The KVF CCLD Fund is now open for applications.

The KVF CCLD Fund will close 12 noon Thursday 21st August 2025. Applications submitted after this time will not be considered for any reason.

All applications must be submitted through CVS Falkirk & District’s Grant Funding Portal. Please note that all applicants will be required to register on the Grant Funding Portal before they will be able to submit their application.

Projects must have spent their grant and completed their activity by 28th February 2026. Projects must have all spend and final claim into the Accountable Body by 14th March 2026.

• Background

  Through the Scottish Government’s CLLD funding programme, investment is available for the financial year 2025/26 via a grant fund open to eligible applicants based in the defined Kelvin Valley and Falkirk area. The Kelvin Valley and Falkirk CLLD fund is for eligible rural communities located across the Falkirk Council, East Dunbartonshire Council and North Lanarkshire Council areas.

  The Fund will be delivered by CVS Falkirk & District (the Accountable Body) in partnership with the Kelvin Valley and Falkirk Local Action Group (LAG), to distribute the local allocation of funding for the current financial year.

  Please note: The funding available this year includes a mix of capital and revenue funding, this is a change from the CLLD funding we had available last year. The funding available is mostly capital and so we anticipate that applications will have a focus on small, achievable capital projects with revenue costs to support delivery where required. Please read the guidance in full for more information about what is considered capital and revenue costs.

• Fund Priorities and Outcomes

  The Fund has a range of aims and policy alignments that applicants should consider when developing their application. All applicants should demonstrate how their proposed activities will contribute to one or more of the four priorities in this round:

  • Supporting community facilities and eligible organisations to contribute to the achievement of net zero
  • Sustaining, improving, and adding initiatives in rural communities that are most isolated, most disconnected, most in need of investment or most likely to experience inequalities
  • Helping communities to address the cost-of-living crisis and eradicate poverty for children and families
  • Enabling communities to carry out research, engagement, feasibility studies or other activities supporting the development of rural communities
• Eligible Areas

  The Kelvin Valley and Falkirk Rural Communities include:

  • Airth
  • Avonbridge
  • Baldernock
  • Banknock
  • Banton
  • Bonnybridge
  • Colzium
  • Croy
  • Denny
  • Dennyloanhead
  • Dunipace
  • Fankerton
  • Kinneil
  • Kirkintilloch, north of Canal
  • Lennoxtown
  • Milton of Campsie
  • Queenzieburn
  • Shieldhill
  • Slamannan
  • Torrance
  • Twechar
  • Waterside
  • Whitecross
• Applying

  Eligibility:

  Applications can be accepted from:

  • third sector groups and organisations for example constituted community groups, charities, SCIOs, parent councils and social enterprises
  • public sector bodies for example Local Authorities, schools and early learning settings and NHS Boards
  • Partnership applications where respective partners meet the eligibility criteria are welcomed, but not essential.

  Scottish Government’s Fair Work First guidance directs that groups in receipt of an award from the CLLD Fund MUST pay all employees the Real Living Wage, including apprentices. Where this is a barrier for any applicant, please contact CVS Falkirk to discuss your situation, by email: info@cvsfalkirk.org.uk

  What can and can’t be funded:

  Please find examples and guidance in the table below on what is considered a capital and revenue cost, and the types of costs that can’t be funded. Most of the funding available is capital funding so please consider this when developing your application, we anticipate that applications will have a focus on small, achievable capital projects with revenue costs to support delivery where required.

  The lists below are not exhaustive, if you are unsure if a cost from your application would be able to be funded, please contact CVS Falkirk & District by email: info@cvsfalkirk.org.uk

  Capital	Revenue
  Permanent building, development or infrastructure improvements on community buildings or spaces	Employee costs
  Permanent building, development or infrastructure improvements on community outdoor spaces	Volunteer expenses
  Electric Vehicle charging points (more than £10k)	Professional services (for eg feasibility study or architect support)
  Items of fixed equipment (more than £5k)	Training costs
  Vehicles (for eg bikes) (more than £5k)	Consumable items (eg food, stationery)
  Permanent energy efficiency improvements (more than £10k)	Smaller items of movable equipment (less than £5k)

   

  Can’t be funded:

  Loans, endowments or interest

  Political or religious campaigning

  Profit-making activities

  Statutory activities

  Overseas travel

  Alcohol

   

  Additional requirements when applying for a capital project:

  • Applicants MUST ensure that they can evidence that they have the right and/or permission to deliver a capital project for a community building or outdoor space.
  • Applicants MUST be able to provide 3 quotes, estimates or detailed evidence of proposed cost for capital items of expenditure.
  • Applicants SHOULD consider the length of time for which they can demonstrate a community ownership or benefit from any capital project, for example the length or terms and conditions of a lease, and detail any risk involved if the applicant were to relinquish or have removed the right and/or permission for community ownership or benefit from the capital project, for example where a private landlord has the right to abruptly end a lease.

  Grants:

  Applicants may request a grant of up to £15,000.

  Any level of match funding is welcomed but not essential, applicants may also detail any ‘in kind’ matching for example through proposed provision of volunteer hours to support the project if they wish.

  The KVF CCLD Fund will open for applications on Thursday 21^st July 2025.

  The KVF CCLD Fund will close 12 noon Thursday 21^st August 2025. Applications submitted after this time will not be considered for any reason.

  All applications must be submitted through CVS Falkirk & District’s Grant Funding Portal. Please note that all applicants will be required to register on the Grant Funding Portal before they will be able to submit their application.

  The funded activity can begin on receipt of an award (successful applicants will receive their outcome by Friday 26^th September 2025) and projects must have spent their grant and completed their activity by 28^th February 2026. Projects must submitted all evidence of how they have spent the funds (for example payslips, invoices, receipts) and other reporting to CVS Falkirk & District (the Fund’s Accountable Body) by 14^th March 2026.

• Data Protection and Your Rights

  Data Protection and Your Rights:

  CVS Falkirk & District is committed to processing all personal data confidentially and in full compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018 (UK GDPR), its privacy statement, and data protection legislation. As the data controller, CVS Falkirk & District processes personal data lawfully, fairly, and transparently for specified purposes, ensuring data is accurate, secure, and retained only as necessary.

  In relation to funding applications, CVS Falkirk & District processes personal information under the legal basis of contract. Data provided will be used to process applications (including sharing with the funding panel), for performance monitoring, and for statistical reporting by CVS Falkirk & District, Falkirk Community Planning Partnership, and the Scottish Government. All information is stored securely, retained in line with grant requirements, and will not be shared beyond these purposes except to detect or prevent fraud.

  Applicants have the right to access, correct, or request deletion of their personal data. By submitting an application, you confirm you are authorised to do so, that you understand the fund’s criteria, and that you consent to CVS Falkirk & District holding and sharing your data as required to manage the grants process, including any personal data provided by third parties with their permission.

  For more information or if you have any questions, concerns please contact the organisation’s DPO: Victoria McRae, E: victoria@cvsfalkirk.org.uk

• What Happens Next

  When you submit your application through the CVS Falkirk & District Support Portal you will receive confirmation of receipt of your application, which will then be assessed and reviewed by an independent funding panel with a range of appropriate skills and expertise before decisions are made, and applicants are notified of the outcome.

  We anticipate receiving a high volume of applications and that we will be able to respond to most applicants with a decision by Friday 26^th September 2025. We will be unable to respond to individual requests for updates prior to this date.

  Please respond swiftly to any requests for additional information or evidence to help us process your application as soon as is possible.

  If you require any support in completing the application form or using the Grant Funding Portal, please contact CVS Falkirk & District by phone:  01324 692000, or email: info@cvsfalkirk.org.uk

  Monitoring and Evaluation:

  Successful applicants should collect relevant information throughout the project lifetime both for their own records and learning, and to enable completion of all monitoring and evaluation requirements of the Fund. These monitoring and evaluation activities are an essential element of the Fund and provide an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the success of funded community projects and the difference they can make to the lives of people living in rural areas. More information about the monitoring and evaluation requirements of the Fund will be shared with successful applicants when they receive their award.

  In addition to evidence and information about the impact of the funded project, applicants MUST retain and provide all defrayal evidence to demonstrate how their award has been spent, for example invoices, receipts, payslips or other forms of evidence that clearly demonstrate the use of the funding.

  Contact

  Contact our team:

  • By phone: 01324 692000
  • By email: info@cvsfalkirk.org.uk
  • If you know which staff member you’re looking to speak with, please contact them via their direct mobile number listed on our Staff page (linked for your convenience).
• Frequently Asked Questions

  Q: How is this Fund connected to the LEADER funding that used to be available?

  A: The KVF Local Action Group (LAG) overseeing this Fund used to oversee LEADER funding. Due to changes including Brexit, Scottish Government have reviewed and refreshed this funding stream for rural communities, and it is now called the Community Led Local Development (CLLD) Fund or the Rural Community Led Fund however the overarching funding outcomes remain aligned to previous LEADER priorities and outcomes.

  Q: Who is CVS Falkirk & District & District and why are they involved with this Fund?

  A: CVS Falkirk & District are the Third Sector Interface for the Falkirk District area and an experienced local funder. In order to distribute this CLLD funding to local areas, Scottish Government requires an organisation to agree to be what is called an ‘Accountable Body’. Falkirk Council used to be the Accountable Body but decided to withdraw from this role in 2023. To support the LAG and to ensure this investment was still available in the Kelvin Valley and Falkirk area, CVS Falkirk & District agreed to become the Accountable Body for the funds available in the financial year 2024/25 and have now agreed to deliver the funds available for the financial year 2025/26.

  Q: Can the CLLD Fund support capital projects?

  A: CVS Falkirk & District only provided revenue funding through this Fund in 2024/25. For 2025/25 the funding available is mostly capital funding. Please see the Fund guidance to find out more about what this means for applicants.

  Q: Can I apply for a project that only needs revenue funding?

  A: There is some revenue funding available and a revenue-only application is eligible for submission however we are clearly sharing with potential applicants that the majority of the funding available this year is capital, so as to avoid any disappointment. We anticipate that most, if not all, applications will focus on smaller, achievable capital projects.

  Q: Can my organisation have more time to spend this funding?

  A: Whilst we recognise that more time to deliver projects is almost always welcome, unfortunately no extensions can be granted. All funds MUST be spent by 28 February 2026 in order for awardees to comply with the terms and conditions of their grant.

  Q: My organisation/project is not based in Falkirk, should we still apply to the CLLD Fund via CVS Falkirk & District?

  A: Yes, all CLLD Fund applications from eligible communities in the Kelvin Valley and Falkirk area should be submitted via CVS Falkirk & District’s online Grant Funding Portal.