GrantRadar

East Lothian Council

Common Good Funds

East Lothian Council runs four Common Good Funds, for Dunbar, Haddington, Musselburgh and North Berwick. They give grants for activities, events, repairs and equipment that benefit the residents of each former burgh. Only people and organisations living or operating within the 1973 burgh boundaries can apply, and projects must show a benefit to the whole community. Grant budgets for 2026/27 are £4,000 (Dunbar), £20,000 (Haddington), £120,000 (Musselburgh) and £15,000 (North Berwick); at 22 September 2026 Dunbar had nothing left and North Berwick had £2,699.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Amount not specified
Deadline
44 days left
1 December
Effort
Moderate
full application with documents

Who can apply

  • Individuals and groups who live or operate within the boundary of one of the four Common Good areas (the former burghs of Dunbar, Haddington, Musselburgh or North Berwick, as defined by 1973 burgh maps), where the grant would benefit the community as a whole
  • If applying for an organisation, an office-bearer must complete the form
  • Organisations must attach a signed and dated constitution and two years of accounts
  • Council officers can apply only as appointed office bearers of a community group, and Elected Members cannot apply at all

What it funds

  • Activities and events that will benefit the residents of that area
  • A fair or festival being held in a community
  • Repair or improvement works to facilities
  • The purchase of equipment

What it will not fund

  • Projects that do not benefit the wider community
  • Applications from individuals or organisations that do not live or operate within the area of the relevant Common Good Fund
  • An organisation's running costs, such as wages, utility bills and other recurring costs
  • Projects which another organisation has a legal right or duty to provide
  • Activities promoting political beliefs, gambling or other immoral activities
  • Retrospective funding for activities or work that has started or been completed
  • Projects starting in future years (the application should relate to the current financial year)
  • Applications that benefit only an individual
  • Applications from East Lothian Council officers, unless formally representing a community group as an appointed office bearer
  • Applications from Elected Members of East Lothian Council, even as office bearers of a group

How to apply

  1. Check that you live or operate within the boundary map of the relevant Common Good Fund and that the fund still has budget
  2. Download the Common Good application form and choose the fund you are applying to
  3. Complete every section, including a detailed cost breakdown, the community benefit, and plans if you receive 75%, 50% or 25% of what you ask for
  4. Email the form and supporting documents to commongood@eastlothian.gov.uk (or post paper copies to Connected Communities Service, John Muir House, Haddington EH41 3HA) at least six weeks before the committee meeting
  5. Officers check the application and may ask for more information; complete applications go to the Common Good Committee

remaining closing dates are 29 September 2026 (meeting 10 November 2026), 1 December 2026 (meeting 12 January 2027) and 2 February 2027 (meeting 16 March 2027)

do not canvass councillors about your application; Community Councils are consulted on applications for their area

you may be asked to attend a committee meeting; successful applicants must report on how they used the funding and publicise the support

Have ready

  • Completed Common Good application form, signed
  • The organisation's signed and dated constitution
  • The organisation's most recent year and prior year accounts or financial information
  • Two quotations or estimates where goods or services are bought or work is carried out by a contractor

for events that might not go ahead, you may need to show evidence of cancellation insurance or another way to repay the grant before funds are released

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