Community-led organisations from across Scotland are invited to apply to the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund (CCF) for funding to support local projects that tackle climate change.

CCF grants of up to £150,000 per organisation, per year, are available for projects taking place between Sunday 1^st April 2018 and Tuesday 31^st March 2020.

(Funding available in 2018/19 will also include a contribution from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). For 2018/19, some CCF grant recipients – with projects involving waste and circular economy activities, or installation of energy efficient measures in community-owned buildings – will be match funded through the ERDF. The ERDF comes from the European Structural and Investment Fund.)

In addition, CCF Development Grants of up to £1,500 are available until further notice to help community-led organisations identify and scope out potential climate action projects, with the aim of enabling the organisation to apply for a CCF grant or to another funder. Applications for CCF Development Grants are invited monthly.

To date, the CCF has awarded grants totalling £85.8 million – supporting a range of successful projects, including energy efficiency improvements to community-owned buildings, home energy efficiency advice, lower carbon travel options and community growing initiatives, plus schemes that help reduce waste and move Scotland further towards a more circular economy.

Keep Scotland Beautiful manages the CCF on behalf of the Scottish Government and has staff that support applicants and those awarded grants. They advise all potential applicants to submit an Expression of Interest as soon as possible to allow as much time as possible to develop their application.

The deadline to submit an Expression of Interest, the first stage of the application process for a CCF grant, is 5pm on Friday 28^th August.

For further information, including how to check your organisation and project idea’s funding eligibility, please visit the CCF website.