Boosting community organisations

More than 80 grassroots initiatives across Scotland will share in over £3 million funding to help deliver more ambitious community projects.

The funding will enable organisations across rural and island Scotland to generate their own income.

To date the Strengthening Communities Programme has helped hundreds of organisations to develop and improve their work with local communities and boost local economies. This latest tranche of funding for 2026-27 will back community organisations to deliver local projects including spaces for business, improving access to employability and skills services, family and young people’s activities, and health and wellbeing support.

The First Minister announced the funding on a visit to the Usual Place in Dumfries – a charity that supports young people with learning disabilities to develop skills, gain qualifications and access employment.

First Minister John Swinney said:

“Local organisations are best placed to understand what their communities need and how to deliver it. This programme helps to support and empower community initiatives to deliver what their area needs most – whether that is spaces for small businesses, culture and sport activities, or employability support.

“By providing this funding, we are helping organisations to become more financially resilient and develop the means to generate income for themselves. This will not only help boost local economies, but in turn help these projects generate more funds to serve wider community needs.

“The Usual Place is a fantastic example of this type of initiative. Their work to support young people with additional support needs to build community connections and friendships, and develop the skills needed to access employment, helps to improve peoples’ lives and future opportunities. I was pleased to visit the charity and see first-hand the difference it is making for people in Dumfries.”

Craig McEwen, Chief Executive at The Usual Place said:

“Following a very difficult year for The Usual Place, we are now in a much better financial position.

“With the interim funding found to give us breathing space and now the success in securing funds through the Strengthening Communities Programme, we have the space to create capacity to implement some strategic changes, decided by the Board of Trustees, to enable us to diversify our income streams to ensure a more stable future for The Usual Place.  Over the past ten years we have put back into the economy of Dumfries and Galloway £9.8m, so our value speaks for itself.

“We thank the First Minister personally, and the Scottish Government for believing in the work we do in reducing the disability employment gap here in Dumfries & Galloway and beyond.”

STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES PROGRAMME – FUNDING BY ORGANISATION 2026/27

Organisation Name – Funding 2026/27

• Active Communities – £39,461
• Annan Harbour Action Group – £47,000
• Antonine Sports Centre – £44,980
• Ardrossan Community Development Trust – £40,679
• Arisaig Community Trust – £46,604
• Assynt Development Trust – £17,000
• Belhelvie Community Trust – £26,325
• Bluevale Community Club – £51,952
• Bute Community Land Company – £17,760
• Campsie Memorial Trust – £21,750
• Castlemilk Community Football Trust – £53,000
• Community Development Company of Nesting – £25,300
• Comrie Development Trust – £53,000
• Cromarty Community Development Trust – £33,100
• Culbokie Community Trust – £30,277
• Dalbeattie Community Initiative – £53,060
• David Livingston Trust, Blantyre – £31,500
• Development Coll – £41,597
• Dufftown and District Community Association – £18,825
• Dunvegan Community Trust – £26,661
• Eday Partnership – £18,000
• Glen Urquhart Rural Community Association (GURCA) – £8,500
• Glengarry Community Woodlands – £20,000
• Go Golspie – £40,000
• Gorebridge Community Development Trust – £48,169
• Grow 73 – £18,688
• Healthy n Happy Community Development Trust – £40,647
• Heart of Newhaven – £47,356
• Helmsdale & District Development Trust – £30,000
• IG – Great Bernera Community Trust – £39,048
• Inspired Community Enterprise Trust (ICET) (The Usual Place) – £25,402
• Isle of Canna Community Development Trust – £12,537
• Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust – £25,355
• Isle of Luing Community Trust – £27,000
• Kilmadock Development Trust – £10,049
• Kinloch Historical Society – £35,000
• Kinlochleven Community Trust – £24,110
• Kinning Park Complex – £42,500
• Kirkcolm Community Trust – £9,500
• Kirkcudbright Development Trust – £32,500
• Kirknewton Community Development Trust – £35,000
• Lesmahagow Development Trust – £60,504
• Linlithgow Community Development Trust – £34,885
• Lochwinnoch Community Development Trust – £25,773
• Lockerbie Old School – £53,500
• Maslow’s Community SCIO – £44,847
• Midsteeple Quarter, Dumfries – £56,420
• Minginish Community Association – £24,000
• New Cumnock Development Trust – £44,563
• Nith Valley Trust – £32,444
• North Edinburgh R2 Co-ordinator (through Community Renewal Trust) – £56,205
• North Glasgow Community Food Initiative – £29,388
• North Ronaldsay Trust – £23,000
• One Dalkeith – £36,057
• Pollok United Nethercraigs CIC – £46,498
• Portgordon Community Trust Limited – £28,723
• Possilpark People’s Trust – £32,700
• Rannoch Community Trust – £43,722
• Roseneath Pennisula West CDT – £44,500
• Ruchazie Growing 21 – £40,000
• Sandness Community Development Group – £22,028
• Scalloway Community Development Company – £38,468
• Scourie Community Development Company – £12,000
• Shapinsay Development Trust – £20,000
• SHAX – £50,500
• Sleat Community Trust – £38,601
• South Islay Development Trust – £20,000
• South Ronaldsay and Burray Development Trust – £33,990
• Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge and Achnacarry SCIO – £10,000
• Stow Community Trust – £36,382
• Stranraer Development Trust – £47,000
• Stranraer Water Sports Association – £35,690
• South West Arts & Music Project (SWAMP) – £20,000
• Take a Bow Development Trust – £48,320
• Tayport Community Trust – £48,638
• The Furniture Project, Stranraer – £40,500
• The Pavilion, Glasgow – £37,987
• Three Kings Cullen Association – £40,800
• Tiree Community Development Trust – £22,650
• Torridon and District Community Association – £46,090
• Unst Partnership – £37,288
• Whitburn Community Development Trust – £37,195
• Wick Development Trust – £26,030

Please note that all funding amounts are subject to due diligence.