Encouraging and Supporting Grassroots Activity Fund

The fund is for activities and programmes taking place between 1 April 2027 - 31 March 2028 and aims to:

• Strengthen the resilience and sustainability of community-based dementia support.
• Help people living with dementia and unpaid carers stay connected to their communities.
• Improve health, wellbeing and quality of life.
• Support local organisations to respond to the needs of people affected by dementia in their area.

We are looking to fund projects and activities that make a meaningful difference to people with lived experience of dementia and those who provide unpaid care.

Applications are welcome from community-based, not-for-profit organisations in Scotland, including:

• Constituted community groups
• Voluntary and community organisations
• Registered charities
• Community Interest Companies (CICs)
• Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs)

National organisations are not eligible to apply.

We particularly welcome applications from organisations working in:

• Rural and remote communities
• Areas experiencing multiple deprivation
• Ethnic minority communities
• LGBTQ+ communities
• Communities with protected characteristics

All applications will be reviewed by our lived experience panel, helping ensure funding decisions are informed by people who understand the realities of living with dementia and caring for someone affected by dementia.

• The deadline for applications is 5pm on 11 September 2026
• Funding decisions will be announced in mid-January 2027

Our Encouraging and Supporting Grassroots Activities programme has been co-produced with a lived experience panel of people living with dementia and unpaid carers. It is made up of people from different backgrounds and geographic areas, and at different stages of their dementia journey. We have worked with them to design our aims and criteria so that our funding is making the difference that people with lived experience want to see in their communities.

It is a wonderful opportunity to be part of the grants programme panel, working with a group of people with a wealth of experience, living with dementia, caring or have cared. The lived experience gives a better understanding of what’s important within local communities to help live a better life and prevent loneliness, isolation and promote inclusion.” 

Myra, unpaid carer and member of panel

We believe it is vital that the voices of people affected by dementia are meaningfully involved in how funding is allocated, and we have worked with our panel to create an accessible way for lived experience-led funding decisions. Each year we meet with our panel members over the course of 10 assessment  meetings to review applications and reach final funding decisions, so that they have a central role in determining how our funding is distributed.

“Being part of the panel is quite significant for me. I genuinely feel purposeful and doing something worthwhile. I get to use skills that have been stifled and unused, and that feels very energising and mood lifting. My confidence levels rise during these panels as I get to remember what I actually can achieve while hopefully helping others into a more positive place in their own little worlds across the country”

Irene, person living with dementia and member of panel

If you have any questions about the fund or the application process, please contact:

dementiagrants@agescotland.org.uk