We are delighted to bring you two new funding programmes – Community Action and Fairer Life Chances  – which are now open to applications. 

Building on the best of what’s gone before but also responding to where communities are now, our new programmes are focussed on helping communities to tackle poverty, disadvantage and discrimination.  

They replace our previous funds, Community Led, Improving Lives and Cost-of-living Support Scotland. 

Read on for an overview of our new programmes. 

Programme headlines 

Community Action will support community activities that bring communities together to improve wellbeing and develop positive relationships within those communities. Projects should help people connect with each other and/or the environment. We are broadening our definition of community to mean people who share an identity, interest or experience, as well as people living in the same place.  You can apply for funding between £20,001 and £250,000 for up to five years. 

Fairer Life Chances is for projects providing services that support children, young people and families, or that help people to be healthier or have better access to support.   You can apply for funding between £20,001 to £500,000 for up to five years.  The maximum grant size is higher than Community Action because we see this programme providing more intensive support to people through services that support them. That said we expect to fund different sizes of organisations and projects so we expect most of our funding will be for £250,000 or less. 

What we are looking for in a strong project 

When applying to either programme you must tell us how your project will support people most affected by poverty, disadvantage and discrimination. We know that not everyone community has the same starting point and that people will experience complex and deep rooted challenges differently.  We also know that some rural communities may experience these issues differently so we include the unique experiences of rural deprivation in our understanding of poverty, disadvantage and discrimination. 

In your application we’ll want you to tell us who the people you are working with are, what’s happening in their lives, what challenges they are dealing with and how do you engage with and support them.   

We also want you to tell us how your project will  meaningfully involve the people and communities you support. So, how you will listen to and be guided by their voices and make sure that they lead the project design and delivery. 

Then we want you to tell us how you’ll make use of the skills, interests and experience of these people and communities. So how you’ll build on their strengths and help them to go where their aspirations take them.   

And the fourth thing we want you to tell us is how your project will make connections and complement other organisations and services.  

For more information, and examples of the above, visit our What we’re looking for in a strong project page.

What else do I need to know?  

Both programmes have their own outcomes. 

For Community Action your project must achieve at least 2 of these outcomes:  

• build positive relationships  

• support people’s health or wellbeing  

• help people improve their access and connection to nature  

• make a positive difference to the environment.  

We want to support community led projects that are more open, inclusive and led by the people who will benefit from their activities and services.    We’ll fund different types of projects, but some examples might include: 

• those that provide a regular programme of activities that improve the wellbeing of the community  

• community kitchens, larders, pantries and advice or support activities  

• community gardens or growing project 

• environment clear ups, waste reducing activities or mending, repairing and upcycling workshops. 

For Fairer Life Chances projects must meet at least one of these outcomes:  

• Children, young people and families thrive.  

• People have better relationships, connections, and physical or mental health.  

We know we can’t fund all of the valuable work being delivered by and for communities across Scotland. so we’ve identified some priority groups under these outcomes.    

 We’ll prioritise projects supporting children, young people and families:   

• facing poverty or struggling with the cost of living    

• experiencing mental health issues    

• with a disability or additional support needs. For example children with a physical or learning disability, or English as a second or other language.    

• who are socially excluded and experiencing discrimination. Including being homeless or care experienced.    

We’ll prioritise projects that help the following people to have better relationships, connections, and physical and/or mental health. People who:   

• experience abuse   

• are isolated or lonely    

• are carers   

• have a disability or long term health condition   

• face financial hardship    

• experience social exclusion or discrimination such as those who are homeless, seeking asylum, or dealing with addiction.   

To find out more about eligibility, and what we can and can’t fund, visit the Community Action and Fairer Life Chances webpages. 

How do I apply? 

Before you apply please email us at advicescotland@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk, or phone us on 0300 123 7110 (open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday). 

We will talk to you about the length and amount of funding you can apply for when you contact us.  

You can only hold one Community Action or one Fairer Life Chances grant at one time.  If you are coming to the end of your project please talk to your funding officer who can advise you about the right time to apply.  

Vist the Scotland page of our website to find out more about these and other funding programmes. If you need any support please don’t hesitate to get in touch.