GrantRadar

The City of Edinburgh Council

Community Grants Fund

The City of Edinburgh Council's small grants scheme: up to £5,000 for constituted voluntary organisations and community groups to try new things and run small-scale, very local activity that benefits their community. The fund is split into 13 neighbourhood pots, each decided by a local panel of councillors, community councillors and local organisations. The current round (18 September to 31 October 2026) is open only for the Pentlands, South West and Western neighbourhood areas, where money remains.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Up to £5,000
Closes in
13 days left
31 October
Effort
Light
short form, little evidence needed

Who can apply

  • Voluntary organisations and community groups with a governing document (constitution, trust deed or memorandum and articles) and accounts showing that the organisation has charitable purposes or is set up for community benefit, that assets pass to another community-benefit organisation if it dissolves, and that funds are properly managed (e.g. a bank account in the group's name with at least two authorised signatories)
  • Appropriately constituted CICs may be able to apply
  • Schools cannot apply, but parent councils can for projects benefiting the wider community outside the core curriculum
  • Projects must benefit people in one neighbourhood area; this round is open only for the Pentlands, South West and Western areas
  • One project per application, maximum £5,000; an organisation may apply for more than one project

What it funds

Locally targeted, pilot or one-off activities aimed at improving and encouraging community activity in the area, for example:

  • Start-up costs and new activities
  • Buying equipment
  • Running events
  • Improving or developing existing activities
  • Involving, managing or training up volunteers
  • One-off awareness raising activities
  • Finding out about needs in your community

direct project costs can include event costs, sessional or additional staff time for the project only, equipment and materials, volunteer expenses, promotion, specialist services, proportionate monitoring and evaluation, potentially refurbishment (not routine maintenance), and insurance or licences needed for the project

What it will not fund

  • Activity of a political or lobbying nature designed to promote party political or religious causes (faith groups doing local community work can apply)
  • Costs directly relating to statutory planning processes
  • Routine property maintenance/repairs and other running costs
  • Staff time that isn't specifically for delivering the project
  • Servicing of debt
  • Projects where money is already spent (retrospective funding)
  • Contributions towards a larger fundraising activity, unless for a stand-alone element or the rest of the funding is already secured
  • Private sector bodies, or individuals who will privately benefit
  • Statutory bodies, including schools and other parts of the Council
  • Self-payments, e.g. the cost of using your own venue
  • Projects with a city-wide remit
  • Core/running costs (it is not a full cost recovery fund)

How to apply

  1. Read the applicant guidance and draft your answers in advance (the online form cannot be saved and returned to)
  2. Check which neighbourhood area your project falls in (this round: Pentlands, South West or Western)
  3. Complete the online application form by 31 October 2026
  4. Council officers check eligibility and may ask for more information
  5. The local funding panel considers applications and you are told the outcome
  6. If successful, sign and return the funding agreement (with bank details) within 2 weeks

the form is available in other formats on request from communitygrantsfund@edinburgh.gov.uk

an end of project report is mandatory within 12 months of the award

Have ready

Note: no documents are required up front; officers may ask for your governing document, accounts or evidence of costs if they doubt eligibility

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