Advice Direct Scotland (ADS) is working with Scottish Government on a new scheme designed to support families struggling with heating costs, particularly those using oil or liquid petroleum gas (LPG) systems (which can be common in rural areas). From Wednesday 1 April 2026, people can apply for up to £300 via the Emergency Heating Oil Scheme. Payments will be made directly to suppliers, where possible, to help qualifying households to place an order.
News
Easter 2026 Opening Hours
CVS Falkirk & District will be closed for the bank holiday weekend beginning tomorrow, Friday 3 April 2026 and on Monday 6 April 2026, and our team will return to work on Tuesday 7 April 2026.
Ambitions 2026 Programme: Applications Open
Applications are now open for the free Ambitions 2026 Programme from Social Investment Scotland (SIS). The programme is open to social enterprises, charities, and impact-driven businesses, and involves weekly 90 minute sessions from Thursday 28 May 2026 (Scale Up) and Friday 29 May 2026 (Step Up). Ambitions 2026 will run for 16 weeks (with breaks for some key holidays). The deadline for applications is 11:59am on Thursday 7 May 2026.
VolunteerHub Guide on Managing Young Volunteers
VolunteerHub has created a guide on some best practice tips and guidance to help effectively manage teen volunteers. This guide covers topics from why young volunteers are important, their motivations, expectations and guidelines, through to communication styles and recognition, amongst other points.
“Good Conversations” Free Training Available for Volunteers
Linking Lives offers free “Good Conversations” training for volunteers hosting conversations within community settings, such as community cafes, foodbanks, befriending and community social gatherings.
Screen Education Fund
The Screen Education Fund from Screen Scotland supports projects which help make screen education more accessible, inclusive, and sustainable across Scotland. The fund is designed to support innovative work that strengthens the provision of screen education in both formal and informal learning environments, with a focus on long‑term impact, and sector development. Grants of £1,000 – £25,000 are available. Funding is revenue‑based and intended to support project delivery rather than equipment purchase. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with no deadline.
The Grocers’ Charity Small Grants
The Grocers’ Charity is inviting applications from UK registered charities to its next funding round, offering one‑off grants to support work which makes a meaningful difference across a broad range of community and social issues. With a particular focus on small‑to‑medium charities, the programme aims to strengthen organisations working at grassroots level and supporting people most in need. The Fund reopens on Monday 30 March, and the next deadline for applications is Tuesday 1 September 2026.
Whole Family Support Third Sector Delivery Fund
Third sector organisations supporting children, young people and families are invited to apply for Scottish Government’s Whole Family Support Third Sector Delivery Fund. The £20 million fund supports projects which provide holistic, preventative support to families, helping them access the right help earlier and improving outcomes for children and young people. The application deadline is 11:59pm on Thursday 7 May 2026.
William Syson Foundation Small Grants Fund
Arts charities across Scotland can now apply to the William Syson Foundation’s Small Grants Fund, which is inviting applications for its latest round of funding. The programme supports a broad spectrum of artistic practice, offering flexible, unrestricted grants of up to £5,000 to help strengthen creativity, participation, and cultural engagement within Scottish communities. The deadline for applications to the current round is 12pm on Friday 3 April 2026.
New Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan Launched
Scottish Government has launched “Bringing Hope, Building Futures: Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan 2026–2031”, setting out the next stage of national action to reduce child poverty, and meet statutory targets to significantly lower poverty levels, by 2030. The delivery plan creates opportunities for third sector organisations to work in partnership with public services, deliver local initiatives, and support preventative approaches.










