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What you can spend the money on

Supporting Carers is now closed to new applications. It will re-open in early 2027 for a new round of applications.

What we can fund 

We can fund: 

  • your organisation's running costs 

  • equipment 

  • one-off events 

  • staff costs 

  • training costs 

  • transport 

  • utilities 

  • volunteer expenses 

  • part of your organisation’s overheads 

  • some capital costs 

We’ll fund the delivery of the project 

And we’ll fund some of the indirect project costs. Also known as overheads.  

This could include things like: 

  • rent  

  • insurance  

  • part of a salary for someone not working directly on the project - like a senior manager or an office admin worker 

For example, the project you’re applying for could be half of the work your organisation does. In that case, we could fund half of your overheads. 

This is sometimes known as full cost recovery. Find out how to work out overheads in our guide to full cost recovery. 

We can also fund some capital costs 

For example, equipment and technology. 

But we will not fund:  

  • projects that are mostly for capital costs 

  • large scale refurbishments or buying land and buildings 

If you think you’ll need funding for capital costs, contact us. 

Political activity and campaigning  

We can fund some political activity and campaigning 

But only if: 

  • the activity is not party political. This means that it must be about policy, practice, or legislation rather than opposing or supporting a political party 

  • the activity is meant to help the cause of your organisation and benefit the public or society 

We will not fund projects where political activities are the main purpose. But we can fund projects that are mainly about campaigning. 

What we cannot fund 

We cannot fund: 

  • retrospective costs (for things that have already happened or you’ve paid for) 

  • alcohol 

  • contingency costs, loans, endowments or interest 

  • fundraising activities (where you use our funding to raise more money) 

  • VAT you can reclaim 

  • religious activities (we can fund religious organisations if their project benefits the wider community and does not include religious content) 

  • statutory activities 

  • activities that help children or young people with their schoolwork during school time 

  • projects that take place outside of Scotland 

  • activities that make profits for private gain 

  • large scale refurbishments or buying land and buildings