Community groups in Fife can pitch for £750 project starters in Dragons’ Den style event

Fife Communities Climate Action Network (FCCAN) is launching its annual Community Climate Grants Programme, with a record £145,000 available to support projects across Fife.

Part of funding for these grants will be decided through an exciting FCCAN SOUP participatory event, which takes place Betty Nicols, Kirkcaldy, at 6:00pm on August 12.

The 2026 grants programme has been enhanced with £125,000 from Fife Council’s Climate Adaptation Fund which is designed to help local groups start new projects, develop existing ideas, build organisational capacity and create lasting climate impact in their communities.

Seafield Environmental Group, led by Sally Walsh (middle right,) (Pic: Contributed)

placeholder image — Seafield Environmental Group, led by Sally Walsh (middle right,) (Pic: Contributed)

This year, there are three levels of support available to communities which are members of FCCAN, with applications open from Monday, July 20.

Alice Henderson, manager of Fife Climate Hub, said, "This is a game-changing year for community climate action in Fife.

“Thanks to the incredible support of the Scottish Government and Fife Council, we're launching our biggest-ever Community Climate Grants programme, putting £145,000 directly into the hands of local communities. We've also taken a bold step by introducing participatory budgeting, giving local people a direct say in which grassroots projects receive funding.”

Shona Cargill, lead officer, climate, nature and sustainability at Fife Council said, “We’re delighted to be working with Fife Climate Hub to help local communities access our Community Climate Adaptation Fund. This funding will support practical projects that help people prepare for the impacts of climate change, strengthen community resilience and encourage local learning and action. We’re excited to see the creative and inspiring ways communities across Fife will use this opportunity to make their neighbourhoods more resilient for the future, bringing Climate Fife’s Big Resilience Move to life.”

This year there are three funding tiers available. Seed Grants of up to £750 are designed to help groups test new ideas or pilot small projects such as repair cafés, creative workshops, community growing, tool libraries, workshops or local engagement activities.

Funding will be decided through an exciting FCCAN SOUP event, where community groups pitch their ideas and local people vote for the projects they'd like to see backed. Applications for the event at Betty Nicols must be submitted by August 5.

Seed and Development Grants of up to £2,500 are available for organisations ready to expand successful projects, develop climate action plans, build volunteer capacity or invest in equipment and infrastructure that will increase their community impact.

Applications to https://fccan.org.uk/community-climate-grants/ close on September 13.

For larger, place-based projects, Climate Adaptation Grants ranging from £2,500–£20,000 will support practical initiatives that help communities respond to climate change. This includes projects such as rain gardens, sustainable drainage, habitat restoration, tree planting and other nature-based solutions that improve resilience to flooding, extreme weather and other climate risks.

Applications to https://fccan.org.uk/community-climate-grants/ also close on September 13

Funding is open to constituted, non-profit community organisations based and working in Fife that are members of the Fife Communities Climate Action Network (FCCAN), with free membership available for eligible groups.

Join FCCAN here - https://fccan.org.uk/join-us/

Alice added: “This is our most flexible grants programme yet – supporting everything from small start-up ideas to major climate adaptation projects – we're putting communities in the driving seat to shape a greener, more resilient Fife.”