Details

The Community Buildings Fund, part of the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES), provides grants to help community organisations reduce their building’s energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. It does this by funding the installation of renewable technologies like heat pumps, battery storage, and solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, as well as some energy efficiency measures.

Grants up to £80,000 for 80% of eligible costs are available to eligible community groups to help you reduce energy costs and make your building more sustainable. The funding can be used towards the cost of installing renewable energy and energy efficiency measures. It can also be used for costs like building warrants, planning permission and grid connection applications which are essential to install some measures.

What improvements will CARES fund?

1. Heating requirement

CARES funding is prioritised to buildings that have or will decarbonise their heating. Your building must have:

• A heat pump (air source, ground source or water source).
• A connection to a heat network.
• Direct electric heating (including storage heating or electric boilers) biomass heating.

Or as part of your CARES project you will be installing:

• A heat pump; or
• A connection to a heat network.

2. Core measures eligible for CARES funding.

You must install at least one core CARES measures:

• A heat pump (air source, ground source or water source).
• A connection to heat network.
• Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels.
• Solar water heating.

3. Add-on measures

In addition to installing a core measure(s), you can also apply for funding to install one or more of the following:

• Energy storage – heat/thermal or electrical. Insulation – any loft, underfloor or cavity wall insulation.
• Secondary glazing.
• Draught proofing.
• Appropriate energy saving controls that are linked to new installations to ensure they operate efficiently.

Eligible community buildings include, but are not limited to:

• Village halls.
• Community centres.
• Community hubs.
• Sports facilities.
• Faith buildings.

The building must be used by the local community or charitable organisation.

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Geographical areas funded: Scotland

Fund type

Type of funding:

Grant

Type of cost:

Capital

Fund award sizes

Maximum:

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Notes on award amounts:

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Who can apply

Applicants must be constituted non-profit distributing community organisations, including organisations with charitable status, that are established and operating across a geographically defined community (‘local community organisations’) or faith groups. The building must be owned or leased by the applicant and must be used by the local community or a charitable organisation.

When to apply

The Fund will close to applications at the end of October 2026, or when funding is fully allocated, whichever is sooner.

How to apply

There is further information on their website and on their general funding guidance page.

Please note that for the Community Buildings Fund you will need to evidence your technology choices, seek quotes and submit your preferred quote along with your application.

Applications for CARES are submitted online via the CARES project portal. You can progress your application in stages and start with an expression of interest.

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Exclusions

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Activites funded: Community facilities Environment Energy Climate action

Beneficiaries funded: Local communities

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Last reviewed 3 months ago