The Climate Challenge Fund (CCF) is now open for applications from community-led projects and organisations across Scotland.

During a keynote address at the Climate Challenge Fund Gathering, Roseanna Cunningham MSP,Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, announced that the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund will continue.

Managed by Keep Scotland Beautiful on behalf of the Scottish Government, in 2017-18 the CCF will focus on projects which deliver the greatest reduction in carbon emissions and support Scotland’s most deprived communities. Grants up to £150,000 are available per project.

In order to be eligible for the CCF, community-led organisations must be:

Scottish-based
led by the community
operating on a not-for-profit basis
legally constituted (by the time of being awarded funding, if not at the time of application)

Since the CCF was introduced in 2008, 588 communities across Scotland have been awarded grants totalling £75.7 million to run community-led projects which reduce local carbon emissions, improve their local areas and help them adapt to the impacts of climate change.

CCF-funded projects have included energy efficiency improvements to community owned buildings, energy efficiency advice, lower carbon travel options, community growing initiatives and schemes to tackle waste.

The closing date for Expressions of Interest for 2017-18, the first stage of the application, is Friday 28^th October.

For further information, or to apply, please visit the Climate Challenge Fund webpage.