The Big Lottery Fund (BIG) in Scotland has opened a new five-year £250 million funding scheme. Between now and 2020 community groups across Scotland can apply for grants from £10,000 to £1 million to help finance projects which are community led or will improve lives.

The funding is being made available via two funding schemes: “Improving Lives” and “Community-led Activity”.

Through the “Improving Lives” scheme, grants of between £150,000 and £1 million are available to help overcome challenges in people’s lives. In particular, with this scheme BIG is looking to fund activities that support children, young people and families currently experiencing challenging circumstances, as well as those that support people who have experienced abuse, or tackles loss, isolation and loneliness, and challenges discrimination and supports people affected by it.

The “Community-led Activities” scheme will provide grants of between £10,000 and £150,000 to help strengthen communities and take local action on the things people care about. This funding aims to support communities to improve the places in which they live, and the wellbeing of those most in need

For further information, please visit the Big Lottery Fund’s website.