Argyll and Kintyre 275kV Local Fund

To be eligible for funding from the Large Project Fund, your project must support one or more of the following themes:

1. Addressing the root causes of depopulation (for instance, by enhancing infrastructure such as affordable housing, transport, broadband; providing education, skills and training opportunities; establishing or supporting community services and facilities). 
2. Improving connectivity (for instance, by providing activities for groups experiencing social isolation including younger people, older people and marginalised groups; improving access to transport including community transport).
3. Tackling the climate and biodiversity crises (for instance, through sustainability initiatives; nature restoration projects; improving access to nature and active travel).

Revenue and capital funding are available.

Applications will not be considered if they fall under the following categories:

• The advancement of religion or politics (including requests to support the core activities of religious or political groups)
• Feasibility studies, unless part of a larger project. Feasibility studies on their own will not be funded
• Projects where the main impact is outside the area of benefit
• Direct costs of energy consumption
• The repayment of loans or payment of debts
• Trips abroad
• Costs already incurred or activities which will take place before a funding decision has been made (retrospective funding)
• Payments towards areas generally understood to be the primary responsibility of a statutory authority

To be eligible for this fund, your community group must have a constitution and not be set up for individual profit.

It is important for your organisation to have a written constitution as this outlines the purpose, rules and regulations of the organisation. If you need support in writing a constitution or setting up your group, there is advice available through the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) and through your local Third Sector Interface.

SCVO advice and support

Find your local Third Sector Interface

For the Large Project Fund, funding is available from £1,000 up to a maximum grant value of £220,000 and we expect to see a range of grant amounts being awarded.

As a flexible funder, we are open to raising the upper limit of £220,000 for exceptional projects, at the discretion of the funding panel.

Applicants who wish to apply for more than £220,000 are encouraged to contact our dedicated Community Investment Manager Linsay Chalmers on community.benefit@sse.com at an early stage to discuss.

Multi-year funding is available, with a maximum term of three years. There is no minimum term.

Decisions on applications are made by the Argyll Local Fund independent panel based on the fund criteria. This panel is made up of people resident in Argyll, representing both the communities covered by this fund and the wider Argyll area.

This panel is in the process of being selected through a competitive recruitment process, to ensure that members have the relevant expertise and knowledge of the area. The membership of the panel will be published once the recruitment process is complete.

The fund is currently open for applications. The closing date for applications is Tuesday 4 August at 12 noon. 

To apply for funding, read this guidance section in full, and make sure you meet the eligibility criteria, then submit your application via the online portal. 

This fund will open for applications in phases over five years from 2026.

You can sign up to our mailing list to receive key updates about community benefit funding, including notification when this fund opens in future. 

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The timescale for the 2026 funding round is:

• Applications open: 12 May 2026
• Application deadline: noon on 4 August 2026
• Awards made: By end of October 2026