Welcome to the KDP Bulletin.
From September, KDP will be providing Drop-In Sessions at the Kincardine & Mearns Citizens Advice Bureau office in Stonehaven on the first Thursday of every month.
Mairi and Margo will be there to assist with a range of services to benefit Community Groups and Voluntary Organisations across Kincardine & Mearns.
We would also love to speak to anyone who would be interested in volunteering, as we have several current opportunities that we can share.
If you are unsure what KDP can do for you, take a look at our website.
Book a 30-minute appointment by emailing Margo@kdp.scot or just ‘drop-in’ and see us.
We’ll be there from 11am – 2pm.
This World Suicide Prevention Day, Thursday 10th September Pillar Kincardine are taking their message of hope, connection and support out into the community.
Pillar Kincardine will be taking over the Stonehaven Land Train and parking at 3 locations around town (see Poster for times and locations), creating a welcoming space where anyone can stop by for a chat, find out more about Pillar’s support services, or simply say hello. They’ll also be creating a special display with messages of hope and remembrance. You can leave a message for someone you care about, remember someone you’ve lost, or simply share a few words that might bring hope to someone who needs it. Your words could make a real difference.
If you can’t find the land train on its travels, they’ll also have a stall at the community garden in the Market Square (opposite Greggs).
Come along, say hello and help them fill their Train of Hope with messages that remind our community: there is always hope, and no one has to face things alone.
Only three weeks remain until the Meikle Carewe Wind Farm Community Fund closes for applications on 30th September 2026.
The Fund is for any constituted community group, club, society, charity or other not-for-profit entity that operates and benefits residents living in the following Community Council areas (the Area of Benefit):
- Crathes, Drumoak and Durris
- Newtonhill, Muchalls and Cammachmore
- North Kincardine Rural
- Portlethen and District
- Stonehaven and District
This year, there is £45,129.92 available in the Fund.
Visit the KDP website for the Guidance Notes and Application Form.
For more information or assistance with completing an application, please contact margo@kdp.scot
Scottish-based community groups and small charities working in the areas of sport, recreational facilities, health, culture, and animal welfare can apply for grants of up to £25,000 through the Weir Charitable Trust.
The Trust aims to assist organisations that have difficulty securing funding elsewhere.
Applications are accepted twice a year and the next deadline is 5pm on Friday 30th October.
Get more details and apply here.
Take part in the next Community Spaces Network Meet up exploring Child Poverty and Childcare. THIS IS TOMORROW!!
The session will explore how village halls, community hubs and other local spaces can become trusted centres for affordable childcare and family support, helping parents access employment while strengthening community resilience, particularly in rural and low-population areas.
Drawing on innovative examples such as the ‘Work and Play Club’, you’ll learn how community ownership, strong local partnerships and the flexible use of shared spaces can overcome barriers to access.
You will also learn about pilot projects adopting the Single Care Model, where adult care and childcare are brought together to create intergenerational opportunities, reduce social isolation, and deliver wider benefits for individuals, families and communities.
This will be a FREE online session on Wednesday, 9 September, from 12 noon to 1pm.
Register here.
People’s Postcode Trust supports smaller charities and good causes in Scotland to make a difference to their community for the benefit of people and planet.
To be eligible for funding, your organisation’s main aims and objectives must fit with one of the funding themes listed below:
- Enabling participation in the arts
- Preventing or reducing the impact of poverty
- Supporting marginalised groups and/or tackling inequality
- Improving mental health
Funding rounds are consistently oversubscribed, meaning that not all strong applications can be supported. To assist with decision-making, priority may be given to organisations that meet one or more of the following:
- Have an income of £250,000 or below
- Work in communities located in the top 15% of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation
- Organisations whose main activities are focused on supporting marginalised groups. This could include, but is not limited to, disabled people, communities experiencing racial inequity, and LGBT+ people.
- Are in areas that have not recently received funding. For this, we will primarily be looking at postcode areas (eg. EHX XXX) that have not received funding in the last 12 months.
Round 3 for 2026 will open at 9am 24th September and close at 12 noon 1st October.
More here.
ScotRail will help families make the most of the October school holidays with the return of its popular Family Pass, giving families seven consecutive days of unlimited travel on ScotRail services across Scotland.
Priced at £60, the pass allows up to two adults and four children to travel together, giving families the freedom to enjoy multiple days out by train for one fixed price.
Travel can start on any day between Monday, 12 October and Monday, 19 October 2026, with the pass valid for seven consecutive days. That means the final day on which the pass can be used is Sunday, 25 October.
Whether it’s heading to the coast, exploring one of Scotland’s cities, visiting family and friends, or discovering somewhere new, the Family Pass gives customers the flexibility to travel as often as they like during their seven-day period.
The ticket is available now and can be purchased until Monday, 19 October through the ScotRail website, at ScotRail ticket offices, or on board when travelling from a station where ticket-buying facilities are not available.
Travel is valid on ScotRail services after 09.15 Monday to Friday and at any time at weekends.
For more information and to purchase the Family Pass, visit the ScotRail website.
Since 2022, the Cockaigne Fund has supported innovative musical research, development, and performance to delight, inform, and move participants and audiences alike.
The decision-making panel includes people with experience related to classical, traditional, and community music. They are searching for creative, challenging, and original projects that explore cultures and traditions, past and present. They have a particular interest in historically-informed projects, related to classical and traditional music of all periods, that tour across Scotland. All projects need to include a live public sharing or performance element.
The Fund will close for the winter on October 21st opening again on 4th January.
Grants are available up to £5000, although recently the average has been £1500.
Learn more about the Fund and how to apply here.
Data Protection Essentials is a free online training and self-assessment programme created especially for small and medium-sized organisations.
Designed by ICO experts, it gives clear guidance to take the guesswork out of data protection, and the practical know-how to apply the essentials confidently in everyday work.
The training is bite-sized and self-paced.
Learn more and sign up here.
Applications to the Scottish Emergency Oil Heating Scheme are open until 30 September or until the fund runs out.
To apply for funding, please complete the application form. Before you begin, review the guidance on what evidence you may need to support your application. You may be asked to provide documents such as proof of income, recent fuel purchase, or evidence of your circumstances. For full details, please see the evidence checklist.
After submitting your application, if you have access to WhatsApp, you can send your evidence to us on 07928 398233. Please use the mobile number used on your application to ensure a smoother application process.
Apply here.
Households struggling with food costs could benefit from price controls on essential items under proposals published for consultation.
Fulfilling one of the commitments made for the Scottish Government’s first 100 days, views are being sought on the proposals and accompanying draft Bill. These are intended to ease cost of living pressures, particularly for lower income households who spend a greater share of their budget on food.
The consultation seeks views on the proposals and how the mechanism would work in practice, including the retailers and foods that could be included in the scheme.
Minister for Business Tom Arthur said:
The consultation is live and closes on 24 November 2026.
The Neighbourhood Ecosystem Fund seeks to inspire, encourage, and enable communities to explore and develop ambitious ecosystem restoration projects locally. It also seeks to raise awareness about the importance of local ecosystem restoration and address barriers faced by community-led efforts.
Grants of up to £13,500 are available to support community-led organisations in Scotland to develop local ecosystem restoration projects. Projects must focus on areas such as nature corridors, urban nature, invasive non-native species, or the restoration of habitats, species, freshwater, wetlands, coastal, and marine areas. Funding can be used for specialist advice, technical expertise, community activities, new staff posts, training placements, and core costs.
Additionally, each project receives up to £1,500 to be spent on fundraising support to enable the future development and growth of their projects.
The Fund is open on a rolling basis and you can find out more about how to apply here.
Climate Week North East 2026 will run from Saturday, 19th September to Sunday, 4 October 2026.
For over 11 years Climate Week North East (CWNE) has been celebrating, showcasing, and empowering the individuals and communities of North East Scotland to take climate action. Every year these small steps add to BIG positive impacts for our people, places, and the planet.
Check it out the programme of events and you’ll definitely find something that interests you!
The Plugged in Communities Grant Fund supports community transport operators in Scotland to replace a community transport vehicle with a zero-emission alternative, to support community trips and services.
Grants are available to cover the following zero-emission vehicles:
- Cars
- MPVs
- Minibuses
- Vans
Funding also covers any necessary accessibility adaptations and charging infrastructure
Successful applicants of this funding will be offered 100% of the costs to purchase a new zero-emission community transport vehicle.
Funding is capped at £75,000 for vehicles and any costs incurred above that will need to be covered by the applicant. In addition, the funding can cover the cost of additional accessibility adaptations, and a charge point up to a total cap of £95,000.
The Energy Saving Trust is hosting drop-in sessions where applicants can come in and ask questions. Find out more and see a list of dates for the drop-in sessions here.
Digital Wellbeing Surveys seek to gather the views and experiences of children and young people and parents/carers in relation to their online activities, digital wellbeing, online safety, use of social media and digital devices, and the support and information they may find helpful.
The results of this survey will inform the development of Scottish Government policy, guidance and services relating to online safety and digital wellbeing.
The surveys are open until 30th September.
Take part: Children and Young People Survey & Parent and Carer’s Survey.
