Funding
There is a wide range of funding sources available for projects including UK Government, the European Union, charitable trusts and the national lottery. Eligibility for funding will depend on the nature of your organisation/group, activities that you are engaged in and the type and scale of the proposed project.
Charities, community groups, social enterprises and voluntary organisations can search for themselves through the hundreds of Government, Lottery, charitable and other funds available on a European, national, regional and local basis.
External funding alert
South Ayrshire Council now produces a monthly external funding alert that provides details on available funding opportunities and deadlines for applications from businesses, organisations and community groups. Further information is available by clicking on the links provided throughout the alert or via email from externalfunding2@south-ayrshire.gov.uk.
Funding Alert - May 2023 (PDF) [526KB]
Funding Alert - June 2023 (PDF) [464KB]
External funding service
We can help your voluntary/community groups and organisations to discover new funding opportunities for your projects and ideas. We provide a funder search facility that helps you to find out which funder is likely to provide grants best suited to you. We can also assist you to develop and define your business plan and or constitution, and put you in touch with experience and support from a variety of sources. Funding for projects is available from a number of sources including the UK/SG Government, The EU, charitable trusts and the national lottery. Whether you are eligible will depend on the nature of your organisation/group, its activities and the type and scale of the proposed project.
In addition to traditional grant funding there are a number of crowdfunding platforms, such as:
To allow us to assess the level of support you require please complete the External Funding Enquiry
The external funding service cannot provide advice on accessing funding for individuals, un-constituted organisations or profit making businesses. However the following contacts will be able to provide further information:
- Individuals - Citizens Advice
- Unconstituted bodies - VASA
- Businesses - Business Assistance - South Ayrshire Council
Ayrshire Rural and Islands Ambition(ARIA) Fund
The Ayrshire Rural and Islands Ambition (ARIA) Fund replacement to EU rural development fund LEADER. It is part of the Scottish Government's Community Led Local Development (CLLD) programme.
The UK Government's Community Ownership Fund has launched and the first bidding round is open.
The £150 million Community Ownership Fund is for communities across the United Kingdom. It has been set up to help communities take ownership of assets and amenities at risk of closure. It will run for 4 years.
Voluntary and community organisations can bid for match funding to support the purchase and/or renovation costs of community assets and amenities, subject to the full eligibility criteria outlined in the prospectus: https://www.gov.uk/new-levelling-up-and-community-investments#the-community-ownership-fund
Proposals will need to prove the value of the asset to local people and that the asset can run sustainably for the long-term benefit of the community.
Information session webinars for interested parties (links below) will provide an opportunity to ask questions:
COF webinar session 2: Friday 23rd July, 10am - 11am, sign up here
South Ayrshire Charitable Trust
The South Ayrshire Charitable Trust has been set up to assist and improve the lives of South Ayrshire residents who are in need because of poverty, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage.
South Ayrshire 4 Community
Search for funding for General Community Benefit, Education & Training, Health, Disability, Youth, Sport and lots more.
South Ayrshire 4 Community website