Sources of Funding	Search for grants and funding opportunities, including the Tyne & Esk Funder Finder, council funding programmes and other relevant sources of support.
Project Planning & Development	Access guidance, tools and specialist information to help plan, develop and deliver strong, compliant community projects.
Rural Networks & Inspiration	Learn from successful projects, connect with rural organisations and discover ideas to support community-led development.

 

Sources of Funding

Funding beyond Tyne & Esk CLLD Funding

Tyne & Esk 4 Communities is a FREE online funding search portal designed to help community organisations, charities, social enterprises, clubs and voluntary groups identify funding opportunities that match their needs. The platform provides access to a comprehensive database of local, regional and national funding programmes, helping users save time and increase their chances of securing funding.

Why use Open 4 Communities?

Search hundreds of funding opportunities in one place	Create personalised funding alerts
Receive notifications about new grants relevant to your organisation	Save valuable time researching funding opportunities
Access fund details, eligibility criteria and application information

£145,000+ Secured for Local Communities
Tyne & Esk 4 Communities has helped local organisations unlock additional funding, including £41,500 secured since January 2026.

Visit the Tyne & Esk 4 Communities Portal

Project Planning and Development

Climate

Community Hall Retrofit Playbook

A step-by-step guide to decarbonising community halls and spaces across the South of Scotland For community hall committees, trustees and volunteers

Looking for climate advice or support?
You can also contact your local Climate Hub for guidance, resources and support with community climate action projects:

East Lothian Climate Hub (ELCAN)

Email: hello@eastlothianclimatehub.org
Website: ELCAN

Midlothian Climate Action

Email: hub@midlothianclimateaction.org.uk
Website: Midlothian Climate Action 

Both hubs provide support, information and networking opportunities to help communities take positive action on climate change and sustainability.

Changes to Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) and Charity Law

The PVG scheme from 1^st April 2025 became mandatory in law for all those carrying out a regulated role. Volunteer Scotland website link. Tyne & Esk are obligated to ensure that the law is being followed.

 

Tyne & Esk Guidance for Advice on Debt and Money Matters

Ensure the guidance you provide is accurate, compliant and appropriate. Understanding your responsibilities can help protect both your organisation and the people you support. Click here to access the Guidance

 

Support and Resources For Community Projects

Access trusted guidance, tools and specialist support to help develop and deliver successful community projects.

Governance & compliance

• OSCR

  Charity regulation, trustee duties and legal requirements.

• SCVO

  Scotland's national body supporting charities, community groups, social enterprises and voluntary organisations.

• Governance Wiki

  Practical guidance, templates and resources to help community organisations with governance, policies, management, legal responsibilities and running their organisation effectively.

 

Community Development

• Midlothian Community Action

  Support, training and advice for community groups, charities and social enterprises in Midlothian.

• Volunteer Centre East Lothian

  Organisational support, volunteering and training opportunities in East Lothian.

• East Lothian Council Community Wealth Building

  Supports local communities and businesses by promoting local jobs, spending, skills, enterprise and investment to build a stronger, fairer local economy.

• Midlothian Council Community Wealth Building

  Supports local businesses, communities and organisations through initiatives that promote local jobs, skills development, fair work, community assets and inclusive economic growth.

Community Assets & Ownership

• Community Ownership Support Service (COSS)

  Advice and resources on community asset transfer and ownership.

Organisational Development

• Inspiring Scotland

  Organisational development tools, funding programmes and charity health checks.

Business Support

• Business Gateway

  Free business planning, finance and development support.

Rural Networks and Inspiration

National Resources for Rural Communities

Scottish Rural Network (SRN)	SRN supports rural and island communities by sharing funding opportunities, good practice and resources to help drive local development.
CLLD Areas	View Scotland's Local Action Group areas and discover community-led funding and development opportunities.
Scottish Rural Action (SRA)	Supports rural and island communities by connecting people, sharing good practice and giving communities a stronger voice in local and national decision-making

 

Need further support?

Contact the Tyne & Esk Project Officer, who can help direct you to the most appropriate advice and resources for your project.
 

Contact Tyne & Esk