Welcome to the KDP Bulletin.
The last 12 months have been a busy time for KDP. Check out our Annual Report here to find out what we’ve been up to. If you have any projects that you are struggling to move forward, get in touch and find out what we can do to help.
DEADLINE APPROACHING
The Hillhead of Auquhirie Wind Farm Community Fund closes next Tuesday, 30th June 2026. This year, there is £16,746.16 to be awarded. The maximum grant will be £1500.
Applications to the fund can be made from groups and projects which benefit the communities living in the community council areas of:
- Arbuthnott
- Catterline, Kinneff & Dunnottar
- Mearns
- Stonehaven & District
If you would like to discuss a potential application, contact Margo at margo@kdp.scot.
Visit the KDP website for the application form and guidelines.
TONIGHT
Aberdeenshire Council Ranger Service promotes awareness, understanding care and appreciation of Aberdeenshire’s natural and cultural heritage.
Most events are free to attend (unless stated otherwise) however, donations to the Ranger Service are most welcome. You can donate online via their website or on the day to the Ranger.
Find their programme of summer events here.
The Green Community Grants Programme offers one-year flexible funding for not-for-profit groups with an annual income between £10,000 and £1 million. Grants of up to £25,000 are available.
Your organisation’s main aims and objectives must fit with one of the two funding themes:
- Contributing to nature recovery and responding to the climate emergency
- Improving nature-rich spaces and access to them
Whilst your organisational aims and objectives should fit one of these two themes, funding can also be used for a wider range of sustainable activities, including recycling, litter picking, beach cleans or sustainable transport.
Applications are open now and the deadline for submitting an application is midnight on 15 July 2026. The application guidance, FAQs and a copy of the application questions are available here.
The Community Food Network for Scotland brings together community-led food initiatives and supporters to connect and work together. Their focus is on a sector that aims to improve dignified access to and take up nutritious, acceptable, affordable, and sustainable food—especially for marginalised communities.
Members can access a useful library of national and regional contacts. They’ll also be sharing resources, updates, and evidence of the sector’s impact. If you have any ideas, please feel free to get in touch phs.cfhs@phs.scot
This new space aims to bring together community-led food initiatives and supporters to connect and work together.
They would love you to get involved by joining discussions, sharing blog posts, suggesting resources and promoting your events!
You can find out more, read the welcome message and Alison’s Blog post by joining via the Knowledge Hub website.
The Bupa Foundation’s Green Community Grants programme support projects that positively impact local communities and the environment. The programme aims to make local communities greener and empower schools and charities to implement their green ideas. Priority will be given to regenerating green spaces for community use, particularly in disadvantaged areas.
Previously supported projects have included outdoor classrooms, sensory gardens, community allotments, and green space improvements.
Eligible applicants include schools, charities and community groups across the UK.
The Fund is open until 30th June, and you can find out more here.
Live Life Aberdeenshire are proud to be part of Scotland’s Summer of Sport 2026 – a nationwide campaign helping children and young people get active, try something new, and feel their best.
Whether it’s taking part in sport for the first time or building confidence and skills, this is all about more activity, more fun, and more opportunities for every young person across Aberdeenshire.
Thanks to Summer of Sport funding, they’re delighted to offer their biggest and most accessible programme at reduced prices.
Secure your spot now. Log in as your child on the app or online booking system and make your booking.
The Hugo Burge Foundation invites applications for Arts and Culture projects from
schools, local authorities, charities, community groups, museums, educational institutions, arts organisations, festivals, fairs, and community groups. They can apply for grants of up to £15,000 to support creativity in individuals and communities across the UK.
A total of £300,000 is available to support creative education, creative communities and UK-based artists. The eligibility and funding levels vary according to which funding strand individuals and organisations apply to.
Applications will close on 31 July, and more information can be found here.
Stonehaven Conservation Area is currently under review by Aberdeenshire Council’s Historic Environment Team. The purpose of the review is to ensure the designation remains relevant and that the boundary of the conservation area is still appropriate.
As part of the review process, they have prepared the following documents:
- Conservation Area Appraisal – this document provides a full review of the settlement, identifying the special characteristics of its history, development, architecture, open space, landscape, and appearance. It is used to assess whether the settlement has a special character and whether it is worthy of conservation area status.
- Conservation Area Management Plan – this document is designed to provide guidance on what living in a conservation area means, what planning permissions are required, along with advice on how best to make changes to your property, pointing to additional guidance where relevant.
As part of this review, we are proposing to split the existing Stonehaven Conservation Area into two:
- Stonehaven Old Town Conservation Area – encompassing the harbour area, with its more informal street pattern and extending along the High Street towards the Carron Water.
- Stonehaven New Town Conservation Area – encompassing the planned town, with the Market Square at its centre.
They are seeking views on these proposals from residents, property owners and interested parties and welcome any comments or suggestions through the survey.
Grants of up to £5,000 are available for small charities working to improve the lives of vulnerable people across the UK. The funding is provided by the Wise Music Foundation, which aims to make a positive difference for people facing hardship, illness, or poverty, particularly children, the homeless, older people, and those with disabilities.
The Foundation also supports a wider range of causes, including education, cultural activities, arts and heritage, health and disability support, overseas famine relief, food banks, and other charitable initiatives.
Charities with an annual turnover of up to £500,000 are eligible to apply. The average grant awarded is £1,500.
Trustees meet quarterly to consider applications, and the next closing date is 31 August 2026.
Visit their website for more information.
Mind Yer Time is a toolkit to support everyone who loves social media and screen time, created by children and young people from the Children’s Parliament and the Scottish Youth Parliament.
There are positive tips, stories and information for children and young people, to help use screen time positively!
Primary and secondary schools in the UK can apply for funding through the Armourers and Brasiers’ Gauntlet Trust to purchase equipment, so that students can enjoy practical science, to run science enrichment projects, or to enable students to participate in science events and competitions.
Primary schools can apply for grants of up to £600 and Secondary schools up to £1,000.
The Trust is one of the leading charities in the UK supporting metallurgy and materials science education from primary school to postgraduate levels.
Applications will close at 11 pm on 31 July 2026 and grants will be awarded by 4 September 2026.
More here.
Grampian Opportunities have a new project aimed at supporting adult unpaid carers in Aberdeenshire.
The Free To Be Me project is a support group for unpaid carers. It offers a friendly, welcoming space to share, be heard and conntect with others who understand.
It is held every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month from 10.30am – 11.30am at St James Hall, Stonehaven.
Find out more about the group and other support which is available here.
Following its introduction in Scotland, the Herbert Protocol has been used many times to trace missing people with dementia and return them home.
Families of a person with the condition are asked to download the Herbert Protocol form and provide information such as places of importance to them, often visited places, health issues and places they have been found in the past if reported missing.
Ownership and responsibility for updating the form remains with the family.
Please visit the Police Scotland website – The Herbert Protocol for more information.
The aim of the Youth Arts Open Fund is to support freelance artists or organisations seeking small amounts of funding so that they can deliver arts activity for children and young people, prioritising those who have traditionally found it hardest to access such opportunities.
Funded projects are expected to engage children and young people in high-quality and accessible arts activity that empowers them through self-expression, enhances their health, wellbeing and personal development, and builds their confidence and skills.
Freelance artists can apply for funding up to £10k, and organisations can apply for funding of up to £20k, to deliver up to 12 months of arts activity.
The next deadline is 21 July.
For more information and to apply visit the YouthLink Scotland website.
The SURF Awards aim to highlight, celebrate and share the achievements of initiatives that address physical, social and economic challenges in communities across Scotland.
The 5 categories this year are:
- Community Led Regeneration
- Creative Regeneration
- Improving Scotland’s Places
- Removing Barriers to Employability
- Housing and Regeneration
The deadline for applications is 5pm on Monday 7th September.
You may be interested in applying for an Award or you may know a project who might be interested in applying or who deserves an Award. You can download the application materials and find out more about the Awards here.
You can download and read the Information Paper with the full criteria and read the helpful hints box on the website. Alternatively, you can nominate a project by completing an application form on their behalf as a nominating party.
The Community Resilience Large Grant has been created for Third sector, voluntary, SCIO, community groups, faith groups; to support projects that improve the preparedness and resilience of its community to an emergency, severe weather event or prolonged power outage.
It is recognised that during emergencies, severe weather events and prolonged power outages VCSEFi groups (Voluntary, Community, Social Enterprise and Faith groups) can and do offer support to communities: for some dealing with crises is their day-to-day business and for others it is an extension of their activities.
Some of these groups have a unique understanding and trust with the community they serve, and can communicate more effectively with them than statutory responders.
To support these organisations to help communities in Aberdeenshire prepare and be resilient to an emergency, severe weather or prolonged power outage Aberdeenshire Council is offering this grant.
The first tranche of applications must be received by 31st July, with a second tranche closing on 30th November.
Details of the fund are available here.
Disability Equality Scotland is a national charity committed to promoting equality and access for disabled people across Scotland.
The organisation works closely with disabled people, public bodies and transport providers to remove barriers and improve services. Their work includes gathering lived experiences, influencing policy, and supporting inclusive design to create a more accessible Scotland for everyone.
Over the summer, DES is hosting a series of events for people to have their say. You can register here for the next online event, about access to healthcare in remote areas.
This will be on Wednesday 1st Jul 2026 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM.
