£314,000 to support community-led dementia projects across Scotland

Over a quarter of a million pounds has been given to 25 dementia projects across Scotland to support the growth of community-led support for people living with dementia, their carers and family members.

Age Scotland’s dementia ‘Encouraging and Supporting Grassroots Activity’ (ESGA) fund is providing a total of £314,662 in community grants to groups across Scotland. 

These grants have been supported by Scottish Government funding, allocated via a National Dementia Resilient Communities Programme Board made up of lived experience voices, local and national partners. This funding, and the work of the Board, supports the aims of the new National Dementia Strategy, particularly in building resilience and sustainability in community support for people living with dementia and unpaid carers.
 
Funding decisions were made in collaboration with a lived experience panel of people living with dementia and unpaid carers, ensuring that those with first-hand insight played a key role in shaping the allocation of grants. 
 
The 25 successfully funded projects are:
 
Beith Community Development Trust (North Ayrshire)
 
Big Hearts Community Trust (Edinburgh)
 
Feniks (Edinburgh)
 
Networking Key Services (Edinburgh)
 
Boots and Beards (Glasgow)
 
Wing Hong Chinese Elderly Centre (Glasgow)
 
Central Wellbeing (Falkirk)
 
Cobhair Bharraigh (Western Isles)
 
Community Connectors (Moray)
 
Connecting Carers (Highland)
 
Raddery House / Inverness Openarts (Highland)
 
Craignish Community Company (Argyll and Bute)
 
Dementia Friendly Aberfeldy (Perth and Kinross)
 
Dementia Friendly Prestwick (South Ayrshire)
 
Friends of Dundonald Castle (South Ayrshire)
 
DG Voice (Dumfries and Galloway)
 
Forget Me Not Club (Aberdeenshire)
 
Inchgarth Community Centre (Aberdeen city)
 
Friends of Kilsyth (North Lanarkshire)
 
North Lanarkshire Muslim Women & Family Alliance (NLMWFA) (North Lanarkshire)
 
Inspiring Communities (Stirling)
 
Lyle Gateway (Inverclyde)
 
Montrose Connections (Angus)
 
Past Times (South Lanarkshire)
 
Peebles Old Parish Church (Scottish Borders)
 
 
Grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 will be distributed by April 2026 and will allow communities to deliver projects and realise the benefits and impact of their work as soon as possible. 
 
Anna Clements, Head of Dementia at Age Scotland, said:
 
"We were blown away by the number of applications and are proud to announce the recipients of one of our largest allocations of ESGA funding to date.
 
“From towns and cities to islands and remote areas in different corners of Scotland, it’s inspiring to see such a diverse range of projects receiving funding to help people living with dementia, their carers, and families stay connected and supported in their communities.
 
“This year we made a conscious effort to ensure a broad spread of grant holders across Scotland, particularly in rural areas and projects supporting people from ethnic minority communities, where access to dementia services can be especially limited and underrepresented.
 
“We look forward to seeing the funding in action across the country and are confident the projects will play a vital role in empowering people to live well with dementia.”