breakfast club. Applications can be submitted at any time. Find out more

Funding to Alleviate Social Deprivation
Scottish charities with an annual income of less than £1 million that address poverty and deprivation, with a particular focus on women, children, and young people, can apply for grants of up to £15,000 per year for up to 3 years through the Volant Charitable Trust Large Grants Programme. Managed by Foundation Scotland, the scheme supports both project and core costs, excluding capital and retrospective funding. Funded work may include food provision, mental health support, services for isolated women, and outreach for at-risk youth. There is a two-stage application process, with a deadline of midnight on 31 March 2026. Find out more


Funding for Charities Supporting Vulnerable Communities
The Souter Charitable Trust invites applications from UK-registered charities working to relieve human suffering in the UK and overseas. It particularly supports organisations with a Christian ethos, though charities without a Christian emphasis are also welcome. The Trust partners with organisations that share its values and focus on helping vulnerable and underserved communities, supporting both practical needs and spiritual wellbeing. There is no set minimum or maximum grant amount, but awards typically range from £1,000 to £3,000. Previously funded projects include malaria prevention initiatives and school meal programmes for children in Africa. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, reviewed monthly. Find out more

Funding Available to Help Charities Deliver Skills and Employment Projects
UK registered charities working with young people aged 16+ and adults facing barriers to employment can apply for grants of up to £40,000 for projects lasting up to 12 months. The funding supports practical routes into work, including skills training, accredited learning, mentoring, confidence-building and access to employment, with particular interest in pathways into the water, utilities and construction sectors. Eligible applicants must have at least one year of filed accounts, annual income below £1 million and a clear focus on measurable employability outcomes. Grants can support core organisational costs, project delivery or a combination of both. The funding is being provided by Certification and Assessment Board for the Water Industries through its Employability Grant. The closing date for applications is 26 January 2026. Find out more

Funding for Early-Stage Vocational Learning Projects
The UFi VocTech Trust has announced that grants of up to £60,000 are now available through the VocTech Activate grant fund. The fund aims to support early-stage projects that use technology to improve adult skills for work. The funding supports projects lasting up to twelve months, showing how digital technologies can be used innovatively to improve vocational education. The funding is available to organisations across the UK, including charities, trade bodies, learning providers, employers, private companies, community interest companies and other not-for-profit organisations. Pre-funding workshops will be running in January 2026 to provide more information about the fund, and to provide support with the application process. The closing date for applications is 03 February 2026. Find out more

Grants for Ecological Outreach Projects
Individuals and organisations, such as schools, museums, libraries, and community groups, can apply to the British Ecological Society for grants of up to £2,000 to promote ecological science to a wide audience. The Outreach and Engagement Grants programme funds activities that engage public audiences in innovative and creative ways and enhance others' skills in communicating ecology to those audiences. Applications from schools must include significant outreach beyond the school. Projects aimed solely at delivering curriculum to school children will not be considered. The grant may be used as part-funding for larger projects involving other sponsors. Applications can be submitted until 10 March 2026. Find out more

Earth Raise
Earth Raise is a seven-day online match funding campaign dedicated to helping charities playing a vital role in tackling pressing environmental issues, run in partnership with Environmental Funders Network (EFN). Earth Raise utilises our Multi Model of match funding. Environmental charities apply to Big Give and can select either the 1:1 or Pledge Model of match funding. Their application is assessed by Big Give and our partners, EFN. Successful charities are awarded a sum of match funding which is ring-fenced for their organisation. This match funding is unlocked by public donations given through Big Give’s online fundraising platform during the week of the campaign. Find out more

Greening our urban areas with our Urban Forestry Programme
Scotland’s towns and cities urgently need more trees to create greener, healthier places for people and nature. Over 80% of us live in towns and cities – yet many areas still don’t have enough trees. Trees cool our streets, clean our air, reduce flooding and bring nature into daily life. They make our neighbourhoods healthier and more beautiful, while supporting wildlife.
Our Urban Forestry Programme, launched with funding from bp and now supported by JERA Nex bp, is helping put trees where they’re needed most and create greener, healthier places across Scotland. Through the Urban Forestry Programme, we provide funding for tree planting and greening projects through the Urban Forestry Challenge Fund and work with partners to build skills, knowledge and capacity to create long-term change Find out more

 

Renfrewshire Community Food Education Small Grants
Renfrewshire Community Food Education Small Grants is a £10,000 fund for organisations based in Renfrewshire to deliver food education sessions that increase understanding and confidence to make healthier food choices and improve practical cooking skills.

The funding is available to voluntary sector organisations, community groups, food pantries and local food initiatives. Applications can be made for grants of up to £1,000 to support embedding community food education within organisations. This may be through developing a new project or incorporating food education into an existing project or initiative. Successful applicants must commit to attending a Training for Trainers (T4T) session before delivery. The T4T will include topics such as food groups, reading food labels, portion sizes and cooking on a budget with minimal equipment. Following the T4T, slide packs and facilitator notes will be provided to enable the organisation to deliver their own food education sessions.

The aim of the fund is to promote healthier eating habits through improved food literacy and practical cooking skills, in line with the Good Food Nation Plan and local health improvement priorities. Initiatives should empower communities to make informed food choices and reduce health inequalities.

Guidance Document 
Application Document

The fund opens on 14 January. The closing date for applications is 04 February at 12noon. 

Cure Parkinson's Trust Grant
Commercial organisations, as well as appropriately qualified scientists or clinicians based in an accredited university or hospital in any country worldwide, can now apply for funding for preclinical and clinical research. Projects should have the potential to advance knowledge that might lead to a cure for Parkinson’s disease. The Cure Parkinson’s Trust is particularly interested in projects that show the potential to delay, slow, stop, reverse or prevent the progression of Parkinson’s disease. Grants of up to £250,000 are available. Applications are considered four times a year; the next deadline for applications is 13 April 2026. Find out more

The MSE Charity Announces New Funding Round
Small to medium-sized not-for-profit organisations can apply for grants of up to £10,000 to help improve people’s money management skills. The funding is provided by the MSE Charity, which supports projects that strengthen financial education and capability across the UK. Funded activities may include running money management workshops, training volunteers, developing staff skills, and helping disadvantaged groups such as people affected by age, disability, ethnicity, or gender access financial support and services. To be eligible, organisations must have an annual income of between £10,000 - £600,000 and unrestricted reserves covering less than six months of running costs. The next funding round will be open from 19 January to 26 January 2026. Find out more


Grants for Urgent Structural Repairs to Churches
Listed and unlisted Christian places of worship requiring major or 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, including. VAT that improves 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 03 March 2026.   Applicants will be informed of the stage 2 deadline if they are successful at stage 1. Find out more


Grants Available to Make Public Rights of Way More Accessible
Funding is available for projects that improve public rights of way across England, Scotland, and Wales, helping more people, especially those with limited mobility, enjoy walking outdoors. The funding aims to support work to remove barriers such as stiles, steps, and overgrown paths, with improvements including accessible gates, widened entrances, and better path surfaces to make routes safer and easier to use. The funding is being made available through the Ramblers Path Accessibility Fund, and applications are open to landowners, parish councils, community groups, voluntary organisations, and individuals. Grants average £2,500, with larger awards possible for higher-impact or match-funded projects. Written landowner permission is required, eligibility varies by location, and the deadline is 14 March 2026. Find out more

Funding for Charities Supporting Vulnerable People
The Matrix Causes Fund has re-opened for applications, providing grants to organisations working to support vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the UK and internationally. Funding of up to £6,500 for one-off projects or up to £4,500 per year for up to 3 years is available for initiatives promoting access to justice, equality of opportunity, and environmental sustainability. Eligible applicants include registered charities and organisations established for charitable purposes. The fund supports work with groups such as refugees, people affected by the justice system, individuals with disabilities, and those experiencing social or economic disadvantage. Applications must be submitted by midday on 31 March 2026. Find out more

Holiday activity schemes for autistic children and young people
This scheme provides grants of up to £15,000 to organisations which deliver autistic-specific activity schemes exclusively for autistic children and young people, and their siblings, which run in the school holidays. Grants are usually for part of the costs. An expression of interest form will be available on the website from Monday 2 February until Friday 13 February at 5pm. Find out more

Funding to Enhance School Extracurricular Activities
Twinkl has launched its January Community Collection, offering schools and educational organisations across the UK the chance to win a £500 cash prize. The funding is designed to support extracurricular activities by improving clubs and enrichment opportunities that help pupils connect, explore interests, and develop new skills. The prize money can be used to set up new clubs, improve existing provision, or purchase equipment and resources that benefit pupils. Applications must be submitted by a member of the school’s Senior Leadership Team or an authorised member of staff. One winner will be chosen at random from all eligible entries within 30 days of the closing date. The deadline for applications is 31 January 2026. Find out more

 

Training

SCVO, Mhor Collective & Tara French Consulting Practitioner Workshops 

Planning Aid Scotland are pleased to share our new programme of free training funded by the Scottish Government through the National Planning Hub.
 
The training is free and open to anyone across Scotland. It provides a clear introduction to engaging with the planning system, with a particular focus on renewable energy, community engagement and place-based planning.

The sessions are available to any community or individuals across Scotland who want to engage more confidently in decisions that affect their places.
 
The programme includes the following sessions:

• Understanding renewable energy and planning: Part 2 (Thu 22 Jan)
• Where water meets land: Offshore wind & how it connects to the grid (Tue 27 Jan)
• Understanding the electricity network & how power line routes are chosen (Tue 27 Jan)
• How to create your project management plan (Wed 28 Jan)
• Online & engaged: Learn how to use Placecheck (Wed 11 Feb)
• How to analyse community feedback (Thu 12 Feb)
• How to benefit from a renewable energy as a community (Thu 19 Feb)

New training calendar launched for 2026
The Scottish Community Mediation Centre are pleased to announce the launch of our training calendar. For 2026 we have some exciting new workshops to offer, plus our popular and well-respected courses in mediation, conflict resolution and restorative skills.  Below are a few highlights of the coming year.
 
Mediation ‘taster’ workshop (1.25 hours)
Heard of mediation but not sure what it means? This short workshop explores some of the principles of mediation and outlines the process.
Dates:  22 April   07 September  08 December
 
Introduction to restorative skills (1.25 hours)
This ‘taster’ workshop provides a short introduction to the definitions used in the restorative world, together with some of the practical skills that restorative practitioners need.
Dates: 29 April   16 September
 
Introduction to Restorative Practice (1 day)
Based on our well-respected and accredited six-day Restorative Skills course, this workshop provides managers, team leaders and workers an understanding of:

• the restorative process
• restorative skills required of a facilitator
• an outline of the restorative meeting

Dates: 20 May   21 October.
 
For more information on any of these courses and how to book a place, visit our calendar now!