Grants for communities 2024/25

East Lothian Council’s One Council Partnership Fund grants support community organisations in their work to help reduce inequalities and make East Lothian a better place to live.

The Council Plan 2022-27 states:

"We are living through unprecedented challenging times – the COVID-19 pandemic has had long term impacts on our economy, society, the health and wellbeing of people, contributing to increasing poverty and inequality; rising inflation and the cost of living crisis which is driving more and more people into food and fuel poverty; and the Climate Emergency, requiring systemic changes in how we all live our lives and run services in order to substantially reduce carbon emissions."

The focus of the funding awards for 2024/25 will be to support initiatives and activities which assist community-based organisations to:

  • address inequalities and the impact of the cost of living crisis
  • promote wellbeing and reduce social isolation
  • provide more youth work opportunities for our children and young people   
  • respond to the climate emergency
  • promote volunteering

The council is facing unprecedented financial challenges and there may not be sufficient funding available to meet the requests for support. Any charitable/third sector organisation seeking funding should contact Volunteer Centre East Lothian (volunteereastlothian.org.uk) for information about other funding sources. VCEL can also advise on governance and volunteer recruitment. 

 

Apply

Applications for funding for 2024/25 are invited from Monday 30 October 2023 and close on Friday 1 December 2023.

Download the application form

Download the guidance note

Applicants must demonstrate how projects seeking funding will support East Lothian Council’s overarching aim of "reducing inequalities within and across our communities" - as set out in our Council Plan. Applicants should also refer to the East Lothian Plan 2017-27 and must clearly demonstrate how they will evidence the difference the funding will make.  

Applicants should refer to the FAQs for more information. Any enquiries can be directed to partnershipfunding@eastlothian.gov.uk

 

End of project Report

It is a requirement that organisations who have received One Council Partnership Funding provide the Council with an End of Project Report detailing the evidence to show the impact of the project and the outcomes achieved. These should be sent in by the end of June, once the funding year has been completed.

Download the End of Project Report Form