Energy Saving Trust has been appointed by Ofgem to distribute payments from energy companies who have breached rules. The funds can pay for anything from making a home more energy efficient, to providing advice that helps consumers keep on top of their bills. The core priorities for the scheme are to deliver benefits to the types of consumers that were negatively impacted by the breach(es) that have occurred. Examples of the kind of activity that could be funded include, but are not limited to: engaging vulnerable customers with energy issues and referring them for support; energy advice that does not duplicate existing advice services; installation of energy saving or renewable energy measures that cannot be funded elsewhere and are innovative or are being used in innovative ways; in home safety advice and measures related to energy systems; training and education on energy that is targeted at supporting vulnerable customers.

The Gannochy Trust is an independent grant maker, informed by its Funding Strategy and Guidance for 2019 to 2022. During this funding strategy, the greater percentage of the Trust’s funding will be aimed at groups and organisations within Perth and Kinross. Organisations within Perth and Kinross can apply for funding: improve the quality of life for people; develop and inspire young people and improve the availability or quality of the built and natural environment for wide community use. In the rest of Scotland the “develop and inspire young people” strand is available to organisations which support direct work with young people who are disadvantaged and vulnerable in communities that have limited access to resources and opportunities. The Trust aims to fund the most compelling projects or organisations that deliver the outcomes that they hope to achieve with our funding, particularly for young people. The Trust will accept applications from organisations working in areas such as community, sport, culture including art, music and dance, youth work, environment, health and wellbeing and heritage.

Development Grants are available in 2019/20 to help Scottish community-led organisations to scope out a potential climate action project. Projects can: enable community-led organisations to develop ideas for a climate change action project which would support low-carbon behaviour changes, increase climate literacy and reduce carbon emissions; assist in progressing to a full CCF Grant application or similar activities for another funder; organise a community consultation event and survey work; engage a consultant or advisor to support project development; cover expenses associated with visit(s) to other projects/organisations; develop a low-carbon project idea; host an event using the Scottish Government's Climate Conversation toolkit.

The fund receives an annual donation of £15,000 from a local wind farm and the second round of applications for a community benefit fund is now open to organisations and individuals in the AB31 postcode area.

The Scottish Government’s CARES Development Loan provides funding of up to £150,000, to support the development of locally-owned renewable energy projects which provide wider community benefit. Loan finance will be available to cover the development (high risk) stages of the project which is widely seen as a development barrier to community groups and smaller businesses who would otherwise wish to develop a project. Community Benefit is central to the aims and objectives of this programme. All projects must commit to following the Scottish Government’s Good Practice Principles for community benefits.

The Energy Investment Fund (‘EIF’) is a Scottish Government Fund managed and delivered by the Scottish Investment Bank. It provides commercial investment for renewable and low carbon energy solutions. EIF will provide flexible investment and debt funding for energy projects in Scotland that will facilitate, catalyse and accelerate Scotland’s transition to a low carbon economy. It will focus on: increasing community ownership of energy projects in Scotland (including community stakes in commercial developments); accelerating the development of commercial low carbon energy projects in Scotland. EIF is a gap funder, and will only invest where there is a demonstrable funding gap in a project’s funding package. Projects must be committed to the principle of community benefit as outlined in the Scottish Government’s good practice guidelines.

Soirbheas provide grants mostly funded by the Corrimony windfarm. The Tier 2 & 3 funding the objectives are: improving the energy efficiency of the housing within our communities; strengthening the local economy by encouraging new businesses and encouraging employment and training opportunities; protecting our environment for future generations; improving the quality of life of the elderly and vulnerable, including young people, within our communities. The beneficiaries of projects must be resident in the Glen Urquhart or Strathglass Community Council areas.

This fund is for capital projects within 10km of a participating renewable energy development. It currently applies to the wind farms at Whitelee, Pates Hill, Stallashaw and Blacklaw. It will usually fund long-term projects to acquire, develop, improve and/or maintain a capital asset such as land, buildings or roads. Your project must meet one or more of the following priorities: to secure investment, create employment, provide training, promote or secure sustainable development; to relieve poverty, advance education and other social purposes beneficial to an eligible community; to preserve, protect or enhance the environment or heritage of Scotland, including any building; to promote and encourage environmental improvement or enhancement including the provision or upgrading of infrastructure; to provide or help provide facilities for recreation or other leisure activities.

The purpose of the Fund is to develop practical innovations that can be adapted, adopted and scaled up by existing essential service providers, working in partnership with third sector and/or community groups, in order to deliver fair and inclusive access for consumers in vulnerable situations. The Fund will target support to projects seeking to demonstrate new approaches and interventions to address specific examples of intractable consumer harm. To support application development the Scottish Government have provided these three project examples: Energy sharing to benefit vulnerable consumers; Fuel buying clubs to benefit off-grid domestic heat consumers and build local consumer capacity to transition to a low carbon future ; Increasing uptake of Electric Vehicles in the postal delivery services sector as part of the solution to the postcode penalty.

Postcode Local Trust provides funding under the themes: Improving biodiversity and green spaces, increasing community access to outdoor space, and combatting climate change and promoting sustainability.