From “I can see the problem” to “I’m doing something about it”
Full action guides, downloadable templates, and funding cards that open the real funder websites.
The 7 steps
Read the plain-English summary on your ward page. Compare with city and national averages. Note what it means for people day to day.
Scan existing groups and projects. Join before you invent. Map the gaps where nobody is active yet.
Pick one realistic start — clean-up, food project, youth activity, residents’ group, asset campaign — not everything at once.
Use the guides: form a group, bank account, insurance, first meeting, survey, and how to work with the council.
Match your idea to local and national funds. Check eligibility, grant size, deadlines and application tips.
Templates for plans, budgets, risk assessments, councillor letters, posters and simple constitutions.
Know who to contact, where free training sits, and request a Ward Action Briefing if you want a short starting map.
Choose an action — full guides
Each guide includes kit, council help, safety and downloadable templates.
Litter-picking / clean-up group
Fastest way to unite neighbours and make streets feel cared for.
Community garden or food project
Grow food, share surplus, reduce isolation — strong fit where child poverty is high.
Youth activity or mentoring
Evenings and holidays matter most. Partner with existing youth work where you can.
Campaign for lighting / safety
Evidence walks, photos, petitions and councillor casework on dark routes.
Form a residents’ association
Structured voice on housing quality, repairs, damp/mould and estate issues.
Community asset opportunity
Explore halls, green space or empty buildings — slower, high impact when ready.
Support for older / isolated people
Phone trees, befriending, lift shares, warm spaces — low cost, high trust.
Mental health / peer support
Peer circles and signposting — train properly and partner with specialists.
Report & chase fly-tipping
Turn the same dumped piles into a tracked case log that councillors cannot ignore.
Food larder / mutual aid (partner first)
Support food access without inventing a rival larder next door to an existing one.
FOI / evidence pack
Use Freedom of Information and public data so arguments rest on numbers, not noise.
Revive or support a community council
If the statutory local voice is quiet, rebuild it properly — don’t invent a shadow one.
School-gate / parent action
Safe routes, food, ASN and holiday pressure — organised from the playground gate.
Local (Glasgow pilot)
Glasgow Area Partnership / Neighbourhood funds
Small local projects, events, equipment, environmental improvements
Who: Constituted community groups in the area
Size: £500 – £5,000
Deadline: Rounds through the year (check Area Partnership)
Tips: Show local support and a clear neighbourhood benefit. Apply to your local Area Partnership budget.
Common fails: No constitution, unclear budget, activity outside the area.
Area Partnership Budgets (GCC) →
Glasgow Communities Fund
Community organisations delivering local outcomes
Who: Eligible third-sector / community bodies
Size: Varies by stream (multi-year programme when open)
Deadline: Published application windows
Tips: Align to published priorities; evidence need with ward data. Check whether the current round is open.
Common fails: Weak monitoring plan; duplication without partnership.
Glasgow Communities Fund (GCC) →
Participatory budgeting / Area Budget pots
Resident-chosen local projects and Area Partnership grants
Who: Community groups; sometimes informal with a host
Size: Often £500 – £2,000 (Area Budget grants vary)
Deadline: When PB events run / monthly Area Partnership cycles
Tips: Strong public pitch; visible local benefit. In Glasgow the practical route is often your Area Partnership Budget.
Common fails: No presence at voting events; unclear delivery plan.
Area Partnership Budgets on Funding Scotland →
Housing Association community funds
Tenant and estate-based activity
Who: Tenant groups and local partners
Size: £250 – £3,000
Deadline: Rolling or quarterly
Tips: Link to estate priorities (youth, environment, isolation). Ask your local RSL’s community team for their community grant pot.
Common fails: Activity not benefiting tenants/area.
SFHA member housing associations →
Community Council small grants
Micro projects and seed costs
Who: Local groups (varies)
Size: £50 – £500
Deadline: Meeting cycle
Tips: Attend a community council meeting and ask early.
Common fails: No local connection demonstrated.
Glasgow Community Councils (GCC) →
National
Investing in Communities Fund (Scottish Government)
Community-led regeneration and inequality work
Who: Eligible community organisations
Size: Larger multi-year possible
Deadline: National rounds
Tips: Strong community control and long-term outcomes. Check if a round is currently open.
Common fails: Top-down projects with weak community ownership.
Scottish Government ICF page →
Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund
Community mental health & wellbeing activity
Who: Community groups via local TSI interfaces
Size: Typically small–medium grants
Deadline: Locally administered rounds
Tips: Partnership with existing support; trauma-informed approach. Search Funding Scotland for the current Glasgow round.
Common fails: Clinical claims beyond group capacity.
Search Funding Scotland (Glasgow wellbeing) →
Community climate action funding
Community climate engagement, carbon reduction and local climate projects
Who: Community organisations (fund-specific)
Size: Varies (small hub grants to larger engagement awards)
Deadline: Programme windows
Tips: The old Climate Challenge Fund has closed. Use Climate Engagement Fund when open, local Climate Action Hubs, and Funding Scotland climate searches. Measure impact simply (energy, waste, travel).
Common fails: No baseline or community involvement; applying to closed programmes.
Climate Engagement Fund (Funding Scotland) →
National Lottery Awards for All Scotland
People-led community projects
Who: Voluntary/community organisations
Size: Up to £20,000 (check current rules)
Deadline: Rolling
Tips: Plain language; clear beneficiaries; realistic budget.
Common fails: Retrospective costs; vague outcomes.
Apply — Awards for All Scotland →
Young Start / Improving Lives (National Lottery)
Youth and people-in-hardship outcomes
Who: Eligible charities / community orgs
Size: Medium grants
Deadline: Programme deadlines
Tips: Evidence of involving people with lived experience.
Common fails: No pathway from activity to outcome.
National Lottery programmes →
Robertson Trust
Poverty, education, pathways work
Who: Charities / eligible orgs
Size: Medium–large
Deadline: Staged processes
Tips: Strong evidence and learning culture.
Common fails: Poor financial governance evidence.
Robertson Trust funding →
Foundation Scotland
Wide range of community funds (including place-based)
Who: Community groups (fund-specific)
Size: Varies by fund
Deadline: Multiple funds
Tips: Search by postcode/theme on their portal.
Common fails: Applying to the wrong geographic fund.
Foundation Scotland — apply →
Corra Foundation
Community and place-based support (fund-specific)
Who: Community organisations
Size: Varies
Deadline: Programme windows
Tips: Relationship and learning matter as much as forms.
Common fails: One-off activity with no community root.
Corra Foundation →
Bank of Scotland Foundation
Money management, employability, community support
Who: Charities in Scotland
Size: Varies by programme
Deadline: Published rounds
Tips: Match tightly to current themes.
Common fails: Off-theme applications.
Bank of Scotland Foundation →
Other
Supermarket community grants
Equipment, small local projects, food-related activity, community spaces
Who: Local groups (scheme rules vary — check each funder)
Size: £100 – £1,500 typical (some larger Asda/Morrisons awards)
Deadline: Token / application cycles — different for each supermarket
Tips: Pick the scheme that matches your project. Visible local story and photos help. Always read current eligibility on the funder’s page.
Common fails: Missing charity/group registration where required; applying to a closed round.
Pick a supermarket scheme
- Tesco — Fruit & Veg / Stronger StartsGrants (often up to £1,500) for food access, kids & community projects — apply via Tesco/Groundwork programme pages.
- Tesco Community Grants hubProgramme information and routes for Tesco community grant schemes.
- Asda FoundationLocal community grants and larger space funds — often via store Community Champions or online windows.
- Co-op Local Community FundMember-chosen local causes; groups can apply when rounds open in their area.
- Co-op fund details (Funding Scotland)Clear summary of who can apply and how for the Co-op Local Community Fund.
- Morrisons FoundationCharity project grants (check if applications are open — site sometimes pauses for upgrades).
Sportscotland / governing body small awards
Participation, kit, coaching pathways
Who: Clubs and community sport groups
Size: Varies
Deadline: Programme windows
Tips: Inclusion and women/girls or disability participation score well.
Common fails: Elite-only focus without community reach.
sportscotland funding →
Heritage Fund (for buildings / history projects)
Heritage, buildings, community stories
Who: Eligible not-for-profits
Size: Wide range
Deadline: Staged
Tips: People outcomes + heritage significance together.
Common fails: Conservation without community use.
National Lottery Heritage Fund →