North Lanarkshire Council

Grant Awards Programme (GAP)

North Lanarkshire Council's Grant Awards Programme (GAP) is an annual small-grants programme of up to £10,000 for community and voluntary sector organisations whose projects and activities contribute to the Local Outcome Improvement Plan priorities. For 2027/28 the application windows are staggered by locality; the only window still open is Launch 5, for organisations operating across North Lanarkshire or in more than one area, which closes on Sunday 25 October 2026. Applicants must hold a council CVS registration number and apply online; awards are decided by the Communities Committee in February 2027 and paid from April 2027.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: Up to £10,000
Closes in: 7 days left; 25 October
Effort: Moderate; full application with documents

Who can apply

Community and voluntary sector organisations operating in North Lanarkshire, including registered charities and Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisations (SCIOs)
Companies limited by guarantee, social enterprises and Community Interest Companies can apply only if they are asset-locked and not-for-profit, have a board elected by members who predominantly live in North Lanarkshire, have at least 20 members, have a dissolution clause that does not pass assets to private individuals or companies, and have community, social or charitable objects; social enterprises and CICs must also submit a statement of social/community benefit delivered over the previous two years
Membership must be open (closed-membership organisations are excluded) and activities must be open to community members at low or no cost
Not eligible: individuals, companies limited by guarantee with shareholders and no membership, sole traders, political groups, organisations that breached earlier funding agreements, and businesses seeking funds for commercial activity
Partnership projects are considered if the applicant delivers a substantial part
All applicants need a council CVS registration number (valid three years, with annual independently examined or audited accounts sent to the council); first-time applicants must contact the council to register before applying
For 2027/28 the only window still open (28 September to 25 October 2026) is for organisations operating across North Lanarkshire or in more than one area; the locality windows for Airdrie, Cumbernauld, Bellshill, Motherwell, Coatbridge, Kilsyth, Northern Corridor, Shotts and Wishaw have closed

What it funds

Projects, activities and services delivered by community and voluntary organisations that contribute to the Local Outcome Improvement Plan priorities (for multi-area organisations, the cross-cutting priorities of tackling poverty, digital inclusion, mental health and well-being, and young people):

Facilities/Property Costs, up to £2,500 - including hire or letting of facilities needed to run your projects, and property costs only if you own the property or have a long-term lease
Employee Costs (staffing and volunteer costs), up to £2,500 - core contracted staff, paid at least the Real Living Wage under Fair Work First
Project and Activity Costs, up to £10,000:
Materials and small items of equipment (normally no more than £100 each)
Essential supplies required to deliver your service and activities
Costs associated with educational trips and excursions
Stationery and office administration supplies
Publicity and marketing of your projects and activities
Sessional staffing costs and ad hoc hire of specialist staffing
Delivery of training and purchase of relevant training services
Feasibility work
Delivery of events and exhibitions and associated costs
Contributions towards residential experiences, day trips and outings
Light hospitality (tea, coffee, water, fruit, healthy snacks) and ingredients for cooking and food education activities
Community consultations and engagement activities
Travel costs that are essential and integral to delivery, including transport for play schemes and school holiday programmes
Reasonable volunteer expenses directly related to delivering approved activities

the total request cannot exceed £10,000 across all categories. A separate Participation and Inclusion Premium (PIP) can be requested on the form for activities that improve participation, inclusion and accessibility. Many organisations are offered less than they asked for because demand exceeds the budget.

What it will not fund

Activities that commenced prior to the application being made
Items of equipment of a personal nature
Repairs/improvements to premises
Any payment of any type to committee members, directors, or trustees
Large pieces of equipment (items over about £100)
IT equipment (contact the council before including laptops, tablets or printers)
Capital expenditure, such as building extensions, major repairs, structural alterations, purchase of land or buildings, permanent fixtures, vehicles and major infrastructure works
Parties, celebration events, buffets, restaurant meals, event catering and alcohol
Hotels, spas or luxury high-cost activities
Commercial activities run by businesses
Projects subcontracted to other organisations or businesses

non-domestic rates contributions are only possible if you do not already receive rates relief from North Lanarkshire Council.

How to apply

If applying for the first time, email the Community Partnership Team (Grants Section) to complete CVS registration and get an NLC number
Read the 2027/28 guidance notes and companion documents (eligible and ineligible expenditure, FAQs, applicant checklist)
Register on the online grants platform (SurveyMonkey Apply, nlcgrantawards.smapply.org) using your NLC number; registered organisations receive an invitation email
Complete the online application within your locality's four-week window - for multi-area organisations, Launch 5, which closes on Sunday 25 October 2026
The application is electronically signed by a board member, trustee or committee office bearer and endorsed by another person with authority
Applications go through a Pre-assessment Eligibility and Completeness Check; missing administrative information must be supplied within 2 weeks of being notified
An assessing officer then contacts you for a desktop, telephone, virtual or in-person assessment involving at least two board/committee members (in person and more detailed for first-time applicants)
Scoring panels score applications by November 2026; the Communities Committee decides in February 2027
Successful organisations sign an electronic Acceptance Form (and a Funding Agreement for awards over £5,000); payments are made from April 2027

incomplete applications may not be processed, and substantial changes to a project are not allowed after the deadline. Paper applications are not normally accepted. Use of AI to prepare an application is allowed but the organisation must check it.

Have ready

Completed online application form
Valid CVS registration number
Latest annual accounts, signed by an independent examiner or auditor, submitted to the council
Detailed cost breakdown under each funding category

social enterprises and CICs must also provide a statement of social/community benefit delivered over the previous two years. Governance checks are carried out through CVS registration rather than the application.

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