The Scottish Government's Climate Challenge Fund is OPEN

The Climate Challenge Fund (CCF) provides grants and support for community-led organisations to tackle climate change by running projects that reduce local carbon emissions. 

Launched a decade ago, the CCF has awarded 1,097 grants totalling £101 million to 658 communities, for projects involving energy efficiency, sustainable travel, local food and resource efficiency.

Keep Scotland Beautiful manages the CCF on behalf of the Scottish Government and has staff to support applicants and those awarded grants.

Community-led organisations not currently in receipt of a CCF grant are invited to apply for funding of up to £150,000 per organisation, per year for 2019/20 and 2020/21. The deadline to submit an Expression of Interest, the first stage of the application process, is 5pm on 3 August 2018. Current CCF Grant Recipients should contact their CCF Development Officer at Keep Scotland Beautiful.

Development Grants of up to £1,000 are available to support community-led organisations not currently in receipt of CCF funding identify and scope out potential climate action projects. There are monthly deadlines from June to August.

Keep Scotland Beautiful will be running CCF Information surgeries in June and July, where potential applicants can learn more about the funding and support available through the CCF.

All potential CCF applicants should refer to the CCF website or contact Keep Scotland Beautiful for full information about criteria, eligibility and deadlines

Find out more at www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/ccf

European Regional Development Fund: For 2019/20 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 European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The ERDF comes from the European Structural and Investment Fund.