Funding Bulletin

Welcome to our funding bulletin – updated May 2025

We hope this page provides you up to date information and inspiration to submit applications to support your valuable work across Inverclyde. Please make sure that you follow us on Facebook to keep up to date on deadline information and funds with short lead in time.

If you are working on an application and need some support, please contact us at funding@cvsinverclyde.org.uk to find out about our editing and enhancement service or sign up for one of our funding events on our website.

Upcoming Funding Events

Looking for funding for a project, or running costs and need some help?

Book a space in our next virtual funding surgery on Tuesday 17 June 2025.

Anne from the Funding Team will be on hand to answer your queries.

Spaces are limited, please email sabrina.sigler@cvsinverclyde.org.uk to book a slot.

Meet the Funder – The National Lottery

Joao from the National Lottery Community Fund is back with us on Monday 19 May 2025 to provide support and information to organisations considering applying to the National Lottery Community Fund.

30-minute sessions can be booked by returning the below form to sabrina.sigler@cvsinverclyde.org.uk. Please note that you must download the form to complete it.

Meet the Funder – Robertson Trust

The Robertson Trust is the largest independent grant-making trust in Scotland, providing funding to prevent and reduce poverty and trauma in Scotland. Registered charities and community groups operating in Scotland can apply for funding to deliver initiatives that address Financial Security, Education Pathways, and Work Pathways. To find out more please visit: https://www.therobertsontrust.org.uk/funding/who-and-what-we-fund/

If your organisation or group is thinking of applying to the Robertson Trust this event is for you. This is your opportunity to meet with a Robertson Trust Grants Officer to learn more about open funding programmes and discuss your funding needs on a one-to-one basis. Taking place on Thursday 12 June at the CVSI Office at West College Scotland, Finnart Street, Greenock, PA16 8HF, sessions are bookable by emailing Sabrina at sabrina.sigler@cvsinverclyde.org.uk.

Spotlight On

The National Lottery Community Fund (TNLCF) – Community Action

Community Action is one of two new funds announced in November 2024 and seeks applications for new or existing projects which improve connections between people. Communities can be people living the same place, but can also mean people with shared identities, interests or experiences.

So what types of projects are TNLCF looking for? Projects need to achieve at least two outcomes including building positive relationships, supporting health or wellbeing, helping people improve their access and connection to nature and making a positive difference to the environment. And remember, you won’t improve your chances of success by selecting all four outcomes; it’s much better to select those most closely aligned with your work and outline how well you meet these..

Funding of between £20,001 and £250,000 is available for up to five years, however if your organisation has not been in receipt of long-term funding before the duration and grant award may be less. Grants will cover revenue costs (e.g. Staff salaries, volunteer expenses, equipment, transport, rent etc) as well as up to £50,000 for capital costs. The latter can include building repairs or refurbishing spaces.

There are no deadlines for applications, and you can apply at any time by firstly contacting TNLCF (advicescotland@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk) to discuss your idea. Alternatively, Joao Inverclyde’s Grant Officer provides in person sessions at our offices in Greenock to discuss project ideas.

Last Chance to Apply – Deadlines until 21 May 2025

The Weir Charitable Trust – 16 May 2025

The Weir Charitable Trust aims to support Scottish-based community groups and charities to provide services across Scotland to help the Scottish community.

Qualifying categories include animal welfare, culture, health, sport and recreational facilities.

Applications requesting funding above £25,000 will not be considered

Read more: https://weircharitabletrust.com/

Inspiring Scotland – Autistic Adult Support Fund – 21 May 2025

The Inspiring Scotland Autistic Adult Support Fund is open for applications from Scottish not-for-profit organisations who support adults with an autism diagnosis, self-identified autistic adults, and their families and carers.

Minimum grant size is £40,000 per financial year (£100,000 for 2.5 years)
Maximum grant size is £200,000 per financial year (£500,000 for 2.5 years)

Programmes with Deadlines

Big Give – Women and Girls Match Fund – 30 May 2025

The Women and Girls Match Fund utilises Big Give’s ‘1:1’ Model of match funding. Women and Girls charities apply to Big Give and have their application assessed. 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 campaign.

Registered charities with an annual income of at least £25,000 can apply to raise either £2,500, £5,000 or £10,000 in public donations (to be doubled by match funds).

The Volant Charitable Trust – Small Grants Programme – 3 June 2025

The Volant Charitable Trust is prioritising the focus of its awards on charities and organisations who are particularly addressing poverty and deprivation, helping to support vulnerable groups who are most affected, with an emphasis on women, children and young people.

Up to £5,000 is available for core and project costs of organisations with an income of less than £350,000.

Big Give – Women and Girls Match Fund – 30 May 2025

Registered charities with an annual income of at least £25,000 can apply to raise either £2,500, £5,000 or £10,000 in public donations (to be doubled by match funds).

Parkinsons UK Physical Activity Grants – Time Sensitive

The Parkinson’s UK Physical Activity Grants Programme supports activity providers, communities, networks, organisations and others to develop opportunities for people with Parkinson’s to become and stay active. In 2025 applications can be made for a minimum of £500 up to a maximum of £3,000.

Successful projects will:

Help people with Parkinson’s become and stay active, or
Help people with Parkinson’s who are already active to significantly increase their levels of physical activity.

Programmes with Rolling Deadlines

Inverclyde Council – New Business Start-up Grant

This discretionary fund can provide a grant to new businesses that are starting to trade in the area. The grant can be used to cover up to a maximum of contribution of £750 towards the start-up costs of the business.

Children’s Alliance Grant Funding

Children’s Alliance are providing grant funding to get children into water safely to learn, develop and purposefully play for the benefit of children’s physical and mental wellbeing.

They are looking to support grass roots initiatives from non-profit organisations delivering water-based projects for disadvantaged children.

Educational Opportunity Foundation – Main Fund

Educational Opportunity Foundation awards approximately £700,000 in new grants every year for projects which maximise educational opportunity for children and young people under the age of 25 in the UK and internationally.

UK projects can receive between £30,000 to £90,000 for projects that work with either care experienced young people, their carers or education professionals to:

Improve access to educational opportunity
Improve educational outcomes
Improve life chances

W A Cargill Fund

The W A Cargill Fund is a trust that supports hospitals, institutions, societies and others whose work they believe is beneficial to the community in Glasgow and the West of Scotland.

Firstport – Pounds for Purpose

Pounds for Purpose offers up to £500 for individuals aged 16-26 with an idea to create positive change in Scotland. The fund can help you cover the costs of getting your idea up and running. Ideas which have the potential to generate income and become social enterprises will be prioritised.

Kells Trust

The Kells Trust benefits mainly smaller charities based in Glasgow and the west of Scotland, particularly those promoting the well-being all older people and helping make later life a fulfilling and enjoyable experience.

Applications can be made at any time. Trustees meet to consider applications once or twice a year.

Cash for Kids – Holiday Hunger Grants

Holiday Hunger Grants are available to organisations and service providers who support children and young people (up to and including 18 years old) that have a genuine need for support, are disadvantaged due to poverty, the increase in the cost of living and face food insecurity.

This funding is specifically to provide disadvantaged children and young people who have a lack of access to food AND activities in the school holidays.

Projects must focus on outcomes that encourage children to eat more healthily and be more active during the school holidays.

Read more: https://cashforkids.org.uk/grants

Non-Grant Support

Social Investment Business – Community Builders Fund

The Community Builders Fund provides loans of between £50k and £1.5m to charities and social enterprises.

TThe fund is supported by the Government guarantee scheme – Growth Guarantee Scheme.

Applicants should be operating for at least two years with a minimum turnover of £200k in the last financial year.