Funding Focus - 03 September

Fresh starts, fresh funding

There’s something about early September in Renfrewshire – schools back, evenings drawing in, and groups starting to shift gears from summer activities to autumn plans. It’s also when the funding world seems to wake up again, with a burst of new opportunities landing all at once.

This edition has a real mix: big, long-term pots to support families and dementia care, alongside smaller grants for arts, cycling, and even endangered crafts. It’s a good moment to pause, reflect, and see what might help you take the next step forward.

As always, if you’d like to talk through any of the opportunities, I’m only an email away: mwollberg@engagerenfrewshire.com
 

Funding

• Alcohol & Drugs
• Arts, crafts and music
• Churches
• Community Projects
• Cycling
• Environment, Nature and Climate Change
• Ethnically Diverse Communities
• Housing and Homelessness
• Miscellaneous
• Older Adults
• Support for Adults
• Young People

Way Forward for Families Partnership Fund – Re-opening
The Way Forward for Families Partnership is now re-open to. The Way Forward is a joint programme invested in by Corra Foundation and the Scottish Government, which will invite applications from partnerships, led by third sector organisations working together with public bodies. Grants will support projects to deliver support to children, young people and families affected by alcohol and drugs.   Applicants can apply for up to £250,000 over three years, a minimum of 50% matched funding must be in place in each funding year.  More information, including full criteria and guidance on the Way Forward for Families Partnership webpage.  Applicants have until Friday 07 November 2025 to make an initial inquiry. Completed applications should be sent in by 2pm Thursday 27 November 2025 via the online portal.  

Funding for Songwriters and Producers to Develop their Careers
The Performing Rights Society (PRS) for Music Foundation has launched a new funding round to develop the careers of songwriters and producers working in popular music genres in the UK. Launched in 2017 as a response to the long-term career needs of those working behind the scenes, the Hitmaker Fund awards up to eighteen grants of between £5,000 and £10,000 each year. Applications can be made by songwriters or producers (or their representatives) with at least five credited works registered with PRS for Music (i.e., a reputable cut or songs with national radio plays, streaming plays, or from a reputable writing camp). The deadline for applications is 29 September 2025. Find out more
 

Funding to Support the Development of Songwriters & Composers
To support the development of outstanding songwriters and composers of all genres at different stages of their career, the PRS Foundation is inviting applications to the latest round of the Open Fund for Music Creators. Grants of up to £5,000 are available to songwriters, composers, or artists, bands, producers and performers who are writing their own music or commissioning others to support the creation, performance and promotion of outstanding new music in any genre, and to enable the UK’s most talented music creators to realise their potential. The funding can support activities such as touring, music creator time and fees, equipment or software costs for online content, and recording and release costs, etc. The closing date for applications is 6pm on 29 September 2025. Find out more
 

Funding to Support Young Creatives to Launch a Project, Idea or Business
Youth Music has announced that round 12 of its NextGen Fund has reopened for applications. The NextGen Fund supports emerging musicians and behind-the-scenes creatives aged 18-25 (and under-30s who identify as d/Deaf, Disabled, or Neurodivergent) from the UK to launch a creative project, idea or business. Grants of up to £3,000 are available to support singers, songwriters, producers, DJs, managers and agents who do not have the financial means to invest in themselves, to start a record label, launch a single, or provide a platform that supports underrepresented voices. Funding can also cover costs linked to career development, audience development or marketing, equipment and software, and business development. The closing date for applications is 5pm on 26 September 2025. Find out more
 

Grants to Safeguard Endangered UK Crafts Now Open for Applications
UK-based individuals and organisations—including sole traders, small businesses, community groups, and charities—can now apply for grants of up to £2,000 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. A total of £30,000 is available in this round, with applications due by 5pm on 17 October 2025. 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. Find out more
 

New £320,000 Fund Opens for Community-Led Arts
The Scottish Government has announced the launch of its new Community Arts Fund, a flagship programme designed to expand access to creative opportunities across the country. The fund makes up to £320,000 available to support projects that encourage greater participation in the arts at a community level. The fund is open to community groups and organisations across Scotland, particularly those committed to widening access to cultural experiences. Eligible organisations can apply for up to £35,000, and the fund is expected to support at least 10 charities. The closing date for applications is 18 September 2025. Activities will be delivered between January and December 2026. Find out more

The National Churches Trust’s Medium Grants Programme
Grants of up to £10,000 are available to listed and unlisted Christian places of worship, of any denomination, across the UK towards project development and investigative work up to RIBA planning stage 1, to support churches preparing for a major project, and in developing their project to the point at which they can approach a major grant funder. Grants will never exceed 50% of the net project costs for this phase. The National Churches Trusts's Medium Grants Programme is also now able to offer grants of up to £10,000 for urgent and essential maintenance and repair projects costing between £20,000 and £80,000. Grants cannot exceed 50% of the net project costs. The deadline for applications is 16 December 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

 

Grants for Churches for the Conservation of Decorative Features and Monuments
Grants of between £500 and £5,000 are available to churches, chapels and other places of worship built before 1896 to carry out small programmes of conservation work to decorative features and monuments. Eligible work includes, but is not limited to, stained glass windows, sculpture, furniture, internal monuments, tombs, and wall paintings. All work funded must be directed by a professional architect or established conservator and completed according to the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) principles. The funding is being made available through the William and Jane Morris Fund. Applications can be submitted at any time until 31 March 2026. Find out more

The Weir Charitable Trust
Scottish-based community groups and small charities working in the areas of sport, recreational facilities, health, culture, and animal welfare can apply for grants of up to £25,000 through the Weir Charitable Trust. The trust aims to assist organisations that have difficulty securing funding elsewhere. Applications are accepted twice a year and the next deadline is 31 October 2025. Find out more

Grants up to £6,000 Available to Encourage Walking, Wheeling, and Cycling Along Traffic Free Routes
Community groups, not-for-profit organisations, and individuals can apply for grants of up to £6,000 to support public art projects along Scotland's traffic-free routes. The funding, provided through Sustrans’ ArtRoots scheme, aims to encourage walking, wheeling, and cycling. Established in 2017, ArtRoots offers standard grants of £2,500, with higher awards available for projects expected to significantly boost active travel. The application process begins with an Expression of Interest and includes support from a Sustrans officer, with selection based on the project’s potential to foster community involvement and enhance enjoyment of the National Cycle Network. Applications close on 15 October 2025. Find out more

Grants of up to £1,000 for Local Environmental and Social Initiatives
Not-for-profit organisations, community groups, and individuals can apply for grants of up to £1,000 to support local environmental and social projects. A total of £150,000 is available through the Veolia’s Annual Sustainability Fund for 2025. This year, eligibility has been expanded to include social initiatives such as youth support, rehabilitation, employment assistance, and community-building, in addition to environmental projects that enhance biodiversity and promote sustainable living. Successful applicants must operate within areas served by Veolia’s recycling and waste services, with projects required to deliver clear, lasting benefits and strong community involvement. In honour of the fund’s fifth anniversary, an exceptional project could receive a special "bumper" grant of up to £5,000. Full criteria and qualifying areas are listed on the Veolia website, with applications open until 30 September 2025. Find out more

Funding to Support Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Grants of up to £5,000 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 £1,000,000 per annum. The Trust does not fund other types of non-profit organisations, social enterprises, or community foundations. The closing date for applications is 30 September 2025. Find out more

£40 Million Fund Opens to Support Vulnerable Households
Charities and community energy groups across England, Scotland, and Wales can apply for a share of £40 million to support projects that help vulnerable households manage energy-related issues, such as cold homes and high bills. Funding is available for advice services, carbon reduction, innovation, small-scale projects, and community renewable energy projects. This funding round includes a dedicated £2 million Impact Fund to monitor the effectiveness of energy advice services. Grants range from £20,000 to £2 million, depending on the funding stream. Applications close at 5pm on 09 September 2025, with registration required 10 working days before the deadline via the Energy Redress website. The funding is provided by Ofgem through the Energy Redress Scheme, managed by the Energy Saving Trust. Find out more

£100,000 Grants Open for Museums and Community Partnerships
Grants of up to £100,000 are available to support museums and their partners to use collections in ways that advance inclusion, equity, and social and climate justice. The funding, which is being made available through the Museums Association’s Esmée Fairbairn Communities and Collections Fund (EFCCF), has two distinct funding streams. Core Grants support individual museums with strong participatory and inclusion strategies, while Partnership Project Grants support collaborations with community organisations. Since 2011, the fund has awarded over £14 million to nearly 200 projects. Expressions of interest close on 21 January 2026, with shortlisted applicants notified in February, final applications due in May, and successful projects announced by the end of June 2026. Find out more
 

Competition to Support High-Growth Entrepreneurs
Applications are now open for Scottish EDGE, a major funding competition supporting Scotland’s most innovative young, early-stage, and high-growth potential entrepreneurs. Backed by the Hunter Foundation, Royal Bank of Scotland, Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, and private donors, it has awarded over £25m to 569 businesses. The competition includes four categories: Scottish EDGE (up to £100,000, 30% grant/70% loan), Young EDGE (grant-only up to £10,000), Wild Card EDGE (grant-only up to £15,000), and Social Enterprise EDGE (up to £75,000, 70% grant/30% loan). Applicants must complete the online form and submit a three-minute video pitch. The closing date is 2pm on 10 September 2025. Find out more
 

Grants of up to £50,000 Available to Support Armed Forces Families Facing Separation
Charities, community interest companies (CICs), and Armed Forces units or bases can apply for grants of up to £50,000 for projects that strengthen Armed Forces families during separation caused by deployments. Eligible projects should help families manage loneliness, support reintegration, improve wellbeing, or test effective support models. Examples include peer support groups, community activities, counselling or wellbeing services, childcare provision, and pilot projects trialling new approaches. The funding is available through the “Apart, Not Alone: Support for Serving Families Programme 2025–26”, delivered by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust. Applications close at 12 noon on 21 January 2026. Find out more

Grants of up to £100,000 Available to Support Innovations for People with Dementia
The Alzheimer’s Society is offering up to £100,000 and a year long partnership in business support to UK innovators poised to transform dementia care. The funding which is being made available through its Accelerator Programme supports early stage businesses, academics, designers or entrepreneurs (UK residents aged 18 +) whose innovations already demonstrate proof of concept and traction. Funded projects can be digital or physical solutions addressing any point along the dementia pathway from early diagnosis to end of life care or simply making everyday tasks easier for those living with dementia . Since its launch in 2019, the programme has backed 17 startups. The closing date for applications is 18 September 2025. Find out more

Funding of up to £5,000 Available for Projects Supporting Women in Business and in Science Education
UK-based individuals and not-for-profit organisations can apply for grants of up to £5,000 for projects that support initiatives empowering women and girls to succeed in business and STEM education. The funding is being made available through the Another Way Women’s Foundation (AWWF), a volunteer-led UK charity focused on tackling gender inequality through sustainable, community-led projects. This round prioritises Business and STEM education, though applications in other areas will be considered if funds allow. Two grants are offered: up to £5,000 for larger projects, and £1,000 for concise 1,000-word proposals. Funding may support pilot initiatives or service delivery. Applications close on 30 September 2025. Find out more

Funding to Support Education in Disadvantaged Areas
Grants are available to support registered charities that run educational projects with children and young people under the age of 25 in marginalised communities within the UK. The Educational Opportunity Foundation normally makes grants totalling about £700,000 in any one year. The focus is on improving the educational outcomes and life chances of care experienced young people. Grants for projects range between £30,000 and £60,000. There is a two-stage application process. The closing date for applications is the 14 January 2026 for UK grants. Applications shortlisted at this stage will be invited to submit a Stage 2 proposal. Find out more