CARES Community Buildings Fund

Your organisation must be non-profit distributing and serve a defined Scottish geographical community or community of interest, including faith groups. Accepted structures include Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisations, companies limited by guarantee, community benefit societies, community interest companies, OSCR-registered unincorporated charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs. Surpluses cannot be distributed to members, including when the organisation closes. At least three unrelated committee or board members must be local to the area of benefit; two trustees or directors must complete identity and anti-money-laundering checks.

The building must have good levels of use for activities with a clear social purpose. For a change of use, extension or refurbishment, you can show how the building is planned to be used by the community or charity. Examples include village halls, community centres, sports facilities and faith buildings. Its governing arrangements must allow community use without excluding people; access may prioritise the beneficiary groups in your charitable objectives to meet their needs and safety. Ordinary usage charges are allowed, but high annual fees that exclude much of the community are not.

Own the building or hold a viable lease lasting at least five years after project completion, or a right to extend for that period, with permission for the work. For a former government or council building, provide evidence that its formal transfer to your community organisation—the Community Asset Transfer agreement—is complete. New buildings, including those under construction or first built with a warrant dated after 1 April 2024, are excluded.

The building must already use a heat pump, heat network, direct electric heating or biomass, or your project must install a heat pump or heat-network connection. Gas, oil, coal or LPG heating cannot remain without being decarbonised as part of the project. Replacing direct electric heating with a heat pump is excluded when the existing system works effectively, is affordable and controllable, and comfortably heats the building for its uses.

Work must reduce carbon emissions. Funding excludes work already started or completed, LED lighting, wider building renovations and disruptive insulation or glazing work requiring substantial renovation or reinstatement. Battery size must fit demand and generation; Local Energy Scotland can request checks or adjust support.

You must uphold the CARES equality charter, including non-discrimination and inclusive community access. Employers must meet Fair Work First conditions: pay at least the real Living Wage (the minimum pay standard required by CARES), provide individual and collective ways for staff to raise their views, and sign the required declaration at application and before the final claim. The wage rule covers UK-based staff aged 16 and above, including apprentices; the declaration also covers contractors and agency staff. Below £100,000 of annual CARES funding, a self-declaration is subject to spot checks; above £100,000, additional evidence is required. Organisations with fewer than 21 workers need not evidence collective voice, though they must provide it. Written confirmation of voice channels comes from a worker or trade-union representative.

Status

endet am 31. Okt. 2026

Antragsschluss

31. Okt. 2026

Beschränkungen dieser Antragsrunde

• Applications can close earlier when funds are fully allocated. Complete applications enter the queue only after all information and queries are resolved.

Apply yourself as a trustee or employee through the CARES Project Portal linked from the official fund page; installers and contractors cannot apply for you. Submit an expression of interest, complete the organisation eligibility check, then submit the full application. Provide governing documents, a recent bank statement, latest accounts, authority to apply and signed equality and Fair Work declarations. An organisation under 21 months old without published accounts can instead give its creation date and the date its first accounts are due.

Explain your technology choices and provide your preferred installer's itemised quote, annual energy bills, proof of ownership or lease, building-use evidence and photographs. Use a proper contractor selection process. Seek enough installers to obtain three quotes; if this is not possible, evidence your attempts and submit the available quote for value assessment. Use Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS)-certified installers where the scheme covers the technology and certified products wherever available. This scheme sets standards for both installers and equipment. Non-certified products need written Local Energy Scotland approval, generally for products outside MCS, electrical storage and air-to-air heat pumps. Upload the MCS completion certificate for applicable renewable measures unless an exception was agreed when the project was approved. For insulation and other energy improvements, use contractors certified to the relevant installation standards where possible; if unavailable locally, explain their relevant experience. Significant measures such as cavity-wall insulation require a specialist contractor expected to be accredited. Controls and electrical work must be compatible with the systems and should use a qualified electrician. Independent advice is not always required, but the assessment can require it where the proposed measures need further justification.

Complete applications are considered first come, first served once all queries are resolved. Funding is confirmed only after you receive, sign and return the formal grant offer. The current intake ends in October 2026 or earlier if funds run out. Projects are expected to finish and claim by 15 March 2027, but jointly funded offers can carry different deadlines; spend all funding by the date in your offer. Scottish Government-only awards, including faith buildings, must be spent by 15 March 2027.

Have your contribution from other permitted sources—called match funding—ready before contracting and drawing down support. Other Scottish Government grants and in-kind contributions, such as donated goods, services or time instead of money, cannot provide it. The Scottish Government SME interest-free loan can be used only without its cashback grant; National Lottery Community funds cannot match a National Lottery-funded CARES award. Exclude recoverable or non-chargeable VAT. Claim at the award percentage as contractor invoices arrive, acknowledge CARES support in promotion and signage, and take proportionate steps against exploitation in the supply chain. Prepare a maintenance plan before the final claim and share the project's learning with building users and the wider community.