GrantRadar

The Scottish Government (Veterans Unit)

Scottish Veterans Fund - Small Stream

The Scottish Veterans Fund's small stream funds small-scale, one-year projects that support veterans and their families in Scotland and bring together serving and veteran communities. It is particularly aimed at projects that help veterans overcome disadvantage from service, support a successful transition to civilian life, or make Scotland an attractive place for service leavers. The stream totals £100,000 this round; no per-project maximum is published. Decisions are made by Scottish Ministers on the recommendation of an independent panel chaired by the Scottish Veterans Commissioner.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£1,000 – £10,000
Deadline
33 days left
20 November
Effort
Moderate
full application with documents

Who can apply

  • Organisations that are a 'legal person' able to contract in their own right, such as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) or a registered company (limited company or company limited by guarantee, typically not-for-profit and possibly also a registered charity)
  • Statutory bodies are also eligible
  • Unincorporated organisations are not eligible, even if they are registered charities
  • Applicants must have a presence in Scotland: be a SCIO, a company registered with its head office in Scotland, a charity registered in Scotland, or occupy offices or premises in Scotland used in connection with the funded work
  • Partnership bids must have a lead organisation based in Scotland, which signs the grant contract and manages the budget, and there must be a named project manager in Scotland
  • Applicants must show they can deliver and manage finances soundly, have a safeguarding policy, commit to Fair Work First (including paying the real Living Wage), demonstrate commitment to the UNCRC, and, if funded, work towards LGBTQI+ inclusion policies or accreditation by the end of the grant

What it funds

  • Small-scale, one-year projects benefiting veterans of the UK Armed Forces and their families resident in Scotland (veterans include anyone who has served for any length of time, Regular or Reserve, including National Servicemen and Early Service Leavers, plus widows/widowers, spouses and dependants)
  • Projects that help meet wider family needs are welcomed
  • New or innovative approaches, activities not already funded by the Scottish Government or MoD, and projects addressing red-rated recommendations of the Scottish Veterans Commissioner are desirable but not essential
  • Value is judged by the benefit to veterans and families and the links built between serving and veteran communities, not by project scale
  • Budgets can include items such as:
  • Materials
  • Labour
  • Recruitment
  • Advertising
  • IT
  • Venue hire

What it will not fund

  • Projects based outside Scotland
  • Projects solely for serving members of HM Armed Forces, unless there is a clear, evidence-based benefit for transition to civilian life and the need is not met by the MoD's obligations
  • Direct payments to ex-Service personnel
  • Capital works, such as buildings or infrastructure
  • Reunions, receptions or activities that other funding sources could pay for
  • Erecting, maintaining or repairing memorials
  • 'Gap filling' of a service that is or should be provided by others
  • Retrospective payments for activity already carried out
  • Projects with a substantial proportion of core administration, personnel or running costs

How to apply

  1. Read the guidance on Find a Grant and, if you have questions, contact the Veterans Unit at veteransunit@gov.scot
  2. Complete the application form through 'Start new application' on Find a Grant, covering project overview, need, delivery, up to three outcomes with outputs and targets, requested funding broken down by quarter, delivery partners and sustainability, and keeping to the word counts
  3. Submit by 11:59pm on 20 November 2026
  4. After submitting, email your last three audited accounts and your safeguarding policy to veteransunit@gov.scot
  5. The SVF Independent Panel assesses bids and recommends; the Minister for Veterans makes the final decision
  6. If funded, submit a mid-year report after 6 months and an end-of-year report within 6 weeks of the end of the financial year, each with a signed income and expenditure statement

Only applications on the application form submitted by the closing date are considered; supporting material can be sent separately.

Ministers' decisions are final, but unsuccessful applicants may reapply in later years.

Have ready

  • Completed application form
  • Summary copy of your last three audited accounts (or reports since trading began)
  • Copy of your organisation's safeguarding policy

Accounts and safeguarding policy are emailed to veteransunit@gov.scot after you submit the form.

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