Apply now: Capital funding for community-based organisations to tackle climate change

The Community Climate Asset Fund (CCAF) is a £3.5 million Scottish Government fund, administered by Keep Scotland Beautiful, and provides capital funding for community-based organisations to tackle climate change.

Building on the invaluable contribution that community-based organisations are making to Scotland’s COVID-19 response, the CCAF will help them to play a prominent role in the green recovery.

Capital funding is available for a variety of items which will help community-based organisations to tackle climate change as we accelerate our just transition to a net zero society.

The fund is designed to support communities to reduce usage of petrol and diesel cars, cut waste, grow local food and reduce emissions from community buildings. Fundable items include electric vehicles, bikes, energy efficiency measures in community buildings, polytunnels and raised beds, community fridges, tools and wood fuel equipment.

Grants range between a minimum of £1,000 and maximum of £100,000, with match funding a requirement for grants over £10,000.

CCAF applicants need to demonstrate the climate impact and community benefit of the items they are requesting. They must also show that their proposal is deliverable and how they'll maintain CCAF funded items.  

Barry Fisher, our CEO said:

“We welcome the launch of the new Community Climate Asset Fund, which will provide capital funding for community-based organisations to purchase items that will help them to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their community. Electric vehicles, bikes, polytunnels, energy saving measures for buildings and tools are just a few of the items eligible for funding.

“We’re delighted to be able to administer this fund, which continues our work to support communities tackling climate change, and we encourage potential applicants to find out more about how the fund can support their green recovery from COVID-19."

Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said:

“Communities across the country are playing a vital role in responding to the pandemic crisis and in maintaining our resilience, our sense of spirit and our local support network.

“They will also play a critical role in supporting our recovery from the pandemic, and in ensuring we work with shared endeavour towards ending Scotland’s contribution to climate change.

“It is clear that we must learn from our experience of lockdown – how we work, how we travel, how we live – and apply this to our approach to becoming a net-zero society.

“In what remains an exceptionally difficult time for us all, this funding will provide fast, tangible support to deliver long-lasting benefits to communities across Scotland.”

To be eligible to apply for any funding from the CCAF an organisation must be Scottish-based, community focused, operating on a not-for-profit basis and legally constituted.

We expect the CCAF to be extremely popular. Applications will be assessed, and funding allocated to eligible applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. There may not be enough funding to support all eligible applications received by the deadline (midday 9 November 2020), so we encourage application submission as soon as possible.

Find out more on our CCAF webpages here.