Community Regeneration Funding

Who can apply?

Applications are welcome from:

• constituted community groups
• development trusts
• voluntary and social enterprises
• charities
• co-operatives and community ownership initiative
• not for profit and community interest companies
• places of worship

Projects delivered in Badenoch and Strathspey, and Inverness City are not eligible to apply for this round of funding.

Types of projects that can be funded

This round of Community Regeneration Funding (CRF) is for capital only projects.

Capital only projects are one-off purchases or improvements of physical assets and do not include ongoing expenses.

For example, CRF can fund capital projects that are:

• one-off purchase of new assets usually costing more than £10,000, where this will appear in the organisation's asset register
• provision of new or upgrading of existing community facilities
• public access projects such as new paths
• civic improvement projects
• visitor infrastructure, such as a new waste disposal point
• energy efficiency improvements to community facilities
• playparks

Projects must also:

• be sustainable and viable
• demonstrate value for money
• demonstrate the benefits would not have happened without this funding
• demonstrate local support and local benefit
• demonstrate that they have taken account of environmental sustainability, such as transition to a low carbon economy
• demonstrate consideration of equality issues and impacts
• comply with the Fair Work First policy, for example, living wage, effective workers' voice

Projects should follow the broad objective of CRF to support the themes of People, Place, Economy and Environment.

Funding requirements

During this round of CRF, applicants can apply for up to 100% of project costs. They must demonstrate that this level of intervention is needed and that other match funding options have been explored.

Project costs must mainly be one-off purchases or improvements of physical assets. If ongoing expenses are included in the project budget, they must be funded by another source.

Funding requests should be between £5,000 and £100,000.

Applicants should only apply for the funding needed for the project to be delivered.

Timescales

Projects must be able to start from May 2025 and be completed and the grant claimed by 27 February 2026.

Projects that are awarded funding must not start before a formal grant offer has been issued and accepted following the decision-making meeting.

Themes for projects

This is not a complete list but gives an idea of the types of projects that may be funded under each theme.

People

• Activities for young people
• Celebration of culture
• Digital inclusion
• Investment in community organisations
• Spaces for people
• Staying socially connected
• Community response to cost-of-living crisis
• Wellbeing support

Place

• Active travel
• Local amenities
• Local heritage
• Recreational areas
• Sport facilities
• Town centre improvements
• Visitor infrastructure and attractions
• Affordable housing solutions

Economy

• Improve local supply chains
• Support for social enterprises
• Growth of key sectors
• Zero waste circular economy

Environment

• Biodiversity enhancement
• Community food growing
• Low carbon travel
• Improving energy efficiency of community buildings
• Outdoor access
• Removal of non-native species
• Community renewable energy schemes

A copy of this guidance can be downloaded.

Read how to apply to download the Expression of Interest form.